These shorts were worn for several days during a summer trip in the desert. Water was too precious to waste on washing clothes. There is so much salt build up on the fabric that they could stand up on their own — no Photo Shop tricks with this picture. This is why we need to wash our backpacks occassionally.

Why

We are not really worried about the body salts damaging the material, although if enough can seep into the sleeves of your pack’s internal aluminum frame and settle at the bottom, bad things can happen to the aluminum and pack. So you want to periodically check your frame stays and clean them if needed.

The real concern is that animals and rodents like to eat salty things. If there is too much salt on your pack, you may find the hip belts or shoulder straps full of holes from rodents eating your pack! Or you may find your pack gone because a deer or other larger animal stole it during the night to chew on it.

How

Most pack materials have some sort of waterproofing, typically the inside of the fabric has a waterproof coating. In this post, Resurrection: My Chouinard Pyramid Rises From the Dead, I wanted to remove the waterproof coating, so I washed in a washing machine using laundry detergent. We do not want to do this with a backpack, unless we want to remove the waterproofing.

Preparation

If you have a significant other, and if that person is territorial about such things as appliances, sinks, bathtubs, or showers, wait until you know they will be gone from the house for a couple hours.

A territorial significant other, such as my wife, has a problem if anything in the house is used for purposes other than what that person has decreed proper and household legal. For example, Joyce has freaked out when I have washed motorcycle parts in the dishwasher, baked new painted metal pieces in the oven, and washed things other than my body in the bathtub.

So you need to survey the possible repercussions of washing a backpack, sleeping bag, or other highly treasured personal items in “their” bathtub. Okay, you’ve been warned.

Step 1

If you have internal frame stays, leave them in the pack. You can leave accessory pockets on or off. You may want to remove backpack pads and wash separately. Mine has loosely woven mesh covering it, so I don’t remove the pad from its holder.

Fill a bathtub with cool or slightly warm water and add mild dishwashing soap. Baby shampoo might work, but research it first. Now place the backpack in the tub and let it soak for a while. It it floats to the top, turn it over and agitate a little by pushing it down a couple times.

Dishwashing soap, like Dawn, will loosed any salts, mineral deposits and dirt by simply soaking. It won’t hurt to lightly brush with a soft nylon brush or similar. I never use a brush. DO NOT wash in inside of the pack with a brush!

Step 2

Drain the tub water. Then rinse with the shower if you have one. Now fill the tub with clean water and let the pack soak.

Step 3

If your significant other is a “territorial person,” get a towel and wrap the pack in it, so no water drips on the bathroom floor, or leaves a trail of water throughout the living space, as you take your clean pack outside. This is an important step. Territorial people can spot a single water drop in a 2,000 square foot house.

Inspect the tub for any evidence of your unauthorized use, such as a ring around the tub, or dirt and debris on the bottom. You want to completely clean and then DRY the tub, so there is no signs of unsanctioned use.

This step may be more important than a clean pack.

Step 4

Using a water hose and nozzle (set to “rain” or “shower” or similar), thoroughly rinse the inside and outside of the pack and any pockets.

Step 5

Air dry your pack. If possible, hang it upside down. Sleeping bag lashing straps work great for this. Let it thoroughly air dry.

If you live in the desert and it is summer, you can just place smaller items on the ground. They will dry in less than 30 minutes if the thermometer is in triple digits.

Step 6

Reinstall any items you removed before washing.

Admire your work and take a picture.