Quick Answer
To clean a cotton or canvas tote bag, empty it, pre-treat stains with mild detergent, turn it inside out, and machine wash on a cold, gentle cycle (or hand wash in cool soapy water for 15-30 minutes). Reshape it and air-dry flat or hanging; skip the dryer to prevent shrinking. Spot clean jute, leather and non-woven grocery totes instead.
Key Takeaways
- Check the care label and material first: cotton and canvas tolerate washing; jute, leather and printed vinyl usually do not.
- Cold water and a gentle cycle protect prints and limit shrinkage.
- Air-dry every tote; dryer heat shrinks cotton and can warp non-woven plastic bags.
- Reusable grocery totes that carry raw meat or produce should be washed or wiped often.
- Pre-treat oil, ink and food stains before washing for the best results.
Tote bags go everywhere: grocery stores, beaches, gyms and offices. That means they collect crumbs, spills, sunscreen and bacteria faster than most people notice. The right cleaning method depends almost entirely on what your tote is made of, so start there.
Can You Put a Tote Bag in the Washing Machine?
Many tote bags can go in the washer, but not all. Plain cotton, canvas and most polyester or nylon totes handle a gentle cycle well. Bags with leather trim, structured bottoms, jute fibers, heavy embellishments or insulated linings should be hand washed or spot cleaned.
| Tote material | Best cleaning method | Water | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton or canvas | Machine gentle or hand wash | Cold to cool | Air-dry, reshape |
| Screen-printed cotton | Inside out, gentle cycle | Cold | Air-dry, no direct high heat on print |
| Polyester or nylon | Machine gentle or hand wash | Cold to warm | Air-dry |
| Non-woven polypropylene (grocery) | Hand wash or wipe | Cool | Air-dry only |
| Jute or burlap | Spot clean | Minimal, damp cloth | Air-dry quickly |
| Insulated or laminated | Wipe inside and out | Warm soapy cloth | Air-dry open |
| Leather or faux leather | Leather cleaner or damp cloth | None to minimal | Air-dry, condition real leather |
What Do You Need to Clean a Tote Bag?
- Mild liquid laundry detergent (fragrance-free if the bag holds food).
- Stain remover or a small amount of dish soap.
- Soft brush or old toothbrush.
- Baking soda for odors and oily stains.
- Rubbing alcohol for ink.
- Mesh laundry bag or pillowcase for the washing machine.
- Clean towels and a hanger or drying rack.
How Do You Wash a Cotton or Canvas Tote Bag?
This is the method for the most common tote type, and it works by machine or by hand.
Step 1: Empty and Shake It Out
Remove everything, including inner pockets, and turn the bag upside down to shake out crumbs, sand and lint. A lint roller or handheld vacuum gets debris out of the seams and corners.
Step 2: Check the Label and Test for Color Bleeding
Read the care tag if there is one. Dab a hidden spot with a damp white cloth and a drop of detergent; if color transfers, wash the bag alone in cold water by hand.
Step 3: Pre-Treat Stains
Work a little detergent or stain remover into spots with a soft brush and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Use the stain guide below for oil, ink or food marks.
Step 4: Wash on Cold and Gentle
Turn the tote inside out to protect any print, place it in a mesh laundry bag or pillowcase, and wash on a cold, gentle or delicate cycle with mild detergent. To hand wash, soak it in cool soapy water for 15-30 minutes, scrub lightly, and rinse until the water runs clear.
Step 5: Reshape and Air-Dry
Squeeze out excess water by rolling the bag in a towel; do not wring it. Pull the seams and handles back into shape and hang it or lay it flat away from strong heat. Make sure it is fully dry before storing to prevent mildew.
Tip: Canvas can wrinkle as it dries. Iron it while still slightly damp on the cotton setting, inside out, and never iron directly over a screen print or vinyl transfer.
How Do You Remove Common Stains From a Tote Bag?
- Oil, grease or sunscreen: sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on the spot, wait 30 minutes to absorb the oil, brush it off, then work in a drop of dish soap and rinse.
- Ink: dab (do not rub) with a cotton ball dampened in rubbing alcohol, working from the outside in, then wash as usual.
- Coffee, tea or juice: rinse from the back with cold water, then apply detergent and let it sit before washing.
- Food and grease from groceries: scrape off solids, pre-treat with dish soap, and wash.
- Mildew spots: brush off outdoors, then soak cotton totes in a mix of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water for 30 minutes before washing.
- Tree sap or adhesive: the same solvent approach used in our guide to getting tree sap out of clothes works on canvas.
For sticky building materials, see how to get caulk out of clothes.
How Do You Clean Reusable Grocery Totes?
Reusable shopping bags can pick up bacteria from leaking meat packages and unwashed produce, so food-safety experts recommend cleaning them regularly and keeping separate bags for raw meat.
