Tote bags are everywhere, and for good reason. These bags are practical, stylish, and versatile—plus after plus after plus!
However, these bags also come with a slight downside. Unlike most bags, tote bags require regular cleaning to keep them looking their best. After all, they're often made from materials that can easily accumulate dirt and stains and are worn almost every day.
So, how should you go about this regular maintenance? This guide on how to wash a tote bag will teach you precisely that.
Understanding Your Tote Bag
The exact steps for washing (or cleaning) your tote bag will primarily depend on its construction. So, naturally, we'll start by exploring the different types of tote bags.
Material and Durability
Canvas. Nylon. Polyester. Leather. Those are the most common materials used to create tote bags. The material is also the first detail you need to consider when determining the best way to wash your tote. So, let's say you purchase the Canvelle black crossbody tote. The first thing you should do is check the label. There, you'll see two words—“poly canvas”—and know exactly how to proceed.
Types of Tote Bags
Generally speaking, nylon and polyester tote bags are the easiest to clean, as these materials are exceptionally durable and resistant to stains and water damage. Canvas tote bags also fall under the category of relatively easy care but might require more attention (especially for stubborn stains). As for leather totes, they are the queens of high maintenance, and they play by entirely different rules. Without a doubt, the No. 1 rule for leather bags is to keep them away from washing machines!
Pre-Wash Preparation
You should take care of a few steps before starting the actual cleaning process.
Checking the Care Label
All the details you could possibly need to know about the proper way to wash your tote bag will be on the care label. These include manufacturer-specific instructions on the recommended washing method (e.g., hand wash, machine wash, or dry clean), the appropriate water temperature, and whether specific detergents or cleaning agents should be avoided.
While you should check the care label for all tote bags, pay special attention to those attached to designer bags and leather totes. These totes will often have more specific care instructions, crafted from delicate materials requiring gentler handling.
Emptying and Pre-Treating
Regardless of the cleaning procedure, you must ensure one thing before it starts. Your tote must be completely empty. Why? Because you're one forgotten pen or lipstick away from a permanent stain otherwise! So, make sure to check every compartment and every pocket for lingering items.
Afterward, it's pre-treating time!
This process entails applying a mild detergent or a stain remover pen directly to any visible stains. Spot cleaning will help with the washing process, making stains easier to remove.
Removing Loose Dirt
Emptying your bag will minimize the chance of heavy stains forming on the inside. Removing loose dirt will do the same for your tote bag's interior and exterior. All you need to do is shake out your tote to bid farewell to any loose dirt or crumbs. For the more persistent patches, use a lint roller or a soft brush.
Hand-Washing Your Tote Bag
Though hand-washing is more time-consuming and laborious, it's often the safest cleaning method for cotton canvas and delicate totes. It's gentler on those materials, prevents warping, and protects hardware. (Canvelle totes skip this chapter entirely — they're built for the machine.) With this in mind, let's see what supplies you need to make hand-washing happen and which cleaning steps will take you from prep to a refreshed tote.
Materials Needed
The exact supplies you'll need will generally depend on the fabric of your favorite tote. However, they can be roughly classified into three groups.
No. 1 – The location. Usually, a sink or a basin will do, as well as access to cold water and warm water.
No. 2 – The cleaning solution. A mild detergent will do wonders in most cases. However, leather tote bags will call for a designated leather cleaner.
No. 3 – The tools. A soft brush and a damp cloth are typically all you need. A soft-bristled brush (or a toothbrush) can come in handy for tougher stains or intricate areas.
Step-by-Step Hand-Washing Guide
For most tote bags, you only need to follow these simple steps to nail hand-washing:
- Fill your basin (or sink) with lukewarm water.
- Add a small amount of the mild detergent.
- Submerge the tote and gently agitate the water.
- Use the brush or the cloth to scrub the tote gently, primarily aiming to address stains.
- Rinse the bag thoroughly with clean water to remove all detergent.
- Avoid wringing or twisting the tote to maintain its shape.
For leather tote bags, skip submerging during the cleaning process. The right leather cleaner and a gentle rub are all you need.
Machine-Washing Your Tote Bag
Sometimes, you just lack the time or the energy manual washing requires. In these cases, it's machine-washing to the rescue! But beware. You won't be able to toss just any tote in the washing machine.
