Cleaning my bag

jamie_bkc

jamie_bkc

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Jamie
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I just picked up a tamrac bag for all my gear at the local oxfam, it's a great looking bag but has some stains and the smell is a step further than "musty". I did a quick search for clenaing solutions, some people just bung it in the wash on a delicate cycle with mild detergent, tamrac advise against this as it will remove the waterproofing and deform the foam, although i'm not sure how much proofing is left as it's very sun stained. Tamrac suggest that mild soap be blotted onto dirty patches and febreeze used to remove the smell. To be frank this sounds like far too much effort for a bag that will rarely leave the house as it's just to store my kit in one place. I was thinking mabey a hand wash with mild detergent that way the foam won't deform as i'm the one doing the scrubbing? Then if i really wanna be sure i can re-waterproof it.

Then for drying, it's bloomin' freezing outside at the moment so i can't see it drying there, i've got a decent airing cupboard, will this be sufficient?


Cheers, Jamie.
 
As a side note, you may want to fumigate it to get rid of any mold spoors. Take a trip down to your local garden centre and look in the chemicals section. Its all too easy to put good kit away for safe keeping in an older bag (or even a not-so-old bag) and find mold inside your lenses at a later date.
 
Try something like pure soap flakes for washing it in, and then reproof with Nikwax reproofer, obtainable from Millets/Blacks etc. You could also wash it in Nikwax, but pure soap flakes will probably be cheaper.
 
nomorem6 said:
As a side note, you may want to fumigate it to get rid of any mold spoors. Take a trip down to your local garden centre and look in the chemicals section. Its all too easy to put good kit away for safe keeping in an older bag (or even a not-so-old bag) and find mold inside your lenses at a later date.
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That was my next question, should I even be using this bag if it's abit old and smelly? It wouldn't be the greatest loss if I just had to write it off.
 
Seems like a lot of work there....:thinking:
I'd sooner buy something new,or at least something that had been cared for
 
jamie_bkc said:
That was my next question, should I even be using this bag if it's abit old and smelly? It wouldn't be the greatest loss if I just had to write it off.
Click to expand...

The bag will be fine if you fumigate it. I have to do all of mine (inc. Pelicases) after most of my overseas trips and all the bags/cases are ok again for many more years of use.
 
jamie_bkc said:
That was my next question, should I even be using this bag if it's abit old and smelly? It wouldn't be the greatest loss if I just had to write it off.
Click to expand...

It does all sound like far more work than it would actually be worth. You can pick decent bags up cheaply enough brand new so unless it is particuarly suitable or is unique, I'd write it off.
 
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