Washing a Backpack

Hey all, I was out today shooting and it was hot enough to make me sweat, all over my backpack. In case it matters it's a Click Elite. So that it doesn't start to stink, after a few more sweaty times out, can I machine wash it? If not then how? I figured I'd take all the dividers out and whatever detaches, wash it in cold with Woolite and line dry? Will I ruin the bag?

If in doubt ask them direct, if they are anything like lowepro customer service you should get a swift and very helpful reply

http://clikelite.com …raphy-company/contact-us/

Check http://www.trails.com …pack-washing-machine.html. Warning the site starts out by stating don't wash a backpack "...if you want to use the backpack again!"

Just to be clear, You can wash it, but not in a machine.

Thanks for the link explaining how to clean, but it's typical of what I've read online already as they never address sweat or sweat possibly soaking into the padding. As ClickElite has no noted phone number I've emailed them on the form provided. Will have to see what they recommend.

What I'm most concerned with is the interior padding acting like a sponge and then eventually smelling. Could sweat get through the outer fabric and into the padding?

If it does begin to smell, would it be ok to spray with febreeze, no scent?

I don't think it's much more effort to hand wash and let air dry: especially since there's not a question of it wearing the backpack down

Thanks Dave, but how would hand washing clean the inner pads? Heck, maybe I'm over thinking all this. I may do a light cleaning and see what happens over time as far as odor.

NManuel, If it does begin to smell, I'll give that a shot.

I would soak it in a mild soap, like Woolite, rinse in a couple of buckets of cold water, and let it dry out, adjusting it occasionally to restore the shape.

For anyone following this thread I heard back from Clik Elite:

"...use a mild soap like Mr Bubbles so that you don't break down the protective coating. Our staff photographer has washed some of his Clik packs in a front load washer* on hand wash settings and had good success. It will take a long time to dry.

*Note: this is not the preferred method of washing, and we cannot promise that it will not deform some. Air dry only. Don't try to dry it in the dryer. "...

"The actual padding in the the pack is EVA foam. It will not absorb moisture."

The latter is exactly what I was looking for, so I see no need to try the washer method.

Thanks all.

Well... you're overthinking this. Take you backpack and play soccer with it for a few minutes in the dirt. Then hose it down with water, and you don't have to worry about it being clean ever again.

But if you must wash it, I'd recommend just hosing it down with body temperature water. It will remove the salts from the sweat and most of the fatty acids as well. If you use soap, you'll remove the DWR coating.

I'd leave it alone. If you're hiking around, the last thing you're worried about is the backpack smelling.

I'd just use a 5 gallon bucket of water and just wash it by hand then let it air dry. You can use nikwax to add some dwr for water protection.

I own a laundry. My advice would be to run it through a small front loader machine on delicate cycle with a mild soap like Woolite. On delicate cycle it will spin in the machine gently and the extraction cycle will spin much slower (resulting in poor extraction), but this isn't a problem since your pack doesn't absorb water anyway. Take it home and dry it by hanging it on a door or chair and blowing a fan on it until dry. Do not dry it in a tumble dryer!