How to wash JanSport backpack Reddit

JanSport is one of the most well-known names in the backpack market. JanSport backpacks are known for their ability to last for years, even decades, without falling apart, but just because they are in one piece doesn’t mean they are still perfectly clean after all that time.

JanSport backpacks require gentle washing to help them retain their shape and resilience. Read on to learn exactly how to wash a JanSport backpack and keep them clean and looking new on all your adventures!

Important Things to Avoid

• Hot water
• Harsh detergents
• Washer & Dryer
• Bleach

Washing a JanSport Backpack

Step One – Empty the Backpack

Completely empty the backpack, checking all the pockets and corners for any hidden items. Leave your pockets open during the cleaning process to encourage rapid drying of all areas.

If your backpack is extra dirty, you can use the hose attachments on your vacuum to get every little bit of dirt and gunk out.

JanSport backpacks need to be hand washed. Never wash them in the washing machine. It degrades the fabric, especially on bags with leather or suede.

Instead of your trusty washing machine, you’ll be cleaning this backpack manually. But not to worry! JanSport bags are made of incredibly durable, water-resistant material that also repels stains fairly well.

Surface-level dirtiness, like patches of dried mud, can be removed with a stiff brush with no water washing. Check your JanSport for any of these easily removable blemishes and clean them before washing with lukewarm water.

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Step Three – Hand Wash the Bag

Once you’ve brushed off any dirt, it’s time to wash. Fill a bowl with cold water (avoid warm water) and a mild detergent to spot clean your backpack.

JanSport bags shouldn’t be submerged. Instead, you’ll use your bowl of water and a clean rag or brush to wash away any offending stains. Rinse the spot with more cool water, this time with no detergent.

You can also give your backpack a general wipe down inside and out with just water. For this, skip the soap, and clean the backpack inside and out with a damp cloth, avoiding any suede or leather areas.

Damp is the keyword here. We don’t want soaked, dripping rags. Only use a bit of water.

It’s also important to never use bleach, harsh detergents, or soap on your bag. If your bag has any spots of suede or leather, make sure to keep these areas dry and away from any water.

Step Four – Hang to Dry

Like with most backpacks, you’re going to want to hang your JanSport to dry. You can hang it outside in the sun, upside down in your bathtub, or even over a kitchen chair.

What’s important is that your backpack has adequate airflow to dry quickly.

Avoid the dryer if at all possible. Dryers are the enemy of backpacks, tangling their straps and weakening the fabric. A lot of backpacks also have metal buckles that can destroy other clothes in the dryer, or even damage the inside of the machine itself.

Try to keep your bag in its regular shape when drying. One of the biggest reasons to avoid using your dryer with backpacks is that the heat can make the bag appear misshapen. This can happen with air drying, too, so have your drying bag stretched out to keep it looking new.

Once your bag is dry, check all the pockets and crevices for even dryness, and you’re finished!

Tips for Removing Stains

Spray cleaner – Apply your stain removing spray on any areas that are dirty and need extra work.

Scrub it in – Use a sponge or brush and scrub in the remover into any sports on the bag.

Allow it to dry – Wipe away the excess water or spray on the bag and then allow it to sit and air dry.

Can You Put JanSport Backpacks in the Washer?

You should avoid putting any Jansport bag into the washer if you want to avoid causing any damage. If it’s put into the washer the backpack can lose its shape and start to wear down.

Leaving the bag on a clothesline is the safest and best way to dry it, although it does take a while until it’s completely dry and ready to use again.

Can You Put JanSport Backpacks in the Dryer?

JanSport backpacks should never be placed in the dryer because the heat will damage the fabric on the bag. It’s also possible for zippers, straps, and zipper pulls to get ruined from the heat and from being thrown around in the dryer.

You should instead hand dry the backpack and leave it hanging overnight.

If you've got kids, dirty backpacks are inevitable. There will be apple juice spills and forgotten bananas and exploding pens, and even sweaty shirts and sneakers stuffed in there. (And that doesn't begin to address the issues of germs, either.) So it pays to know how to clean it effectively.

