Care Instructions

You can’t spell Machir without “Care.”

Well, obviously you totally can, but, phonetically, it’s close. The following is an ever-evolving care center to help you get the most out of your Machir Bag. It includes helpful instructions and suggestions to keep your backpack, tote or school bag looking great for years to come.

General Care Instructions

Washing

Rather than machine washing, consider using a rag or sponge to spot clean your Machir Bag. When absolutely necessary, hand-wash using a gentle powder laundry detergent, taking care not to soak any part of the bag. (Soaking does not damage the bag but can cause certain areas to lose shape.)

Drying

Always air dry your Machir Bag. Machir Bags are not designed for machine drying and may lose their shape or become damaged if you attempt to dry them using a machine. Hanging the bag upside down often yields the best results, helping to speed the drying process by preventing water from pooling in corners of the bag.

  • Flammability Warning

Our bags are made tough but are not flame-resistant! The polyester and nylon fabrics present in most Machir Bags will burn or melt if exposed to direct flame or extreme heat. Take care not to place them (or yourself) in any direct source of heat or flame.

Stain Removal

Great news! The fabrics we use for our bags — including nylons, polyesters, and Machir signature material (a durable houndstooth proprietary material) — are relatively stain-resistant and easy to clean. For basic stains like oil and grease, warm soapy water with a liquid detergent will usually do the trick. If the stain persists, blott the area with denatured or isopropyl alcohol before washing again.

Common Stains

Ink

Don’t let your beautiful bag suffer the ill effects of a poorly-made pen!

Leaky ballpoint pens are, in a word, the worst. That shouldn’t mean your beautiful school or work bag has to suffer the consequences of a leaky pen! Lemon juice is an easy tried-and-true remedy for getting rid of those pesky stains. Got a more serious pen explosion? Blot with denatured alcohol (found in the paint department of most hardware stores) or isopropyl alcohol to get the spot out. Be sure to test a small, discreet section of your bag first to ensure there is no discoloration. After you’ve removed as much of the stain as possible, scrub with a small amount of dishwashing detergent, rinse with warm water, and hang to dry.

Chocolate

That forgotten chocolate melted in your bag, huh? Happens to the best of us.

On hectic days we’ve all forgotten about that lunch we packed in the bottom of our messenger bag. But what if you forgot some delicious chocolate, and it’s hot, and it melts… First, scrape away as much of the chocolate stain as possible. Next, immerse the stained portion of the bag in milk, or in a mixture of egg yoke AND denatured alcohol, for a few minutes until the stain begins to lift. Once you’ve got the stain out, wash the bag (or affected area) with warm soapy water, and let dry as normal.

Red Wine

If your hour gets a little too happy, act quickly to get those wine stains out.

Machir Bags are known for making regular appearances at happy hours. If red wine makes its way to your Machir Bag, act fast to prevent permanent stains. Use a mixture of two cups water with a tablespoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of liquid detergent. If that doesn’t work, apply a solution of hydrogen peroxide, detergent and water. As always, test on a discreet part of the bag to guard against discoloration. Gently blot the area with a clean and dry cloth. Once the stain is out, wash, let dry as normal, and have another drink.

Salt

Winter salt can find its way to some of the places your Machir bag loves to rest.

Entryways, the floor of your vehicle, your ski chalet… that winter salt is everywhere! To clean salt stains from your travel bag, brush away as much salt as you can using a cloth or gentle brush. Then dab the affected area with a cold water and vinegar mixture. Let dry, and clean as normal.  

Blood

We’ll go ahead and assume this isn’t a “call the authorities” situation.

Rinse the blood stains from the material with cold water as quickly as possible. Don’t use hot water; for some materials hot water can cause the stain to set permanently. Blotting the affected area with salt water before washing can also help.

Paint

Every Machir Bag is already a beautiful work of art — no need to accentuate.

When accidents do happen, basic paint stains can be cleaned like oil and grease. Spot cleaning with warm soapy water and a liquid detergent will usually do the trick. If the stain persists, blot the area with denatured or isopropyl alcohol before washing again.

Have a cleaning or care question that isn’t addressed here?

Contact Machir

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Machir Bag Review – Casual Backpack

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