When I did my marathon, Joints in Motion (the charity I was walking for) gave us all these really nice backpacks. I love mine.
Except I left it out in the living room one day and, well, the cat peed on it. Probably because I had brought it over to the house of a friend who has a cat.
I have Febreeze'd it many times, but it still stinks to high heaven. And I really, really want to salvage this bag. So, can I throw it in the wash? Or Woolite it? Anyone know?
Thanks!
Posted by Snarky (Member # 4406) on :
I don't see why not, unless it's made out of suede or something. And even if washing it ruins it, at least you know that it was already ruined before you washed it.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
Well I'm don't know anything about washing machines but I can tell you that putting things with tons of plastics things attached into the wash is probably a bad idea.
Hobbes Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
When Banana decided to store maple syrup in her nice new backpack a couple of weeks ago, we looked at the care instructions, and they said you could wipe it with a damp cloth, but they said nothing about washing. As it happened, we actually had a couple of $5 Wal-Mart ones that we were not using, so we just switched backpacks. Her old one was much nicer than the Wal-Mart one, so maybe she learned a little something there.
Or maybe not.
As Jon Boy said, though, it doesn't sound like you have anything to lose. Just keep the temperature low if there's anything on it that could be damaged by the wash.
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
Did you mean the dryer, Hobbes? Because I recommend against drying it....
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
I googled it, and the hiking sites recommend washing your packs by hand with mild detergent. So Woolite it is.
If that doesn't work, though, I may throw it in the machine.
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
I meant both. I think hand washing would probabaly be fine (it's like being in a really pervasive rain ) but the washing machine could probably get damaged. Not that I would know but... that's what I think.
Hobbes Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
I've washed backpacks before. None of them got ruined, but I suppose it depends on what it's made out of.
Posted by MaureenJanay (Member # 2935) on :
Maybe use a weak solution of OxyClean. The carpet guy told us that OxyClean ruins the color of your carpet over time, but if you test the backpack for colorfastness and just use it once, it should be okay. Plus it smells really good. Woolite makes a carpet stain cleaner that works for pet stains and smells that has something like OxyClean in it. I just bought some today and I really like it.
I had this come up once. There was a drug search back in high school and one of the highly trained officers of the K-9 unit "marked" a friend's backpack. Yay.
[ October 09, 2003, 11:38 PM: Message edited by: MaureenJanay ]
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Woolite is usually safe. You can wash canvas backpacks in a washing machine - I washed my old Jansport and L.L. Bean backpacks in the machine many times.
Leather, pleather, plastic, and vinyl should never be washed with soap and water.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Cat pee on a backpack calls for drastic measures. You will never get the smell ou, especially if it is male spray, unless you really wash it. I have washed backpacks. As long as they are not leather, and you do not dry them, they should be OK. If you have a wash bag(mesh) I would pop it in that first. Liz
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
I have washed backpacks too, with good success. Even ones with leather bottoms. Just no dryer. Unfortunately, anything with nylon or synthetics really holds the smell of cat pee. Also, even if you manage to get the smell out, if you leave said backpack where your cat can find it, she will pee on it again, so look out!
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Probably because I had brought it over to the house of a friend who has a cat.![[Smile]](smile.gif)