what's the best way of cleaning my domke F-1x ?

[ed rader]

i'm not putting it in the wash machine so scratch that :D?

i was thinking more along the lines of soaking it in woolite or dry cleaning.

what say you :D?

ed rader

[René Damkot]

I've put my Billingham bags in a bath tub filled with lukewarm water, then rinsed under the shower. It might discolor the bag (and the leather), but it does come out cleaner ;)

What happened that you want to clean it?

[ed rader]

I've put my Billingham bags in a bath tub filled with lukewarm water, then rinsed under the shower. It might discolor the bag (and the leather), but it does come out cleaner ;)

What happened that you want to clean it?

i used the bag on safari and while it's a dark color and really doesn't look dirty i thought it might be a good idea to clean the bag and remove the dust :D.

your idea is what i had in mind. i wonder if drycleaning would also work?

ed rader

[mrfourcows]

try sending an email to domke.

i read the prescribed cleaning method somewhere before, but i can't remember it now.

[Jon]

They're machine-washable. Why aren't you willing to consider that? Only reservation I'd have about dry cleaning is potential chemical residue from the process. I'd also think the agitation of a washer would do a better job getting the dust loose.

[Pinto]

Might as well go to the horse's mouth. From the Domke site:

Q: I own a Domke camera bag. It’s been a while since I bought my bag and it’s gotten a bit dirty over time. In addition I used it in the last month while covering a movie that was shot in the desert so the bag got sandy as well. My question, as you have guessed. is how do I clean my bag?

A: Your Domke bag is constructed of heavy, durable canvas material and it can be washed on gentle cycle in a washing machine or in a sink or tub using mild detergent. We suggest you vacuum out any sand first. We have examined many old Domke bags that have been machine washed several times and look and work just fine after much hard use

[Freff]

I have cleaned my Billingham regularly with SOAP FLAKES ONLY and warm water. I would not recommend washing machine detergent because most use bleach and other nasty's that's no good for leather and the waterproofing of the canvas.

[Jon]

Domkes don't have either leather or waterproof coatings. They rely on the natural properties of the cotton (it swells when wet) to prevent water from flowing through. If you're really paranoid you could spray them with NikWax. So machine washing presents no perils to the bag. If, of course, you (or your spouse) worry about the metal dinging the washer drum, that's a different issue, but the Domke will do fine.

[Freff]

Domkes don't have either leather or waterproof coatings.

I was referring to my bags and their properties generally. If it was safe for the Billimgham then there should be no problems with the Domke.;)