Thread: How do you guys clean your packs?

As titled.

I had a bit of a shocker with a macpac weka which needed a repair. I shot a deer put the legs in and stained the inner with blood. Not badly but enough to notice.
I soaked it in cold water overnight, then I cleaned with light solution of handy andy and cold water and a stiff brush, then the hose.
Thinking it would be clean enough for repair, just with one stain set into it which i cant get out, I took it to macpac who sent it to their factory only for it to be sent back as being too dirty, which really annoyed me.

Anyone got any pro tips? Usually I’d just do as above and its always been fine but just wondering how everyone else does it.

Making a paste from baking soda and warm water then smearing that on stains and leaving for a while before rinsing out is usually a pretty good solution.

For blood I mostly fill a plastic tub large enough to take the completely submerged pack, fill the tub with hot but not boiling water, submerge the pack and keep it submerged with bricks / blocks on top. The water temperature alone will reliquify the blood which flows ouf of the pack fabric by itself. After about 30 min submersion it doesn't hurt to agitate the pack around a bit and leave for another 30 min or so or until the water cools but is not yet cold. Then remove pack and do a quick, agitated rinse in a fresh batch of warm water and if should look pretty clean. At this point any stubborn remaining stain can be effectively dealt to with a semi firm scrubbing brush.

Its not a problem I have

Can't say I've ever cleaned a pack
I did notice on a recent school camp mine was the only one covered in deer hair and blood maybe I should look into it

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Not helpful to the OP, but I use a "meat bag" and it goes in the washing machine on a cold water wash with no cleaning products.

If it’s blood, cold water only. Hot water sets the stain (denatures the protein , cooks it, turns brown etc). Use a good cold water detergent and soak and hand wash. You might want to add bleach or even some chlorine. Do this with the pack out so it dilutes evenly.


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Put a rock in it,and place it in the river for a couple of days.Free of charge cleaning.

Cheers guys might try the baking soda solution as have done the cold soak twice now and not seeming to make any head way. Usually I wouldnt bother but the wekas been good to me and i’d like to be able to hang onto it.

Send it to twin needle to fix.

As Dicko said, cold water only for blood. Soak with soap powder. I just water blast it afterwards and they come up like new.

Watch out using Handy Andy on canvas items. It will bleach out some of the color.

Originally Posted by Trout

Put a rock in it,and place it in the river for a couple of days.Free of charge cleaning.

Exactly what I do.

Originally Posted by Brian

Exactly what I do.

Iv done that with the odd pack or a pair of new boots.Soften them up

Laundry mat on the drive back. Cold water and use the save the planet hippy eculapytus stuff. Through shoes, everything in there

Key... gives me enough time to order chicken and chips at the kebab place next door.