Can you wash a nylon bag in the washing machine

Nylon—a material that was once synonymous with “stockings” (“nylons”)—is today used in all sorts of garments, especially activewear. This synthetic fabric continues to grow in popularity, and if you take a quick look through your closet, you’re almost certain to find several items featuring at least some nylon.

To help your nylon garments last, it’s important to wash and care for them properly. In this post, we provide some tips to help you do just that.

A Dedicated Load

One of the best habits you can develop for your nylon items is to wash them separately from the rest of your laundry. While some nylon items are especially delicate, they should all be treated gently to avoid damage. And if you don’t have enough nylon items to make a full load, try combining them with your other delicates, as they will need to be treated similarly.

Use The Right Detergent

You may notice that your nylon garments still stink even after they come out of the wash. If so, your detergent could be the culprit. Most regular detergents are made to treat cotton and are not as effective when washing synthetic fabrics like nylon. To knock out odor and keep your items in good condition, consider using a detergent that’s made specifically to treat synthetics, like WIN Sports Detergent.

Use Cold Water

Whether you put your nylon garments through the washing machine or wash them by hand, always use cold water. Cold water is gentle on delicate fabrics and is less likely to cause shrinkage or fading. It’s also energy efficient and can help you to save on energy bills in the long run!

Use Care When Drying

The drying stage has the most potential to damage your nylon clothing, so it’s important to take care. Generally, it’s better to air dry nylon clothing than to put it in the dryer. However, if you would like to speed up the process, most nylon garments can go in the dryer on a low setting. Keep in mind that high heat settings could damage the material, rendering it useless or shortening its lifespan.

No Chlorine Bleach

If you are trying to brighten up a nylon item that isn’t looking its best, don’t be tempted to reach for chlorine bleach. This product has its uses, but washing nylon is not one of them. If you wash nylon using chlorine bleach, the fabric may come out of the wash looking yellowed, and the fibers may be damaged, as well. Should you feel that bleach is needed, opt for a non-chlorine version.

Each Wash Adds Stress

Each time you put your nylon garments through the washing machine, you are bringing them one step closer to the end of their useful life. Of course, that’s true of all garments, but the clock moves a little faster with nylon.

With this in mind, do your best to avoid unnecessary wash cycles. For instance, you might decide to wash your nylon items by hand when you have time, saving trips through the laundry machine for occasions when you are in a hurry. Even if you only hand wash half the time, that reduction in trips through the machine can help to extend the life of your garments.

Nylon Collects Static

If you own many nylon items, you are probably well aware of the static cling they collect while they are in the dryer. Using a dryer sheet is a good way to prevent this.

To save money, consider cutting your dryer sheets in half before use. You’ll likely find that you get the same performance from only half a sheet, and your box will last twice as long.

Delicate Items Require Even More Attention

For delicates made from nylon, such as hosiery and lingerie, consider using a mesh laundry bag to protect them. Place the items in the bag before putting them through the wash cycle to avoid snags and damage. Even with the bag, you should still use a gentle cycle. If you have time, air dry these delicate garments to help them last as long as possible.

Try WIN Detergent

WIN Detergent is designed specifically to treat synthetic materials. It’s the perfect solution for washing your nylon garments and activewear made with synthetics. Try WIN today to see (and smell) the difference for yourself!

Does your backpack smell like it just ran a marathon? From gym clothes to midday snacks and school supplies, we use our backpacks to tote around anything and everything. Most of us have jammed sweaty running shoes or a damp bathing suit into our backpacks—maybe once or twice, or maybe on a regular basis. Stuff like food or muddy soccer cleats can leave residue and funky smells in your bag, which could transfer to other items you carry. Washing your backpack once or twice a year is an easy way to extend its lifespan and ensure your gear stays clean, so you don’t have to worry about your laptop having a fatal run-in with that pack of energy gel from four months ago. 

Luckily, your average nylon backpack can go in the washing machine with just a little bit of prep. Check out our guide to learn how to wash and spot clean your backpack, to make it feel like new. 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: SUPPLIES FOR CLEANING YOUR BACKPACK

• Laundry bag: If you don’t have one, you can use an old pillowcase instead.

• Non-bleach detergent: Use a gentle disinfecting laundry detergent that doesn’t have bleach.

• Stain remover: A non-bleach stain remover is handy for stains and extra-dirty patches.

• Gentle disinfecting detergent

• A few washcloths or clean rags

• Cleaning brush: For stubborn spots, try an old toothbrush or fingernail brush.

MACHINE-WASHING A BACKPACK

1. Empty your backpack. Remove all your essential items and set them aside. If your backpack has any removable attachments or pockets, remove them. They can be washed separately.

2. Remove dust and debris from the inside of the empty compartments. A small hand-held vacuum cleaner—or a hose attachment on a standard vacuum cleaner—works really well. Or, take the backpack outside, turn it inside-out and shake it thoroughly.

3. Read the care instructions: Check the tag on your backpack for instructions on washing. Many nylon or canvas backpacks can be machine-washed, but it’s important to check the label. For example, leather can’t be washed, so any backpack with leather accents should be spot cleaned instead.

4. Spot clean: You can spot clean your backpack if it isn’t washable, or to treat stains before you put it in the machine. 

HOW TO SPOT CLEAN YOUR BACKPACK:

To spot clean, use a cloth or a soft brush to apply non-bleach detergent or stain remover to the stain. Allow the solution to sit for up to 30 minutes, then scrub gently. Rinse the detergent away with cold water and a clean washcloth or continue with machine-washing instructions.

1. Prepare your backpack for the washing machine: Unzip all the zippers and set aside any removeable attachments or pockets (You can wash those separately, either by hand or in a separate laundry bag in the machine). Secure the unzipped backpack inside a mesh laundry bag or an old pillowcase, or turn it inside-out. This will protect the hardware on the backpack. 

2. Using a small amount of bleach-free gentle detergent, wash your backpack on your washing machine’s gentle or delicate cycle with cold water.

3. Remove the backpack from the washing machine and turn it right-side-out.

4. Air dry your backpack. Leave all the pockets open and hang it up to dry in a place with plenty of air circulation, preferably outside. Sun and fresh air will help dry the backpack faster.

TIPS FOR REMOVING COMMON BACKPACK SMELLS

If you’ve ever toted around something like a sweaty softball mitt or a leaky sports drink, your backpack might benefit from a little extra love. To tackle smells like mildew, sweat or old food, here are few pointers:

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