The Wallet Shoppe
We’ve had a lot of readers ask us if you can wash a backpack. The answer is YES, but you need to know what you’re doing or you can mess things up in a hurry.
Is your backpack looking tired? Has it seen better days? You’re in the right place. Our guide takes you step by step through (safely!) cleaning it, and then we’ll go brand by brand, because JanSport, North Face, Osprey, Herschel, Fjällräven and Dickies don’t all agree on how far you can go.
First, check the care label inside your bag. The fabric, padding and any leather trim decide what it can take, and the label (or the maker’s own guide, linked below) wins over anything we say here.
The Short Version
Things you’ll need: a dirty backpack, a bathtub or large sink, a mild (non-bleach) soap, a soft brush or old toothbrush, towels and a large hanger.
- Remove everything from the backpack
- Brush or wipe off most of the dirt while it’s dry
- Wipe down the pockets and outside with a damp cloth (water only)
- If your brand allows it, wash it gently in the tub; if not, spot clean
- For stubborn stains, a little mild, non-bleach soap
- Rinse until the water stays clear
- Hang it upside down to dry, out of direct sun
OK, let’s go through those step by step.
Step 1 - Clean Out the Backpack
First things first, guys. Before you can “clean” your bag, you need to “clean out” your bag. That means opening every single pocket and compartment, laptop sleeve included. The last thing you want is a clean backpack and a ruined phone, or a soggy piece of paper with a phone number you can no longer read…
If your pack has a removable hip belt or harness, take it off now (snap a quick photo of how it’s adjusted first, so you can put it back the same way).
Tip: This is also a great time to reorganize. Sometimes our bags get cluttered like our wallets, and cleaning them out is a chance to decide what actually goes back in.
Step 2 - Keep Things Dry to Start
Use a dry paper towel (or a regular towel) to get off as much visible grit and grime as you can. Removing the dirt while it’s dry stops you making a mud-like mess that’s worse than when you started.
Tip: Turn the bag upside down and give it a good shake afterwards. That gets out the hard-to-reach stuff hiding in the crevices.
Step 3 - Wipe the Bag Down
Even after all that shaking, there’ll still be dirt in the pockets. Wet a rag or paper towel (water only) and wring it out.
Wipe down the inside first, two or three passes at a time, following each seam (that’s where the less visible grime builds up). Then move on to the outside. Leave any leather or suede trim alone; it needs its own care.
Tip: Rinse the rag out often. You want to trap the dirt on the rag and move it to the water, not just push it around.
For a lot of bags, and for every JanSport, North Face or Dickies canvas pack, this is as far as you should go. Spot clean any remaining marks and skip to Step 7.
Step 4 - Wash the Bag (If Your Brand Allows It)
Osprey and Herschel both describe a gentle hand wash. If yours allows it, run some cool or lukewarm water into the bathtub (a sink works too, but you’ll be turning the bag around a lot).
Start with plain water. Open all the pockets, put the bag in, and gently work the dirt loose with your hands and a soft brush.
Step 5 - Less is More
Most of you will have a clean bag at this point, so skip ahead to the rinse.
For stubborn stains that water won’t shift (coffee or red wine, for instance), add a little mild soap. Please, please, please make sure it DOES NOT contain any bleach. We feel there’s no need to explain, but let’s just say your red bag will be pink if you get bleach involved.
The key here is that less is more. You don’t want a sudsy mess: it’ll do its job, but you may never get it all out of the bag. Work the stained area gently and check how it’s going after a few minutes.
If a mark still won’t budge, ask the maker before you reach for anything stronger. A faint mark is better than a damaged bag.
Step 6 - Rinse, Rinse, Rinse
Now make sure all the soapy residue is gone. Refill the tub with clean water and rinse the backpack, and keep going until no more bubbles or residue show up on the surface. (If you spot cleaned, wipe the area over with a clean damp cloth instead.)
Step 7 - Hang and Forget
Hang your backpack upside down so any remaining water drains out, somewhere with good airflow and out of direct sunlight. This might sound odd, but you want it to dry slowly.
Tip: Hang it from the shoulder straps on a large hanger. Both straps if your hanger is big enough; one works fine if not.
24-36 hours usually does the trick after a full wash, but check the padded back panel and any hip belt before you put it away, as they take longest to dry. And you DEFINITELY want to AVOID the dryer.
The hairdryer too! A mix of fabrics, foam and coatings can melt or deform with heat, and sections drying at different rates can distort the shape.
Once it’s dry, put any removable parts back and try it on with a normal load to check the straps aren’t twisted and the buckles click home.
Brand by Brand
JanSport
JanSport’s cleaning guide says to clean with a damp cloth or sponge and cool water, using a little mild, unscented soap on stubborn spots. No bleach, no washing machine, and no dryer: let it air dry. Take extra care with leather or suede trim (like a suede bottom), and don’t scrub it.
The North Face
The North Face’s product-care advice is to spot clean backpacks with a damp cloth and air dry them. It specifically says not to fully submerge them, so stop at Step 3 and spot clean. Don’t automatically spray on a waterproofing treatment afterwards either; our North Face waterproofing explainer covers what these packs can and can’t handle.
Osprey
Osprey’s cleaning guide describes a gentle hand wash in mild soapy water with a soft brush, a thorough rinse and drying somewhere ventilated, out of direct sun. No washing machine. A few models have their own instructions: POCO child carriers, avalanche packs and the Raptor Pro, and travel packs with the High Road wheeled chassis must not be submerged (wipe the chassis and spot clean the fabric instead).
Herschel
Herschel’s care guide covers both a light clean and a deeper wash in shallow, cool or lukewarm water, followed by a rinse. No washing machine or tumble dryer, and dry it out of direct sunlight. Herschel makes bags in recycled polyester, cotton canvas and more, some with leather trim, so check your label: if it says spot clean only, stop at Step 3.
Fjallraven Kanken
For a classic Vinylon F Kånken, Fjällräven’s care guide says to clean dirty marks with lukewarm water, a mild detergent and a soft brush or sponge, then hang it to dry somewhere ventilated and out of the sun, reshaping it gently. Never in the washing machine. Two Kånken quirks: Fjällräven suggests a 10-15 minute lukewarm soak before first use on some colors to reduce dye transfer, and only G-1000 versions (like the No. 2) can be waxed. Don’t wax a Vinylon F Kånken. More on the bag itself in our Kånken guide.
Dickies
Dickies makes backpacks in several materials, so check the label on yours. Some are stricter than you’d expect: the Duck Canvas backpack is 100% cotton but is marked no washing, no bleach, no tumble drying, no dry cleaning and no ironing. For a bag like that, stick to brushing off dry dirt and spot cleaning with a lightly damp cloth.
Before You Go…
We hope you enjoyed our guide to washing a backpack without ruining it!
Is it a smell rather than dirt? Our guide to a backpack that smells like mold deals with that. And cleaning isn’t the only backpack problem we get asked about. Broken zippers are another all-too-common one: How to Fix a Broken Backpack Zipper
FAQ
Can you put a backpack in the washing machine?
We REALLY don’t recommend it, and neither do JanSport, North Face, Osprey, Herschel or Fjällräven. Wash it carefully by hand (or spot clean it) and it’ll stay in good shape for years.
Can you put a backpack in the dryer?
We REALLY, REALLY don’t recommend this! There’s a mix of materials on most bags that can melt or deform in a dryer (or under a hairdryer), and sections drying at different rates can distort the shape.
Can you damage a backpack by washing it?
If you follow the label, wash it carefully by hand with no harsh chemicals, and dry it slowly, it should be fine. Remember those days when it rained and your backpack got soaked?
