Cleaning gig bags

[arpthark]

Can cordura bags be dry-cleaned?

Considering that option foremost, but otherwise, looks like conventional wisdom dictates going to a laundromat and using a big industrial washer for them.

Any experience here?

[MiBrassFS]

I’ve washed a bunch of gig bags a laundromats. If you can find one with a laundry centrifuge, it will really speed up the drying process. Once out of the centrifuge, I straighten the bag out as best as possible, making sure the foam in where it belong before it completely dries. I’ve had great success doing this. My wife knew all the tricks of laundromats from our graduate school/apartment days. A friend gave her a crash course on it all. That’s how I knew about the laundry centrifuge.

[bloke]

What about using carpet cleaning stuff, a really stiff scrub brush and then vacuuming, and this would include inside and out? And maybe even stain removers on a few spots that might really be bad. I'm not saying that throwing these into a washing washing machine would ruin them, but with layers and different types of materials that could be subject to having their texture changed, I would drag my feet as far as just throwing them into a device that does mechanical cleaning. I'd be particularly hesitant if they were pricey bags such as California bags.

[arpthark]

One California bag, one Tuxedo bag. Neither in super duper amazing shape, and the foam is already a bit compressed in the Cronkhite. Will ruminate. I'm almost done with our summer concert series and have a bit of free time to get my tubas cleaned and to take care of that sort of housekeeping stuff.

[MiBrassFS]

I’ve laundered Cali Cronkhites, Altieri, and those Dolly-made bags that Custom sold for a while (as well as some huge, bell-front, quilted bags, but not sure they count as they’re basically, well, super thick quilts with zippers shaped like 6/4, bell-front tubas…). All came out great.

[bloke]

Foam rubber is pretty heat-resistant (according to websites...I don't know a damn thing).

The thing that would concern me is that modern (artificial...as - when a lad - we could buy REAL sponges made of Porifera/sponge animals, which were far superior) sponges are made of foam rubber stuff, and - once washed, assuming one avoids the extreme heat of a dryer - it seems to me that it will take a helluva long time for the foam rubber to release all of it's (sponged up) water, with the reasonably likely chance (in the meantime) of mold/mildew...

...so the part which is surely the LEAST needing of being cleaned is holding onto a bunch of water and putting everything else at risk of ending up "dirtier" than all the rest of it was previously.

[MiBrassFS]

That’s where the centrifuge is great. Those spin the living daylights (and water…) out of stuff. I also prop open the bag and have a fan blowing into it. Sometimes bags are just… gross. I figured it was no loss to try cleaning them. Wash or toss in the trash. We got a system now!

[catgrowlB]

Quite a few years ago I bought a tuba that came with a really old, nasty worn out bag. It also reeked bad - like a dirty dog slept on it for years and stank it up.

I actually took that bag and made the decision to put it in the shower and shampoo the crap out of it a couple times and rinse it, then drain it. After that, I took the exhaust air hose from the dryer, stuck it in the bag with a dryer sheet or two, zipped up the bag and turned the dryer on. This puffed the bag up, sorta steam cleaning while drying at the same time.
I did this a couple times, and the bag came out clean and smelling good afterwards.
I've done this (sans shower) with another bag also.

On hard cases, I usually just open them and sprinkle some Petfresh or Wizard or something, let it sit an hour or so, then vacuum with an attachment, going back and forth over the velvet. Doing this will kinda dry scrub while vacuuming, basically dry cleaning them.

Every now and then I'll just spray some smell-good disinfectant all over and let air dry. This helps keep the mold away

[Dopey]

I hung mine outside on a summer day + cleaner + water hose. Did multiple passes.

Couldn't smell the cat pee anymore, and he never peed on it again.. so take it as a success.

This was a wessex gig bag.