How to Wash a Swiss Gear Backpack?

There’s no exaggeration in saying that Swiss Gear has been manufacturing some mind-blowing and long-lasting durable backpack packages for the recent few years.

But wait! You can only keep on going with your favorite Swiss Gear backpack for years and years if you maintain it properly.

And the first step is how to wash a Swiss Gear backpack.

Flinging it directly into the washer without pre-treating the stains and finally spinning it isn’t a good idea, trust me. Things go bad, and materials turn out to be miserable if you don’t care for them properly.

What’s the catch, by the way? Why don’t you think to give a complete professional cleaning treatment to your backpack instead of spending many dollars on laundry?

We’re right here with our complete step-by-step guide to make this task easier and maintain the quality to the optimal.

Hand Washing the Swiss Gear Backpack

Let’s get into the process!

Step 1 -Emptying the Backpack

Would you like to wash your fragile items or important notes in your backpack? Probably not.

Swiss Gear backpacks are mostly water-resistant but not waterproof. If you leave any essentials in it and wash them straight away, they may get wet and ruined.

First, you have to turn the backpack inside out and clean the interior corner using a small vacuum. These corners mostly have small dirt particles or paper clutterings accumulated that you primarily have to bring into the light. 

After emptying it, leave it unzipped right away and keep a few things in mind.

• When you are emptying the backpack, please keep all the belongings in a plastic bag to arrange them back after cleaning. It will help you not messing out with any item.
• What about if any item itself is dirty? Are you going to place that dirty thing back in your washed backpack? Well, don’t do that -clean that item too.

Step 2 -Preparing it for Washing

You can’t just fling your backpack right away into the water; proper caution is required.

Start from picking and brushing off exterior dirt and end at wiping the exterior using a damp cloth -that’s how you can get things underway.

But wait! Keep the following things in mind.

• If there’s any plastic or metal frame around your backpack, prefer removing it before washing.
• Detach the straps and pockets if removable from the main compartment. Wash them separately to make sure that you’ve cleaned the bag thoroughly.
• If you see any loosened fibers or threads around the zipping areas, cut them straight away. It will ensure that your backpack is free from snagged or stuck zippers.

Step 3 -Checking the Care Label of the Backpack

Most of the Swiss Gear backpacks come with their care label to show the right strategy of cleaning the bag. It’s usually placed somewhere besides the side seam in the main compartment.

The care labels contain all the necessary precautions to ensure the sustainability of the backpack.

• Some chemicals in the detergents may mess out with the backpack’s material to question its durability. It’s always best to follow all the guidelines on it.
• What if your backpack doesn’t have any care label? Don’t worry! Do the patch test right here to see how it responds to the cleaning agents.

Step 4 -Pre-treating the Stains

Are there any deep muddy or spilled perfume stains on your backpack? Don’t rely on the washing only; these stains really need a special pre-treatment.

You can use any stain remover to target the spots but make sure it’s not the bleach. Scrub the stain with any brush or old toothbrush and let remover sit on it for 30 minutes.

Wait, wait, wait! If you don’t have any staining pre-treatment, you can get the job done using a 1:1 solution of water and a liquid detergent.

Step 5 -Filling Lukewarm Water in a Large Tub

If you have a laundry sink or a basin, it’s well and good. But using a bathtub can is also fair for doing this job.

The thing matters is that there should be ample room for washing all the compartments of the backpack properly.

• If you don’t want fabric discoloration, don’t use hot water.
• If the backpack material and care label indicate no to submerge it fully in water, then use a soaked rag to wipe it off.

Step 6 -Adding a Gentle Detergent

Use a detergent that’s free from harsh chemicals, dyes, or fragrances to maintain your backpack’s durability.

Some harsh chemicals can call the fabric’s quality into question by diminishing waterproofing layers’ efficacy.

Step 7 -Scrubbing it with a Soft Brush

Just like you gently scrub your skin, your backpack needs the same care. Start scrubbing off the stains on the exterior and interior by fully submerging them into water.

Or you can either use a water dip or wet rag to rub the backpack thoroughly. Using a brush is a great approach to get rid of deep stains quickly, and the rag is suitable for general cleaning.

But wait! keep the following things in mind.

• If your bag is made up of a fragile fabric like mesh, using a brush isn’t a smart approach. Use a sponge instead that will get the job done without ripping the fabric.
• Using a toothbrush is a good idea for stubborn stains and hard-to-reach areas. 

Step 8 -Rinsing it Thoroughly

It’s the final step where you need to be quite vigilant to ensure there’s no soapy residue left behind. Use the lukewarm water and rinse the detergent thoroughly out of the backpack.

• Twist and wring the bag to your fullest potential. You can either use a towel, roll it around the bag, make it like a tube, squeeze it properly, and that’s it.
• But don’t be so harsh on some fragile zippered, foamed, and strapped parts to damage them.

Step 9 -Drying the Backpack, Finally

Here’s the final step! Using a spinner make things easy, but we’ll refer you to let the backpack dry naturally. Actually, the spinner can twist it so harshly that its fragile meshed parts may rip off.

Hang the backpack upside down and make sure all the zippers are opened to get adequate air.

• Using sunlight is a good idea, no doubt. It will help in de-odorizing the bag from any unpleasant smell. But make sure you’re not leaving it for a long time in the sunlight; it may fade the fabric too.
• Before you’re bringing it into use or storing it right away, make sure every bit of it is properly dried.

What happens when you leave it wet?

Well, the most un-welcoming thing -the great molds will make their way to the wet parts and mess out with the bag.

Is Machine Washing Safe for a Swiss Gear Backpack?

There are a few nylon or canvas backpacks that are quite safe for washing in machines. But what if the washer still rips it off?

If you really don’t want to end-up the lifespan of a bag that was meant to last longer, don’t fling it into a washing machine -things may get complicated.

Washing a backpack in a washer is somehow acceptable if the material is compatible with it but drying it in a spinner goes beyond the thoughts.

The mesh rips off, the zippers may caulk, the water-repellent coating may peel off, or anything can happen if you spin it straight away.

The towel-twisting technique and hanging up-side-down are the best ways to dry the backpack naturally. Why don’t you even wash it with your hands? Think about it!

The Bottom Line

From gently scrubbing the stained area to rub it hard with a nylon-bristle brush for spot cleaning and rinsing it with lukewarm water – so that’s how to wash a Swiss Gear backpack.

Make sure you’re not saturating the fabric and getting onto the leather trim. We even recommend not to use heat even to dry the bag; it may damage the fabric.

What about alcohol or benzene-based cleaning products? Please don’t use them either.

We have mentioned the detailed guide for washing the backpack in the best possible way. All you have to do is follow this guide to get the optimal results.