Care guide
How to wash a printed tote bag
Check the care instruction first. Most of our recycled cotton and canvas bags say hand wash, and most of our jute, drawstring and Westford Mill cotton bags say sponge clean only. To hand wash, turn the bag inside out, use cool water and a little mild detergent, don't wring it, and let it dry naturally. Never iron straight onto the print.
7 min read · Updated 24 September 2026
Start with the care instruction
Every bag's maker sets a care instruction for its fabric, and it's the best guide to how that bag will behave in water. You'll find it on each bag's page on our site, under Care. Our bags carry one of three:
- Hand wash. Most of our recycled cotton and canvas bags, and the Nutshell organic and denim totes.
- Sponge clean only. Our jute and drawstring bags, the Westford Mill cotton and organic totes, and the Premium Recycled Canvas Stand Up Tote and Carry Bag, which their maker says to wipe clean. These shouldn't be soaked or put in a washing machine.
- Machine wash. Just one: the Boutique Jute Bag, which can go in the machine warm and inside out.
The reasons vary. Cotton can shrink and lose its shape in hot water. Jute is stiff and coarse, and soaking it can leave it misshapen and weaker. Laminated bags have a thin plastic lining, and the Premium Recycled Canvas Stand Up Tote has a coating that helps it stand up, and neither enjoys a spin cycle. Whatever the fabric, heat and rubbing are what wear a printed design, so a gentle clean is kinder to the print too.
Care instructions for every bag we print
Taken from each maker's care instruction. If a bag's label ever says something different, follow the label.
How to hand wash a printed tote bag
For any bag marked hand wash.
Turn it inside out
This keeps the print away from rubbing while you wash it.
Use cool water
Fill a sink or bowl with cool or lukewarm water, never hot, and add a small amount of mild detergent. Skip bleach and stain removers.
Wash gently
Swish the bag through the water and work at any marks with your fingers or a soft cloth. Don't scrub the printed area.
Rinse well
Rinse in clean, cool water until no suds are left.
Squeeze, don't wring
Press the water out gently. Twisting a wet bag stretches the fabric and puts creases into the print.
Dry it naturally
Pull it back into shape and hang it up or lay it flat to dry, away from radiators and strong direct heat. Don't tumble dry it.
Sponge cleaning, drying and ironing
How to sponge clean a bag
For bags marked sponge clean only, brush off any dry dirt first, then dab the mark with a damp sponge or cloth and a drop of mild soap. Work from the outside of the mark inwards so it doesn't spread, and blot rather than rub. Wipe the area with clean water and leave the bag to air dry, open, so it keeps its shape. The laminated lining inside most of our jute bags simply wipes clean.
Can you put a tote bag in the washing machine?
Only if its care instruction says so. Of our bags, that is the Boutique Jute Bag. For the rest, a machine wash risks shrinking, twisted seams and a faded print, so stick to hand washing or sponge cleaning.
How to dry a tote bag without shrinking it
Keep the heat down from start to finish. Wash cool, skip the tumble dryer, and dry the bag at room temperature or outside on the line. Cotton shrinks most when it is wet and hot at the same time.
Can you iron a tote bag?
Most cotton and canvas bags can be ironed, but never straight onto the print: heat can soften the ink and mark it. Turn the bag inside out, or lay a clean cloth over the design, and use a medium setting. Don't iron our laminated jute bags, including the Boutique Jute Bag: heat can damage the plastic lining.
Creases from delivery
Bags are folded to pack and send, so they arrive with creases. Hang them up for a day or two, or hang them in a steamy bathroom, and most creases drop out. For crisp bags on a shop counter or at an event, iron them inside out as above.
Will the print wash off?
No. A screen print is cured with heat so the ink bonds with the fabric, and it won't wash out. What wears a print down over time is heat and friction: hot water, tumble dryers, irons and a lot of scrubbing.
Look after the bag as above and the print should last as long as the bag does. Our guide to how screen printing works explains why.
A care note to pass on
Giving bags away or selling them? Copy these lines into a welcome email, a swing tag or your product page.
- Hand wash cool, inside out, or wipe clean with a damp sponge. Check the label for which.
- No bleach, no wringing and no tumble dryer.
- Dry naturally, away from radiators.
- Iron inside out on a medium heat, never on the print.
- Look after it and it will last for years.
Questions people ask
Can you put a tote bag in the washing machine?
Only if its care instruction says so. Most printed tote bags, including most of ours, are hand wash or sponge clean only. Of our range, the Boutique Jute Bag is the one that can be machine washed.
How do you wash a tote bag without it shrinking?
Keep it cool. Wash by hand in cool water, don't tumble dry, and let it dry naturally at room temperature. Heat is what shrinks cotton.
How do you wash a screen printed tote bag?
Turn it inside out, wash it by hand in cool water with a little mild detergent, squeeze out the water without wringing, and dry it naturally. Keep bleach and irons away from the print.
Are jute bags washable?
Most aren't. Our jute bags are sponge clean only, apart from the Boutique Jute Bag, which can be machine washed. Brush off dry dirt and wipe marks with a damp cloth instead.
Can you iron a canvas tote bag?
Yes, inside out or under a cloth on a medium setting, and never directly on the print. Don't iron laminated jute bags.
How do I get the creases out of a new tote bag?
Hang it up for a day or two, or hang it in a steamy bathroom. For a crisp finish, iron it inside out on a medium setting.
Need bags that can go in the wash?
Tell us how your bags will be used and we'll point you to the right one. Or compare our bags side by side.