More and more people are switching their preferences from traditional single-use plastic bags to eco-friendly reusable alternatives to reduce their carbon footprint. We all know that plastic pollution has literally ruined our environment. It is also a well-known fact that it takes more than 1000 years to decompose plastic and that is perhaps one of the biggest reasons why many people are adopting green living practices to get rid of harmful plastic impact.
Canvas bags are a great initiative that has literally excluded the use of toxic plastic substitutes. These bags are made from the natural fiber and can be reused for multiple times with right maintenance and care. While canvas bags are believed to be quite strong and sturdy, they’re still prone to wear and tear. Also, as these bags are usually used on regular basis, they tend to get dirtier and stained in no time. Luckily, you can easily clean a canvas bag at home without any professional help.
Ways to Effectively Clean a Canvas Bag
Generally, it is believed that the canvas bag should be washed manually to save the color and texture of the fabric. However, the fact is that you can wash your canvas bag into a washing machine without any difficulty subject to you pay attention to the manufacturer’s provided cleaning instructions. Both of these options have their own pros and cons and you should weigh them before choosing a washing method for your canvas bag.
How to Wash a Canvas Bag?
First things first, you must remove all structural things from the bag including cardboard, brooch or any other adornment that comes with the product. Also, remove all things from the inside including coins, mirrors or any other sharp object that can hinder the washing process. If you have a busy schedule and you want to opt for machine washing, just ensure you pick the right settings to avoid damage. Ideally, you should run a separate cycle for your canvas bag so that the risk of color transfer could be minimized. However, you can wash white or light colored clothes along with your bag if avoiding them altogether is not a choice.
Do not choose higher temperature as it can ruin the strength of the thread and may also result in color fading. Cold water with any chemical-free liquid detergent will give you the best results. Make sure you treat stains beforehand as it would be difficult to get rid of them once you put your canvas bag for cleaning in the washing machine. Take a soft bristled brush and gently rub stains with some mild detergent or soap. In fact, you can remove a stain with the help of a wet cloth if it’s not too tough. Once you have treated a mark manually, simply throw in your canvas bag into the machine.
Similarly, if you have chosen the manual cleaning procedure which is by far considered to be the best option for canvas bag cleaning, you can simply soak your bag into a tub of cold water along with some mild chemical-free detergent. With the help of a soft brush, get rid of all the marks and stains and rinse with water.
As far as the drying process is concerned, you should never use spinner to dry your canvas bag as it can adversely impact the quality of the colors and fabric. Use clothesline to hang your canvas bag and allow complete air drying before you store it at a safe place.
Instead of storing your clean canvas bag with other colored options including clothes or accessories, try to encase your bag in a pillow cover so that it can be protected from mold growth and color transfer. Also, if you’re not planning to use your canvas bag for a long period of time, make sure to secure it in a white soft cloth away from fragrances or any other cosmetics.
Use Vacuum to Maintain Regular Cleaning
Ideally, you should not wash your bag again and again unless it is actually required. To maintain regular cleaning, take help from your handy car vacuum cleaner. Run through a vacuum cleaner all over your bag to remove dirt, dust, crumbs, sand, etc. Simply, rub a wet cloth over the surface to quick clean stains and marks if any.
Tips to Consider
Double check with the store or carefully check the care labels before washing your canvas bag
Always use mild detergent
Always treat stains and tough marks beforehand
Never rub or scrub the fabric
Never use spinner to dry your canvas bag
Store your bag away from colorful clothing and accessories
Ensure every attachment is safe for washing including lace, brooch, ribbons or any other metallic decorative
Always choose cooler temperature especially if your canvas bag is printed or colored
A canvas bag is a definite win-win for any closet. It is multipurpose and used by almost everyone including celebs and political figures to reduce their cabin footprint. The only issue is that the canvas itself needs some proper cleaning and care in order to retain its life and quality. Especially, you have to pay additional attention if there are tough stains and grime on the surface. The above-mentioned tips can help you clean your canvas bag like a pro so that you use your bag for years to come.
Clean Canvas Bag = Happy Canvas Bag
Because of its eco friendliness and economical nature, canvas bags are one of the most popular trends in 2019 and this trend is going nowhere in 2020. Cleaning a canvas bag without any professional help is a no-brainer. It takes some care, effort and a little tender love to maintain your bag. Whether you have a single bag or a whole collection, simply follow this post to extend the life of your bags.
What steps do you follow to clean your canvas bag? Feel free to add any other proven tips or tricks you have in hand to help us extend this list.