The best way to avoid a completely filthy bag is upkeep: Take wet gym clothes and any food garbage or leftover lunch out of the pack as soon as it gets home, and gently clean stains with mild dish soap as soon as you notice them. Wipe down the bag regularly, and keep it dry on the inside to avoid mold.

Before you give it a thorough wash, check the care label, likely located in the main compartment. If the label says the bag should not be submerged in water, use a cloth and a small amount of gentle cleanser to scrub particularly dirty areas. If there is no label, test-clean a small area of the bag's surface and interior before you wash the whole thing.

Clear everything out of the backpack. Put the contents into a plastic bag so it all stays together while you're washing. Clean or replace anything that's soiled so you're not putting anything dirty back into a clean backpack. Make sure to get into every compartment.

If there are crumbs and dust in the crevices, use a handheld vacuum to get out as much as you can. Shager also recommends a computer-keyboard air blower. For hard-to-remove muck, try a clean makeup brush. "The soft bristles will help loosen the debris while minimizing damage to the fabric," she says. If there's a metal frame inside the pack, take it out. Leave all the pockets unzipped. Cut away any threads near zipping areas so they don't get snagged during washing.

Can you put a backpack in the washer? It depends on the material, but most nylon or canvas backpacks are safe to put in the washing machine. (If the bag has leather trim, don't machine-wash.)

If there are any exterior or interior stains, gently apply some stain remover with a soft brush or toothbrush to affected areas and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Turn the bag inside out or place it inside a pillowcase or laundry bag to avoid straps and zippers getting caught inside the machine—or damaging the inside walls.

Use a small amount of gentle detergent and wash the pack on the gentle cycle in cold water. If it gets bunched up during the spin cycle, stop the machine and try to spread the bag back out, to allow it to be thoroughly washed and also to avoid the machine getting lopsided with a small load.

"We recommend that you line dry, because tumble-drying could damage the padding of the bag and cause ruptures at the corners," says Kali Shager of Land's End, who sources fabric and materials for the company's kids' products and backpacks. Leave all the zippers unzipped and hang it upside down. If you can dry it outdoors, that will help any leftover odors drift away. Make sure it's completely dry before using.

If you're planning on a good old-fashioned hand washing, here's what you'll need:

• Pre-treatment stain remover
• Gentle detergent (free of fragrances, dyes, or other chemicals is best, so you don't damage the fabric of the bag)
• Soft brush or old toothbrush
• Washcloth and/or sponge
• Towel

If there are any exterior or interior stains, gently apply some stain remover with a soft brush or toothbrush to the affected areas and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Fill the basin with about 6 inches of lukewarm water. (Hot water could damage the fabric's colors.) Add a small amount of gentle detergent.

Scrub the bag with a soft brush or cloth, focusing particularly on especially dirty areas or spot stains. A toothbrush is good for ground-in stains and hard-to-reach crevices. A sponge might work better on mesh areas. Turn the bag inside-out and wash the interior as well.

Drain the dirty water and fill the basin with 6 inches of clean cool water. Rinse the bag thoroughly and wring it out. Fold it into a thick towel to absorb excess water.

Allow the bag to air-dry. Leave all the zippers unzipped and hang it upside down. If you can dry it outdoors, that will help any leftover odors drift away. Make sure it's completely dry before it's next used.

Clear backpacks have become a necessity at sporting events and concerts—and even in some schools. The clear plastic can easily get foggy and grimy, and unfortunately, everyone can see the ick. The method for washing a clear backpack is similar to cleaning other styles.

Empty out the backpack and brush out crumbs and stray hairs using a vacuum or a brush.

Wash your clear backpack in warm water with a touch of dish or laundry detergent and thoroughly rinse it to help clear out the grime. Use a clean, dry rag to dry it off, and leave it to air-dry.

Some clear backpack manufacturers suggest using non-acetone nail polish remover on a cotton pad. Rub it on the bag's exterior and interior, then wipe clean with a fresh cotton pad.

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