Cotton and Canvas Bags

Cotton is the easiest reusable bag material to clean because it’s fully machine washable. Hot water and standard laundry detergent kill bacteria effectively — including E. coli and salmonella from raw meat contact.

How to clean: Machine wash in hot water with regular laundry detergent. For bags with screen-printed logos, wash in cold water for the first few washes to protect the print, then switch to warm or hot water. Tumble dry on low heat or air dry. Air drying preserves the bag’s shape — some cotton bags may shrink slightly in a hot dryer, especially at lighter weights (4-6 oz).

How often: After every grocery trip where the bag carried raw meat, produce, or refrigerated items. For general-use bags that carry packaged goods or non-food items, once a week or whenever visibly soiled.

Tips: Don’t use fabric softener — it can reduce the fabric’s absorbency and leave residue. For stubborn stains, pre-treat with a mild stain remover before washing. Make sure the bag is completely dry before folding and storing — damp cotton in a closed space grows mildew.

Browse our wholesale cotton canvas bags — every bag in this collection is machine washable.

Non-Woven Polypropylene Bags

Non-woven bags are the most common reusable grocery bag material — including our Metro Reusable Grocery Bag and the entire bulk non-woven bags collection. They’re not machine washable in the traditional sense, but they clean up easily with hand washing.

How to clean: Hand wash in warm water with mild dish soap or antibacterial soap. Use a cloth or sponge to wipe down the interior and exterior, paying attention to the seams and bottom where residue collects. Turn the bag inside out and clean the inner seams thoroughly. Rinse with clean water and air dry completely — stand the bag upright and open to allow airflow through the interior.

How often: After every grocery trip involving fresh food. For non-food use, wipe down weekly or when visibly dirty.

Tips: You can use a disinfectant spray for quick between-wash cleaning — spray the interior, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe dry. Do not machine wash non-woven bags — the agitation and heat can weaken the material, distort the shape, and shorten the bag’s lifespan. Do not put in a dryer. If the bag has a poly board bottom insert, remove it before washing and dry it separately.

Can you machine wash non-woven bags? We don’t recommend it. Some people do it on a gentle cycle with cold water, but it reduces the bag’s lifespan and can ruin the structure. Hand washing is the better approach.

Laminated Bags (Woven Polypropylene and rPET)

Laminated bags — including our Laminated Retail Trade Show Bag and the full wholesale laminated bags collection — are the easiest to surface-clean because the laminated finish is waterproof and non-porous.

How to clean: Wipe the interior and exterior with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. For deeper cleaning, spray with a disinfectant spray, let it sit briefly, and wipe clean. The smooth laminated surface doesn’t absorb liquids or odors, so a surface wipe is genuinely effective — unlike porous materials where bacteria can hide in the fiber.

How often: Wipe down after every use involving food. The waterproof surface means spills don’t soak in, but residue can still harbor bacteria if left in place.

Tips: Do not machine wash laminated bags — the heat and agitation can delaminate the layers, separating the film from the woven base. Do not submerge in water for extended periods. The laminated surface makes these bags inherently more hygienic than porous materials because bacteria can’t penetrate the sealed surface — but surface cleaning is still necessary.

Jute Bags

Jute is a natural vegetable fiber with inherent antibacterial properties — it naturally resists bacterial growth better than most synthetic materials. But it still needs cleaning, especially after carrying food. Browse our wholesale jute bags collection.

How to clean: Hand wash in warm water with mild soap. Use a soft cloth or sponge — avoid scrubbing aggressively, which can rough up the woven fiber surface. For jute bags with a laminated interior (like the Accented Jute Tote), wipe the interior lining with a damp cloth and clean the exterior jute surface separately. Air dry completely in a well-ventilated area.

How often: After carrying food items. For non-food use, spot clean as needed.

Tips: Do not machine wash jute — the agitation can unravel the woven fiber and distort the bag’s shape permanently. Do not soak jute bags in water — extended water exposure weakens the fiber. Jute dries slower than cotton or non-woven, so allow extra drying time. Do not store a damp jute bag — the natural fiber is susceptible to mildew if stored wet. Sun drying works well for jute and helps with natural disinfection.

