--- title: "How to clean and wash a backpack – a practical step-by-step guide" description: "A backpack is a basic piece of kit for every thru-hiker and ordinary hiker alike. Just about everyone owns some kind of backpack. In the context of long-distance treks and multi-day crossings it forms, together with a sleeping bag and shelter, the so-called \"Big 3\" – the most important and often one of the most expensive items of outdoor gear. A quality backpack, especially one made from technical and ultralight materials like Dyneema®, X-Pac® or EcoPack™, is an investment that should last for years. But to keep its functionality, low weight and durability, it also needs proper care. In this article we'll show you step by step how to gently clean and wash your backpack so it serves you reliably on all your next adventures." canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/how-to-clean-and-wash-a-backpack" last_updated: "2025-05-25" --- # How to clean and wash a backpack – a practical step-by-step guide Authors: Petra Kovalčíková Date: 2025-05-25 A backpack is a basic piece of kit for every thru-hiker and ordinary hiker alike. Just about everyone owns some kind of backpack. In the context of long-distance treks and multi-day crossings it forms, together with a sleeping bag and shelter, the so-called "Big 3" – the most important and often one of the most expensive items of outdoor gear. A quality backpack, especially one made from technical and ultralight materials like Dyneema®, X-Pac® or EcoPack™, is an investment that should last for years. But to keep its functionality, low weight and durability, it also needs proper care. In this article we'll show you step by step how to gently clean and wash your backpack so it serves you reliably on all your next adventures. A backpack is a basic part of every thru-hiker's – and every regular hiker's – gear. Pretty much everyone owns one. In the context of long-distance trails and multi-day crossings, it forms the so-called "Big 3" together with a sleeping bag and a shelter – the most important, and often one of the most expensive, pieces of outdoor gear. A quality backpack, especially one made from technical, ultralight materials like Dyneema®, X-Pac®, or EcoPack™, is an investment that should last for years. But to keep its functionality, low weight, and durability, it also needs proper care. In this article, we'll show you step by step how to gently clean and wash your backpack so it keeps serving you reliably on every future adventure. ## **Why and how often should you clean your backpack?** During use, dust, sweat, grease, food scraps, mud, and other dirt build up inside and on the surface of your backpack. Salt and grime can gradually damage the outer material and zippers, shortening the lifespan of your outdoor gear. That's why we recommend **emptying, airing out, and lightly wiping down** any stains or dirt on your backpack **after every trip**. Hand-washing the whole backpack is worth doing **based on how heavily you use it** – roughly once every few hundred kilometers, after every major thru-hike, or whenever the backpack starts looking visibly dirty or smelling. ## **Hand-wash or machine-wash?** Although some backpacks can be machine-washed if you follow the manufacturer's instructions (it depends on size, materials used, and construction), we don't recommend it for ultralight models made from technical materials. Machine washing can damage the fabric's fibers, seams, and special coatings. **We recommend hand-washing every backpack in our range** – gently and safely. Always follow the instructions on the manufacturer's label as well. ## **What to (not) use when washing** Only use **fragrance-free mild soap** or **special cleaning products** designed for the specific fabric your backpack is made of. Our top pick for cleaning backpacks is Atsko Sport Wash (available in [532 ml](/p/atsko-sport-wash-532-ml) and [1000 ml](/p/atsko-sport-wash-1000-ml) bottles) and [Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash](/p/nikwax-tent-gear-solarwash-500-ml). **What should you never do when cleaning your backpack?