How to wash a school bag or backpack

To wash a school bag at home, empty every pocket, shake and vacuum out the crumbs, spot-clean the straps and stains with mild detergent, then hand-wash the whole bag in cool soapy water, rinse it well and hang it upside down in the shade with the pockets open until it is completely dry. Most fabric backpacks are clean after about twenty minutes of work and dry in a day.

A school bag goes everywhere: the canteen floor, the bus, the field after rain. By the end of a term it holds pencil shavings, old food and a damp smell. Cleaning it before a new school term is one of the easiest jobs to do at home, as long as you check the label and give it enough time to dry.

Check the label and the bag first

Look for a care tag inside the main compartment. Most polyester and nylon school bags can be hand-washed in cool water. Be more careful if the bag has:

A leather or faux leather base or trim. Water can crack or peel it, so wipe those parts instead of soaking them.
A built-in frame, padded back panel or wheels. Trolley bags should never go in a machine. Clean them by hand only.
Printed cartoon panels or reflective strips. Hot water and scrubbing can lift prints, so keep the water cool and the brush soft.

What you need

A vacuum with a narrow nozzle, or a lint roller
An old toothbrush and a soft clothes brush
Mild liquid detergent
A basin or bathtub with cool water
Two clean towels

Empty and dry clean it

Empty every pocket. Check the small side and inside pockets for pens, wrappers and forgotten food. Unzip everything.
Turn it upside down and shake it. Do this outside or over a bin to get rid of pencil shavings and crumbs.
Vacuum the seams and corners. Use a narrow nozzle along the bottom seams, where sand and crumbs pack in.
Remove detachable parts. Take off key chains, pencil cases and removable straps, and wash them separately.

Spot-clean, then wash

Pre-treat the marks. Dab a drop of mild detergent on stains, the top handle and the shoulder straps, where skin oil builds up. Work it in with the toothbrush.
Fill a basin with cool water and a little detergent. Lukewarm is fine for very dirty bags, but avoid hot water, which can loosen coatings and prints.
Wash the bag by hand. Submerge it, squeeze the water through the fabric, and brush the outside, the base and the straps with the soft brush. Pay attention to the inside lining, which often smells worst.
Rinse until the water runs clear. Change the water two or three times. Leftover soap attracts dirt and can leave a stiff patch.

A clean navy school backpack hanging upside down by its base loop in a shaded corner, with its pockets and zips open to dry.

Dry it properly

Press out the water. Do not wring the bag. Roll it in a towel and press to remove as much water as you can.
Hang it upside down with every pocket open. This lets water drain out of the corners and air reach the lining.
Dry in the shade with airflow. A covered balcony or a room with a fan works well. Strong sun can fade the colours and weaken the plastic buckles.
Check the padding before you pack it. Squeeze the straps and back panel. If they still feel cool or damp, leave the bag another few hours, because trapped damp turns into a musty smell.

Can you wash a school bag in the washing machine?

Some simple fabric backpacks with no frame or leather parts can go in a front-loader on a gentle cold cycle. Put the bag inside a pillowcase or large mesh bag, zip the zips shut so they do not snag, and add a couple of towels to balance the load. Skip the spin if the bag is heavily padded, and never use a tumble dryer. If you are unsure, hand washing is the safer choice. Our list of what not to machine wash covers the items to keep out of the drum.

Common stains on school bags

Ink. Dab with rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud before washing. More tips in how to get ink out of clothes.
Food and oil. Cover with dish soap, leave it ten minutes and brush. See how to remove oil stains.
Mould spots after rainy days. Brush outside, then wash. Our guide to removing mould from clothes applies to bag fabric too.

Keep it fresh during the term

Empty food containers and wrappers every day.
Let the bag air open overnight after a rainy day instead of zipping it shut wet.
Wipe the straps once a week with a damp cloth.
Wash the whole bag at the end of every term.
Keep a small zip pouch inside for snacks, so crumbs and spills stay out of the main lining.
Hang the bag on a hook at home rather than leaving it on the floor, where it picks up dust and damp.

Pencil cases, lunch bags and water bottle pockets

The small things that travel in the bag need cleaning too, or they put the smell straight back:

Fabric pencil cases. Empty them, shake out the shavings and wash them by hand in the same basin as the bag.
Insulated lunch bags. Wipe the inside with warm soapy water and a cloth, rinse with a damp cloth and leave them wide open to dry. Do not soak the foam.
Mesh water bottle pockets. These collect sand and spilled drinks. Scrub them with the toothbrush while the bag is in the basin.
Name tags and key chains. Wipe plastic and metal parts with a damp cloth instead of washing them, so they do not rust or fade.

Mistakes to avoid

Zipping the bag shut while damp. The lining will smell musty within a day, and mould can start in the padding.
Using bleach on coloured fabric. It leaves pale patches and weakens the stitching on the straps.
Drying on a hot surface. Car bonnets and rooftops can warp buckles and melt coated linings.
Ironing the bag. Nylon and polyester can melt or go shiny. If the fabric is creased, let it hang and the creases drop out as it dries.

FAQ

How often should I wash a school bag?

Wash it fully at least once a term, and straight away if something spills inside or it starts to smell. Wipe the straps and empty the crumbs weekly.

How do I get rid of a bad smell in a backpack?

Wash and dry it completely first. If a smell remains, sprinkle baking soda inside, leave it overnight with the bag open and then vacuum it out.

How long does a school bag take to dry?

Usually twelve to twenty-four hours in the shade with a fan, depending on the padding. Do not pack it until the straps and back panel feel completely dry.

School bag cleaning near Cheras Yulek

If the bag is heavily stained or has a trolley frame, Superman Laundry in Taman Cheras (Cheras Yulek) can take a look. Visit us at 17-1 Lorong Durian, Taman Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 7pm, or WhatsApp 013-833 5526 with a photo first.