Insulated Bags

Insulated bags — including the Enviro Sack Thermo Tote and the full wholesale insulated bags collection — have a multi-layer construction (outer shell + foam or polyester insulation + thermal film or aluminum lining) that requires care to clean without damaging the insulation layer.

How to clean: Hand wash the interior with warm soapy water, paying particular attention to the seams where food residue and condensation collect. Wipe the thermal lining with a cloth dampened with soapy water or a disinfectant spray. Clean the exterior with a damp cloth. For bags with a zipper, clean the zipper track — food particles get trapped in the teeth. Air dry with the bag open and upright, preferably turned partially inside out so the interior lining dries completely.

How often: After every use involving food. Insulated bags carry the highest cross-contamination risk because they’re used specifically for perishable items — raw meat, dairy, produce, and frozen foods.

Tips: Do not machine wash insulated bags — the agitation can separate the insulation layers from the outer shell. Do not submerge in water. Do not put in a dryer — heat can melt or deform the thermal film lining. If the bag has a poly board bottom insert, remove it before cleaning. For quick cleaning between uses, antibacterial wipes work well on the interior lining.

Nylon and Polyester Bags

Nylon and polyester bags — including our bulk nylon and bulk polyester collections — are durable synthetic materials that handle water well but can be damaged by heat.

How to clean: Hand wash in warm water with mild soap. Use a soft cloth to clean the interior and exterior. Rinse thoroughly and hang to air dry — turn inside out first, then flip right-side out once the interior is dry to ensure both sides dry completely.

How often: After carrying food. For non-food use, as needed or weekly.

Tips: Poly-canvas bags (polyester-cotton blends) can generally be machine washed on a gentle cycle with cold water. Pure polyester and nylon should be hand washed. Do not use hot water on polyester — it can cause the material to warp or lose shape. Do not machine dry — the heat can melt or shrink synthetic fibers. Avoid harsh detergents and bleach, which can weaken the fabric and fade screen-printed logos.

Cold water first: For the first 2-3 washes on any new bag, use cold water. This helps set the screen-printed ink into the fabric before exposing it to hot water.

Wash inside out: Turn the bag inside out before washing so the printed surface doesn’t rub against other items or the inside of the washing machine drum.

Skip the dryer when possible: Air drying is gentler on printed surfaces than tumble drying. If you do use a dryer, use the lowest heat setting.

No bleach on printed areas: Bleach will fade or strip screen-printed ink. If you need to disinfect, use a mild disinfectant solution rather than bleach, or apply bleach only to non-printed interior surfaces.

Foil and hot-stamped prints: Bags with foil or hot-stamped logos should always be hand washed and air dried. Machine washing can peel or crack metallic prints.

Designate bags by use: Keep separate bags for raw meat, produce, and packaged goods. Color-coding works well — use a specific bag color for meat and seafood so you always know which bag needs the most thorough cleaning.

Bag raw meat separately: Raw meat juices are the primary source of harmful bacteria on reusable bags. Keep raw meat in its own bag and wash that bag after every use, preferably in hot water (cotton) or with disinfectant (non-woven, insulated).

Don’t store bags wet: Damp bags in a closed car trunk or kitchen cabinet create the warm, moist environment bacteria and mold need to grow. Always dry bags completely before folding and storing.

Don’t use grocery bags for non-food items: Using the same bag for gym clothes, garden supplies, or household chemicals and then carrying food in it introduces cross-contamination. Keep food bags for food only.

Clean the bag, clean the food: Washing your bags and washing your produce are two separate steps. A clean bag doesn’t sanitize dirty produce, and clean produce can be contaminated by a dirty bag. Do both.

Cotton/Canvas: Machine wash hot, tumble dry low or air dry. Cold water for first few washes to protect print.

Non-Woven Polypropylene: Hand wash warm soapy water, air dry standing open. No machine wash, no dryer.

Laminated: Wipe with damp cloth and soap or disinfectant spray. No machine wash, no submerging.

Jute: Hand wash warm mild soap, air dry in ventilated area. No machine wash, no soaking.

Insulated: Hand wash interior with warm soapy water, wipe exterior. Air dry open and upright. No machine wash, no dryer.

Nylon/Polyester: Hand wash warm soapy water, air dry inside out. No hot water, no dryer.