** - Don't use harsh detergents, bleach, fabric softener, or laundry powder. - Don't dry-clean your backpack. - Never wash your backpack in boiling or near-boiling water. - Don't use stiff brushes, abrasive sponges, or scouring pads to clean it. - Never put your backpack in a tumble dryer. - Never dry your backpack near a fireplace or an open fire. - Never iron your backpack. - [Atsko Sport Wash 532 ml](/p/atsko-sport-wash-532-ml.md) - [Atsko Sport Wash 1000 ml](/p/atsko-sport-wash-1000-ml.md) - [Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash 500 ml](/p/nikwax-tent-gear-solarwash-500-ml.md) - [Nikwax Tech Wash 300 ml](/p/nikwax-tech-wash-300-ml.md) - [Nikwax Tech Wash 1 L](/p/nikwax-tech-wash-1-l.md) ## **How to clean minor dirt off your backpack** This cleaning method is ideal for regular maintenance after individual trips and treks, and it prevents dirt from building up, which could damage the material or permanently stain it over time. If your backpack is only lightly dirty, spot-cleaning the affected area is enough: - **Empty the backpack** 🎒 – Open every pocket and take everything out. If you need to clean the inside and the construction allows it, remove the internal stiffeners and any removable parts so you can turn the backpack inside out. - **Shake it out and vacuum it** **🧹** – Gently shake the backpack, then lightly vacuum the inside and seams with a narrow attachment to remove dust, crumbs, and sand. - **Spot clean** **🧼** – Dampen a soft sponge, soft brush, or piece of cloth with lukewarm/warm soapy water and gently clean dirty spots on the backpack, including the shoulder straps, hip belt, or back panel. - **Zippers** 🤐 – Lightly brush out dirty zippers to prevent excess wear on the sliders and teeth. ## **How to wash the whole backpack** If your backpack needs a thorough cleaning, follow these steps: - **Check the label** 🏷️ – Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on the product label or in the manual first. Make sure whether the whole backpack can be soaked, or whether some parts need to be protected. - **Empty the backpack** 🎒 – Open every pocket, take everything out (including any dirty socks and forgotten trail mix), and if the construction allows it, remove the internal stiffeners and any removable parts. - **Shake it out and vacuum it 🧹** – Gently shake the backpack, then lightly vacuum the inside and seams with a narrow attachment to remove dust, crumbs, and sand. - **Pre-treat stains 🧼** – For stubborn stains or grease marks, apply a mild soap, gently work it in with a brush or sponge, and let it sit for a while. - **Prepare a soapy bath 🛁** – Depending on the backpack's size, fill a bathtub, a large sink, or another container with lukewarm/warm water (never too hot or boiling) and add a small amount of mild soap. - **Soak and wash** **🧧🧽** – Submerge the backpack in the water and gently squeeze all its parts. Thoroughly clean the outside and inside with a sponge or soft cloth. Focus especially on areas that come into contact with sweat – the shoulder straps, back panel, and hip belt. You can also turn the backpack inside out to reach the inner lining. - **Rinse 🚿** – Rinse the backpack thoroughly with clean water until every trace of soap is gone. Make sure to rinse both the inside and the outside of the backpack thoroughly. - **Drying** 💨 – Give the wet backpack a light shake, then hang it upside down in a well-ventilated, shaded spot so the water can drain freely. Don't expose the backpack to direct sunlight or heat. Let it dry completely before using or storing it again. ## **Restoring water repellency** Some backpacks are made from a material with a water-repellent DWR coating, which wears off after a few wash cycles or extended use. To restore it, we recommend using a re-waterproofing product made for that purpose (e.g. [Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarProof 500 ml](/p/nikwax-tent-gear-solarproof-500-ml)). Always use these products according to the manufacturer's instructions. Re-waterproofing treatment should always be applied to a clean backpack. [Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarProof 500 ml](/p/nikwax-tent-gear-solarproof-500-ml.md) ## **Summary** Regular, gentle care is the key to your backpack's long life. Air it out and clear away minor dirt after every use. Make time for a thorough wash whenever the backpack gets noticeably dirty or starts losing its performance. Remember that hand-washing with mild soap and proper drying will extend the life of ultralight technical materials, and your backpack will keep being a great companion for many more kilometers ahead. - [Liteway Gramless Pack 35 L](/p/liteway-gramless-pack-x-pac-35-l.md) - [Liteway Fanny Pack](/p/liteway-fanny-pack.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 55](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-unbound-55.md) - [Liteway Elementum Pack 50 L (2024)](/p/liteway-elementum-pack-50-l-2024.md) - [Hyperlite Mountain Gear Junction 55 (2025)](/p/hyperlite-mountain-gear-junction-55.md) - [Liteway Biggie Pack X-Pac 45 L](/p/liteway-biggie-pack-x-pac-45-l.md) - [Montane Trailblazer 44 (2024)](/p/montane-trailblazer-44-2024.md) - [Montane Trailblazer 32 (2024)](/p/montane-trailblazer-32.md) This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/how-to-clean-and-wash-a-backpack). ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.