Clean your child's schoolbag simply in 5 steps!

The sight of your child's schoolbag has made you nauseous for days. Between the disgusting smell due to the remains of banana and crushed cookies at the bottom of the bag, the sight of ink stains left by the poorly closed pens and the grainy sensation to the touch of the mud encrusted even on the handle of the school bag, there is only one solution: you must undertake the deep cleaning of this school luggage dear to your schoolboy. Don't panic, we give you the five steps to follow so that your child's favorite schoolbag finds a second youth easily and quickly!

1. Remove dust from the bag 

Before cleaning, you will obviously have to empty the bag COMPLETELY. The most meticulous will be keen to take out one by one the various school supplies, snack boxes and all the other incongruous objects left by the children (collection of pebbles, dried flowers, candy wrappers, etc.). Others will go more frankly by emptying the bag in one movement. Both solutions are conceivable (even if the second is a little brutal all the same) and at least have the privilege of freeing the bag of all its contents.

Be careful to remove EVERYTHING from the bag. Check one last time that nothing has been forgotten by knocking over and shaking the school bag. Thus, you drop the last little elements and free the schoolbag of a good part of the dust. For optimal pre-cleaning, you can use a vacuum cleaner. Equipped with a nozzle and in soft suction mode, vacuum every inner corner of the bag to remove the last recalcitrant particles.

2. Identify the binder(s)

It's time to laser your child's schoolbag. Analyze the different parts of the luggage: bag, handle, shoulder straps, wheels (for trolley bags). This observation will allow you to appreciate the different materials that make up the school bag and to define an effective cleaning strategy for each of them.                                                                                  

Here are the most common satchel compositions:

• Fabric (often polyester);
• Imitation leather;
• Leather;
• Pvc.

Adapt the right cleaning strategy according to the material

As you can imagine, you will not eliminate a stain in the same way on leather as on polyester fabric. It is therefore important to determine the material of the binder to decide on the best washing method. If you have any doubts about the composition of the school luggage, do not hesitate to look on the label of the bag or to inquire on the internet (the product sheets of online shops are beautiful sources of information).

3. Equip yourself with good cleaning tools

After dusting and examining the bag from every angle, you are able to determine which cleaning will be most suitable for your child's bag. We reveal the ideal equipment according to the material to be cleaned.

For the fabric, you will need:

• a soft cloth;
• a soap such as dishwashing liquid, Marseille soap or simply detergent;
• a soft brush.

For imitation leather, you will need:

• a damp cloth and a dry cloth;
• cleansing milk and a few drops of vinegar in case of stubborn stains.

For leather, bring:

• a soft cotton cloth;
• cleansing milk or leather care product that you will find in shoe or furniture stores.

To crush plastic From the trolley part, you will have the choice between:

• the use of warm soapy water;
• the use of clay stone.

Ready to get to the heart of the matter? This is the time of scrubbing, stain removal, washing, in short the purification of your child's school bag!

4. Cleaning the school bag

Armed with gloves to preserve your delicate hands, you are about to proceed with the washing of the schoolbag. Start by processing any stains: ink, grass, chocolate stains... Each dirt must be the subject of special attention. Depending on the soiling, you need to use a specific device. Do not hesitate to consult grandma's tips on the web for Extreme stain removals.

Take the appropriate tools for cleaning your child's bag. Go gently, there is no point in rubbing like a madman at the risk of damaging the material. Patience, perseverance, you already see the difference!

Depending on the scrubbing device used, be careful to rinse well. Clay stone requires a good rinse for optimal results.

5. Let dry and polish if necessary

That's it, you've done most of the work. The schoolbag is clean, all you have to do is dry it. A recommendation: ban the dryer and let the bag dry in the open air, in the sun if the weather permits.

For leather school bags (imitation or not), take care to polish them well with a soft cloth. They will only come out brighter, ready for a second life!

In order to facilitate the maintenance of the school bag, consider using a universal protector. By covering the bag with a thin film, it protects it more from dirt of all kinds.

You did it! The Ring binder of your child is presentable, it smells good, it is clean as a new penny! It's time to revel in your work! After hard work, here is the time of satisfaction. Your child is happy to find his favorite school bag shining for the start of the school year and is ready to take care of it in the coming weeks. Well, at least for the first two days...