Backpack in the washing machine?

[casjen]

I have an old LL Bean backpack that I love but it could use a wash. I don't want LL Bean to replace it b/c there is nothing wrong with it besides dirt.

Has anyone washed an older backpack on delicate in the washer? How about a lunchbox?

I will hang them to dry of course.

(the backpack is circa 1990 or so!)

 

[LisaNJ25]

I wash mine in the sink.. I usually put some spray and wash and let let soak in.. than use some oxy clean or laundry detergent and hang dry.

 

[kathi29]

I wash DDs backpack on delicate and hang it to dry. I've never tried a lunchbox. Those usually aren't as gross as the backpack

 

[cheesekate2005]

I wash backpacks and lunch boxes(even cheap ones) in the washing maching routinely. They survive and come out pretty clean too!

 

[andychris14]

I always put my kids backpacks in the washing machine. They come out beautiful looking like new.

 

[rbork]

I wash llbean bookbags, lunchboxes and duffles on a quick cycle! I let them line dry!
I don't wash the lunchboxes very often in the washer anymore, they seemed to get a moldy thing but then again God knows what my kid puts in there- it could just be him! The shape also gets alittle messed up.
All in all - I love bean and they hold up awesome!

 

[carj]

I have washed backpacks and lunchboxes, more often lunchboxes. My son eats peannut butter every day and his gets pretty sticky!

Here are the problems that I have noticed.

With backpacks, washing seems to make any zipper issues worse. If there are loose threads, then they seem to get caught in the zipper.

With lunchboxes, if there is any damage, then the lining is more likely to come out in the washing machine.

In my opinion, neither of those things would keep me from washing them. Both backpacks and lunchboxes get filthy so we wash them regularly. (My kids are still small though.)

I wash on delicate and then hang to dry.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I frequently wash backpacks in the washing machine without problems.

 

[TKERBELL]

The other alternative would be to wash it in the dishwasher like you do baseball caps - the soap is milder (less breakdown of the fibers) and there is not agitation or spinning - JMO

 

[MousekaMaddi]

wash my backpacks often, Jansport brand, they hold up well, HTH

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I've washed many LLB backpacks with no problems.

The LLB lunchboxes, as another poster mentioned, I run through the dishwasher. (Not sure how the vinyl liner would hold up through repeated agitations...)

 

[cocowum]

I have washed and dried DD's LL Bean backpack plenty of times.

She no longer uses it for school but I use it all the time. We've had it since 1999!