Any ideas to save DS' Lunchbox?

[3boymthr]

Usually I just get the cheapy lunchboxes for my kids but they just don't hold up. Thinking I'd get some quality lunchboxes this year I bought the LL Bean lunch boxes. Well youngest DS spilt his food in his lunchbox a couple of times. Although I wiped it out as best I could after each spill, his lunchbox began to STINK and the little crevices in between the stiches began to look ummm, yucky. Although the care instructions state to clean that you should just wipe this wasn't cutting it so I inserted in the washer. Well, the darn thing floated. It became wrapped around the agitator and while it came clean and doesn't stink anymore it got a slice in the outer fabric from the friction of the agitator (It's a very neat slice - the edges match up perfectly). Since this is obviously a owner error, I'm not going to ask LL Bean to replace it. DH's suggestion was to use Duct Tape, but I'm afraid that will get icky around the edges with crumbs, etc. from the tables at school and will tear the lunchbox irreparably if I try to replace it when it gets icky. Sooo... does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix it?

 

[Moneypenny]

The name escapes me at the moment, but there is a product you can get at a fabric or craft store that is tape with glue on it that is heat activated. We used it when my DH ripped his brand new winter coat (seriously, he'd had it for about an hour!). We were able to insert the tape under the rip with the sticky side up, bring the two sides of the rip together, and then run the iron over it. You couldn't even tell the rip was there and it held up for years with a couple of washings per year.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Is it the type of material that you could put a patch of some sort over it?

 

[3boymthr]

I'll have to ask at the fabric store if they have the name of that tape.

Is it the type of material that you could put a patch of some sort over it?

It's that shiny nylon material that you often see backpacks made out of. It has a slight plastic-y feel to it, like it's been coated.

 

[worm761]

I think the previous poster is thinking of stitch witch. It is cheap and can be found in most craft/sewing sections.

Personally, I would try to find a patch that your son likes that matches the lunch box and covers the rip if you can. Make sure it is an iron on patch and your are good.

and next time it begins to stink, try soaking it in vinegar to kill the bacteria. then just let it sit out to get the smell of vinegar off it.

 

[woodkins]

I'll have to ask at the fabric store if they have the name of that tape.



It's that shiny nylon material that you often see backpacks made out of. It has a slight plastic-y feel to it, like it's been coated.

It is called Heat-N-Bond. You want the Ultra version which is for permanent fixing, NOT Heat-N-Bond Lite which holds something temporarily until it is sewn.

Having said that you apply high heat in order to bond the fabric together, which may melt the plastic lining inside the lunch box. I would call LL Bean and explain what happened. They may have a repair idea and also can tell you how to clean your other kids lunch boxes in the future.

 

[ceecee]

They sell repair kits for vinyl, I wonder if that would worK? The bonding stuff has to be put on with high heat so I don't know about that. Maybe sew a patch over it? I duct taped a big hole in DD's bean bag chair and surprising it has held up very nice.

 

[MSSANDRA]

FYI for next time- They go through the dishwasher just fine.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Any product requiring heat is going to melt the outside fabric as well.
Depending on size/location of the rip, you could sew a fun patch over it. I've done that several times with LLB backpacks (the outside of the lunchboxes are made of the same fabric. I think I read right this is the outside?) Find something he likes in Joann's or a craft store and sew it on.

FWIW, I regularly run my kids' through the washer w/ no problems, sorry yours got stuck. As a PP said, the dishwasher is good too. (Put something on top to weight it down a bit- or clip to the rack.)

 

[drcmk]

Too late for this advice now, but I always turn the lunchboxes inside out when I scrub them (by hand) to get the food particles out. If they are still smelly, I make a baking soda paste and let that sit in the seams for a while.

 

[jamounger]

I believe that you can return things to LLBean and they replace them forever. I sent in my husbands worn out slippers and they replaced them and a coworker returned a coat that something happend too and they replaced that too.