- Cloth grocery bags: machine wash with hot or warm water if the label allows, then air-dry.
- Non-woven polypropylene bags (the stiff, fabric-like store bags): hand wash in warm soapy water or wipe inside and out, rinse, and air-dry. Heat from a dryer can melt or warp them.
- Insulated and laminated bags: wipe the lining with warm soapy water, then with a disinfecting wipe or spray, and leave open to dry. Our guide to using Lysol disinfectant spray explains proper contact times.
How Do You Clean Jute, Straw and Leather Totes?
Jute and burlap fibers weaken and can shrink or distort when soaked. Brush off dirt, then dab stains with a cloth barely dampened in mild soapy water, blot with a dry towel, and dry quickly in a breezy spot.
Straw and woven beach totes respond best to a soft brush and a damp cloth. Stuff them with towels to hold their shape while drying.
Leather totes need a pH-balanced leather cleaner or a barely damp cloth with a drop of mild soap, followed by leather conditioner once dry. Faux leather can be wiped with mild soapy water. Neither should go in the washer.
How Do You Get Odors Out of a Tote Bag?
Musty, sour or sweaty smells usually mean moisture or food residue is trapped in the fabric. Washing alone does not always remove them, especially from thick canvas.
- Dry it completely first. Hang the bag open in sunlight or a breezy spot for several hours. Sunlight helps reduce odor, but limit time in strong sun for bright colors and prints.
- Use baking soda. Sprinkle a few tablespoons inside, close the bag, and leave it overnight. Shake and vacuum it out the next day.
- Add vinegar to the rinse. For washable cotton and canvas, add about half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle or final hand-rinse water. The vinegar smell fades as the bag dries.
- Check hidden spots. Inner pockets, folded bottoms and stiff base inserts often hold the source of the odor. Remove inserts and clean them separately with a damp cloth.
If a smell returns quickly after cleaning, mildew may have grown deep in the fibers. Repeat the vinegar soak for cotton, but replace jute or insulated bags that stay musty, since they are hard to fully sanitize.
How Do You Keep a Tote Bag Clean Longer?
- Pack wet items, such as swimsuits, water bottles and leaking produce, in a separate zip-top or wet bag inside the tote.
- Use a removable pouch for makeup, pens and snacks so spills stay contained.
- Keep a dedicated tote for raw meat and another for ready-to-eat foods.
- Shake out crumbs and sand after each trip, before they grind into the weave.
- Store totes dry, unfolded or loosely rolled, in a cool, ventilated spot rather than a car trunk.
- Treat a new canvas tote with a fabric protector spray if you want it to resist stains, following the product directions.
If you also carry a small crossbody, our guide to wearing a Lululemon belt bag covers the lighter everyday option.
What Mistakes Ruin Tote Bags?
- Using hot water on cotton, which causes shrinkage and fading.
- Tumble drying, which shrinks cotton and warps plastic-based bags.
- Using chlorine bleach on colored or printed totes.
- Soaking jute or leather.
- Storing the bag before it is completely dry, inviting mildew odor.
How Often Should You Wash a Tote Bag?
Wash everyday canvas totes every few weeks or whenever they look or smell dirty. Wash or wipe grocery bags after any leak and on a regular schedule, and clean beach and gym totes after each heavy use, since sand, sweat and damp towels encourage odor. Between washes, empty the bag, shake it out, and let it air out instead of leaving it folded in a hot car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a canvas tote bag shrink in the wash?
Cotton canvas can shrink, especially in hot water or a hot dryer. Washing on cold with a gentle cycle and air-drying keeps shrinkage minimal. If the bag is already pre-shrunk or a cotton-poly blend, it will shrink less, but cold water and air-drying are still safest.
Can you wash a tote bag with a printed design?
Yes. Turn it inside out, wash on a cold, gentle cycle with mild detergent, and air-dry. Avoid bleach and fabric softener on the print, and never iron directly over a screen print or vinyl transfer; iron from the inside with a cloth between.
How do you clean a jute tote bag?
Do not soak or machine wash jute. Brush off dry dirt, then dab stains with a cloth barely dampened in mild soapy water, blot with a dry towel, and let it dry quickly in a ventilated spot. Soaking weakens the fibers and can cause shrinking or distortion.
How often should reusable grocery bags be washed?
Wash or wipe reusable grocery bags regularly, and always after anything leaks inside them. Bags that carry raw meat, poultry or fish should be cleaned more often and kept separate from bags used for produce and ready-to-eat foods to reduce cross-contamination.
Can you put a tote bag in the dryer?
It is best not to. Dryer heat shrinks cotton and canvas, can crack prints, and may melt or warp non-woven polypropylene grocery bags. Roll the bag in a towel to remove water, reshape it, then hang it or lay it flat to air-dry.
