How to take care of your beach bag?

Who says summer vacation, says overloaded beach bag – you have to take the sunscreen, the ball, the crosswords … – But between the sea salt, the spilled sunscreen oil and the crushed snack, a stain is sometimes arriving very quickly! Don't panic: we'll give you some tips for taking...

Maintaining a canvas bag

Tote bag, totebag, transformable bag… Regardless of its type, the canvas bag is essential for a day at the beach thanks to its spacious format and large handles. But how do you clean a canvas bag after an afternoon lounging in the sun?

The first tip to remember: if possible, always prefer hand washing over machine washing, which is more aggressive. To do this:

Step 1

Dust off your bag by shaking it and/or using a dry cloth.

Step 2

If there are stains (from sunscreen or melted chocolate cookie, for example): rub them with a brush or a soft cloth, Marseille soap, and warm water. Then rinse with clear water.

Step 3

Thoroughly clean your bag.

Step 4

Let your bag dry in the open air, on a flat surface. Do not hang it with pins, as it may become misshapen!

If you still wish to machine wash your canvas bag, here are some tips to avoid damaging your favorite model:

Set your machine to the "hand wash" option.
Be sure to remove the shoulder straps and all accessories from your bag before putting it in the machine.
Protect your bag with a mesh bag (if you don't have one, a pillowcase will do just fine).
Use a small amount of detergent and a short cycle.
Do not spin your bag in the machine, as this may damage it.
Let your bag air dry.

With this, your canvas bag should regain all the beauty that you adore!

Maintaining a nylon bag

Another essential for beach days: the nylon bag, valued for its water resistance. So no need to panic if your favorite totebag takes an unexpected plunge. To maintain it, once again hand washing is preferable to machine washing.

To clean your nylon bag by hand:

Step 1

Prefer using a "homemade" product for pre-washing: mix 1 cup of cold water and about 30ml of dish soap.

Step 2

Rub the stains with your DIY product and a toothbrush using circular motions (foam should be created).

Step 3

Wipe the surface of the fabric with a damp cloth.

Step 4

Dry your bag by tapping it.

Note: the use of hot water is prohibited on nylon as it leaves marks!
Furthermore, you must wash your nylon bag by hand if it has leather handles. These should not be submerged in water.
To clean leather handles, simply apply a cotton pad soaked in shoe cream or makeup remover.

If you wish to wash your nylon bag in the machine, here are some recommendations:

Set your machine to a "cold wash".
Add very little detergent to the machine: use half the amount of product compared to what you would use for a small load of laundry.
Run the machine on a normal cycle, as you would for durable clothing.

And because we know that sunscreen can be our number one enemy in summer… Here are some grandmother's remedies to tackle grease stains on your favorite nylon bag!

If the stain is fresh, apply talcum powder or flour to absorb it.
If the stain is older, apply slightly damp Marseille soap; after 1 hour, rub the stain, rinse, and dry.

And there you go! Your canvas and nylon bags are as clean as new – and ready for new salty adventures… but not (sea)food...