Wet bag and pail liner care: washing mistakes to avoid

Wet bag and pail liner care: washing mistakes to avoid

Wet bags and pail liners do their job with a waterproof layer, seams and a closure, and a few common laundry habits can wear out each of those. The basic routine is simple: wash the bag with the diapers, dry it as the care label says, and air it between uses. These are the mistakes that cause damage, smells and leaks.

The basic routine: wash the bag with the diapers

Many families wash the bag in the same load as the diapers it held, so one routine cleans everything. Tip the diapers into the machine, add the bag or liner to the load, and wash and dry as your diaper maker's routine and the bag's care label say. If the two sets of instructions differ, follow the more cautious one. The care label is the final word on the bag itself.

Mistake: leaving the zipper closed in the wash

A closed bag keeps wash water and detergent out of the inside, and the inside is the part that needs cleaning. Open the zipper fully before the bag goes in the machine. If the label allows, turn the bag inside out so the lining faces the water, and if there are two pockets, open and wash both. Shake out anything caught in the seams or the zipper track before you close the machine door.

Mistake: too much heat when drying

Many wet bags have a waterproof layer that can be damaged by high heat, and the care label sets the limit. Check it for both the wash temperature and the dryer. If it says low heat or line dry, do exactly that. If the label is missing, ask the seller or the maker, and use the gentlest option until you hear back: a cooler wash and hanging the bag open to dry.

Mistake: storing damp items for too long

A bag zipped up while damp, or a liner left crumpled at the bottom of the laundry basket, stays damp. Damp fabric in a closed space can develop a musty smell and mildew. Hang the bag open until it is completely dry before you fold it or tuck it into the diaper bag. If a bag gets damp on an outing, swap it for a dry one when you get home and hang the damp one up.

The same applies to what the bag holds. Empty a travel bag when you get home, and wash a full bag on your regular schedule instead of leaving it zipped for extra days.

Mistake: skipping the care label

Care labels differ. One may allow a warm wash, another only a cool one. Some rule out bleach or fabric softener, and some do not allow tumble drying. Read the label before the first wash, and take a photo of it, since a printed label can fade or be cut off. If you own bags from more than one maker and wash them together, follow the strictest label in the load.

Detergent is part of the same question. The store lists diaper laundry detergents, such as Rockin' Green Dirty Diaper Laundry Detergent Powder, Unscented, 1.3 kg. Whatever you use, check it against the bag's care label and your diaper maker's guidance.

Airing out a bag between washes

Whenever a bag is empty and waiting for its next use, open it and let air in instead of leaving it zipped shut. Hang it somewhere with airflow, such as a hook near a window or over a drying rack, and keep it away from radiators and hot vents. Washed pail liners need the same treatment: hang them open until completely dry before they go back in the bin. If you own two or more bags, rotating them gives each one time to air out.

Signs a bag or liner is wearing out

  • The waterproof layer is peeling, cracking, flaking or bubbling, or the lining has come away from the outer fabric.
  • The outside is damp after holding a normal load, or the seams leak.
  • The zipper sticks, skips or will not stay closed.
  • The elastic or drawstring on a liner has stretched, so it no longer stays on the bin.
  • The inside feels sticky or tacky.
  • It smells even after a proper wash. Check your wash routine first, such as the amount of detergent and the hardness of your water, then the bag.

Everyday handling plays a part as well. If a bag only closes when you force the zipper, take something out, and lift a full bag by its strap or body, not by the zipper pull.

A bag that leaks can dampen whatever sits next to it in the diaper bag, so replace it instead of patching it. Browse the cloth diaper accessories collection for current options, such as Voccos Waterproof Wet Dry Bags, Black and Grey, 2 Pack or ALVABABY Wet Dry Bags with Two Zippered Pockets, Dinosaur & Fish, 2 Pack.

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Common questions

Can I wash a wet bag in a load by itself?

If the care label allows, yes. Washing it with the diapers is simply the easiest way to keep to one routine.

Can I use bleach or vinegar?

Only if the care label and your diaper maker allow it. If the label does not say, ask the maker before trying anything.

Can I hand wash a bag?

Check the label. If hand washing is allowed, rinse well so no detergent is left behind, then hang the bag open to dry.

My bag still smells after washing. What now?

Air it open, check that you opened the zipper and turned the bag inside out in the wash, and review your wash routine. If the smell stays, the bag may be worn out, and the maker can advise.

Not sure how to care for a bag you already own? Send the details through our contact page and we will help where we can.