How to Clean Gym Bag

We all understand the relevance of maintaining good hygiene, especially when it comes to our gym equipment and clothes. Most people have a habit of cleaning their gym clothes and shoes post-workout. After all, we don’t want dirt and bacteria to grow on our belongings.

However, we tend to forget our gym bags when it comes to disinfecting and cleaning. Your gym bag is your permanent workout companion, and you need to keep it fresh, clean, and free of odor.

Hence, regular cleaning of gym bags is necessary to eradicate microbe and foul smell. Let us discuss how you can clean your gym bag to keep it fresh.

1. Take out all the items from your bag.

To clean your gym bag, you need to empty all its content, including workout clothes, equipment, shoes, socks, and other things. Check all the compartments and remove all the items.

Most bags, including small gym bag for women, have a removable piece placed at the bottom to make them sturdy. Remove this base before starting the cleaning process. This will make it easier to wash the bag, and you can place it later once the bag is clean.

Keep all the contents of the bag in one place to avoid losing anything. If the contents of your bag need cleaning, wash them as well. You do not want to place dirty items in your clean gym bag.

2. Read the care labels.

The care labels in your bag contain instructions for washing and drying the gym bag. If you do not follow these care labels, you may end up ruining your bag.

The wash and dry instructions depend on the material of the bag. Nylon or canvas bags can be machine washed, but you cannot throw a leather bag in the washing machine. Some bags may contain a mixture of different fabrics. Hence, reading the care labels becomes essential.

3. Wash your gym bag.

Using lukewarm water to wash your bag will help remove the bacteria and odor effectively. However, if the care labels instruction mention using cold water, you should avoid using warm water as it can cause shrinkage.

You can use sports detergent for washing your bag or any special detergent meant for gym bags. If you can’t find any such detergent, you can use regular detergent mixed with half a cup of white vinegar. Now wash the bag in a delicate cycle.

You can also wash your gym bags by hand. Make sure all the compartments are clean. You can also use a soft brush in specific areas to get rid of stubborn stains or dirt.

Sometimes you may need to wash a gym bag twice to remove the odor completely.

4. Dry your gym bag.

Once you have washed the bag, allow it to air dry by placing it on a towel. Open all the zippers and compartments to dry all the moisture.

5. Use an antibacterial wipe for all parts of the bag.

After the bag is dry, use an antibacterial wipe to disinfect the bag. Make sure you wipe every little corner in your bag and let it air dry for a while.

Remember the sturdy base we removed at the beginning of the process; you need to clean that as well. First, wipe it with a rag soaked in soapy water and then with a dry and clean cloth. After it is dry, wipe it with an antibacterial wipe and place it inside your clean bag.

If there is still some residual odor, you can use disinfecting sprays. There are numerous sprays available in the market that help eliminate the smell from gym clothes and bags.

Your bag is now clean, fresh, and ready to be used again.