Suitable Tote Bags for Machine-Washing
Let's cut to the chase – leather is the only fabric this guide mentions that should never be machine-washed. The other popular fabric choices—canvas, polyester, nylon—can go into the washing machine in most cases. However, you should still always check the care label first to be 100% certain. Also, keep embellishments in mind. Sometimes, a tote can be made with machine-washable fabric, but delicate details like sequins or embroidery might not hold up as well in the machine.
Thankfully, Canvelle bags are completely machine washable!
Machine-Washing Instructions
Again, it's all about the specific manufacturer instructions. However, an average machine-washing process goes like this:
- Place the tote in a pillowcase or laundry bag to protect it.
- Toss it in alone to prevent color transfer (even if it's a black tote bag!).
- Use a gentle cycle with cold water.
- Add a mild liquid detergent.
- Remove the tote immediately after the cycle ends to prevent mold growth.
For a Canvelle tote, it's even simpler: remove the strap, open all zippers, and wash on cold. No pillowcase required.
Stain Removal Techniques for Common Stains
Loose dirt comes out in a normal wash, but stubborn stains need a little extra attention before the machine does its work.
Ink Stains
Put a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab — not soaked, just damp. Gently dab at the ink to lift it; don't rub, or you'll spread it around. Swap in a clean swab as each one saturates, and work in a well-ventilated spot.
Oil and Grease Stains
Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda over the stain to absorb the oil and leave it for 15–20 minutes. Brush the powder away, repeat if there's still oil present, then dab the area clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent before washing as usual.
Water Stains on Leather
Counterintuitively, a water stain on leather is fixed with more water: moisten the area around the stain with a soft cloth and cold water, wipe in gentle circles, and let the whole bag air dry so the mark blends away.
Drying Your Tote Bag
By now, you should know how to wash a tote bag. Now, it's time to learn how to dry one.
Air-Drying Tips
For most totes there's one simple rule: air-dry. It's how cotton canvas and embellished bags keep their shape and avoid shrinkage. Just locate a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, place a drying rack there, reshape the bag, and let it dry. The exception is performance poly-canvas — Canvelle totes are built for the dryer, so you can skip the rack entirely.
What About the Dryer?
For cotton canvas, leather, and anything with delicate hardware or embellishments, the dryer is the danger zone — high heat and tumbling can shrink fabric, warp the shape, weaken seams, and melt details. Canvelle totes are the exception: machine dry low for 10–20 minutes and they come out looking new. That's the whole point of performance poly-canvas.
Regular Maintenance and Storage
Not a fan of cleaning your totes too often? No problem. Just take care of your tote bag properly, and it should stay clean for longer. Of course, this goes for almost every other functional bag you might own — from a women's toiletry bag to carry-on travel bags and belt bags.
Spot Cleaning
Address minor stains on time, and you won't have to deal with permanent marks down the road. Keep an efficient stain removal product at hand at all times, and be ready to clean stains as they arise.
Routine Care
With a few additional maintenance tips, your tote bag will stay looking fresh at all times.
- Get rid of dirt and debris on a regular basis.
- Store your tote bag(s) in a cool, dry, and clean spot away from direct sunlight.
- Use acid-free tissue paper to help maintain the tote's shape.
Tote-ally Tidy!
Properly cleaning (and maintaining) your tote bag goes a long way toward keeping it your faithful companion for years to come. Our guide on how to wash a tote bag should give you all the basics, but we're always eager to learn more tips and tricks, so do share yours in the comments section below. For more care tips and product recommendations, subscribe to our newsletter or dive into our other articles and guides. It's all about staying tote-ally in the loop!
FAQs
Can you put a tote bag in the washing machine?
Depends on the tote. Cotton canvas is safest hand washed, and many totes can't take the machine at all. Canvelle totes are built for it — machine wash cold, tumble dry low, done.
How do I clean my tote bag?
You can hand-wash, machine-wash, or dry-clean your tote bag, depending on its type.
Do tote bags shrink when washed?
Some tote bags (e.g., canvas and cotton) can shrink when washed improperly.
Can you wash reusable tote bags?
Absolutely! You'll just need to take extra care, depending on the material.