How to clean your sailbag?
Committed to an eco-friendly approach, our boat sailcloth bags are made to last. To take good care of them, our team has prepared cleaning tips so they can accompany you for years to come!
How to care for your recycled sail bag?
To maximize the lifespan of your recycled bag, here are some simple and quick tips to adopt:
- Avoid exposing it to a source of heat (radiator, fireplace), light (sun), or high humidity.
- When not in use, instead of placing it on the floor or a shelf, hang your bag to prevent it from getting creased.
- For bags with a leather base, waterproof them after purchase with a waterproofing spray, and repeat the process every 6 months.
- For bags with a leather or linen base, be careful not to scratch or rub your bag against abrasive surfaces.
How to clean your sailbag?
Oh no, a stain! Start by emptying your bag and shaking it to remove the dust.
1. Bags made from recycled white (Dacron) sail, with a fabric base and an Insigna number.
- For small colored stains (drink, food, mud, etc.), rub the stain with a damp cloth, a toothbrush or a small brush, with a few drops of soap. Rub or brush in circles towards the inside of the stain so as not to spread it. Recommended soaps: Marseille soap.
- For grease marks (e.g. oil stains), immediately sprinkle the stain with Terre de Sommières Dry stain remover and leave to act overnight (or 12 hours). Brush off the stain remover next morning. Terre de Sommières can be found in the form of powdered clay, available in the household product aisle or online.
- For colored grease marks, immediately sprinkle the stain with Terre de Sommières Dry stain remover and leave to act overnight (or 12 hours). Brush off the stain remover and rub/brush the stain with a damp cloth, a toothbrush or a small brush, with a few drops of soap.
- For large stains or overall dirty bags, machine wash your bag at 86°F/30°C (maximum), without the spinning cycle. Be sure to remove the rope handles of your bag before washing. After washing, turn the bag lining inside out and let it air dry, away from any source of heat nor direct sunlight.
2. Bags made from recycled white (Dacron) sail, with a leather base and/or a leather number.
Leather is a delicate material that does not tolerate stains and cannot be washed in a machine.
With leather, it's better to prevent than to cure! We advise you to conscientiously waterproof your bag's leather after purchase with a waterproofing spray and repeat the process every 6 months.
3. Bags made from recycled white (Dacron) sail, with a linen base
Linen is a durable material, but on our bags, it is covered with a thin protective film. To preserve this protective film, we advise against putting your bag in the washing machine.
- For stains on linen, gently rub the stain with a slightly dampened microfiber cloth soaked in mild soap. Use lukewarm or cold water, but not hot, which could shrink the linen fibers. After washing, turn the lining of the bag inside out and let the bag air dry away from any heat sources and direct sunlight.
4. Bags made from recycled technical sail
No matter the stain or its size, bags made from technical sailcloth can be easily cleaned with a sponge (smooth side) and water. After washing, let your bag air dry away from any heat sources and direct sunlight. Machine washing is strongly discouraged!
5. Bags made from recycled Spinnaked sail (without leather details)
ie. Fanny pack, Spi bag.
- For small stains, rub with a sponge (smooth side) and soapy water.
- For bigger stains, machine wash your bag at 86°F/30°C (maximum), without the spinning cycle. After washing, turn the bag lining inside out and let it air dry, away from any source of heat nor direct sunlight.
6. Cotton bag handles
You can machine wash your bag handles at 86°F/30°C (maximum), without the spinning cycle. After washing, simply let them air dry.
FAQ
The eyelets on my bag have rusted onto the sailcloth, how can I clean the stains?
Although the eyelets used for our bags are made of stainless steel, certain situations such as exposure to water or sand can cause oxidation (rust) to form on this alloy, which sometimes leaches onto the sailcloth.
In case of rust stains, use a rust remover. Soak the stain thoroughly with hot water, let it sit for a few moments, scrub, and rinse with lukewarm water.
My jeans have bled onto the base or sailcloth of my bag.
We indeed advise against wearing brand new jeans with your bags, as they can bleed through friction onto the bag. The issue here lies with the jeans and not the bag: wash your jeans at least once after purchase to prevent color transfer.
The leather number on my bag has bled onto the sailcloth, help!
Leather numbers require regular maintenance to prevent bleeding onto the sailcloth: we recommend waterproofing the leather after purchase with a waterproofing spray, and repeating the process every 6 months.
If the leather color has bled onto the sailcloth, gently scrub the stain with a small brush and a few drops of soap. Scrub in the opposite direction of the leather to avoid spreading the stain. Dry your bag immediately with a hairdryer, positioning the hairdryer in the opposite direction of the sailcloth.
Do you repair the bags?
Our workshop in Annapolis repairs your bags, to the possible extend, to extend their lifespan.
Please contact customerservice@727sailbags.com and send photos of your bag, so our seamstress can assess the repair and give you a quote.
