Borax for Backpacks

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

A cleaning tip.

I bought my (Boltoro) backpack in 2019 to travel to Chile to see a total eclipse. It saw a month's use, mostly as a suitcase.

After that, it sat in a closet until 2023, when I started some mild training hikes at a local park in Phx. And then a about ten backpacking trips after that.

It has all of maybe 20 nights in the field.

And now, since my last backpack trip in April last year, about one hundred more strenuous training hikes, including the summer. (About 1.5 to 2 hours each.)

All in all, it hasn't had much time to become dirty. And a few times during the past two years I've hung it on the clothesline and sprayed it down with water, sometimes taking a bristle brush to scrub the back synthetic material with a little Oxy something to remove sweat absorbed into that surface.

Even so, it was beginning to smell a little ripe again this past week.

I recently discovered Borax for clothes washing/freshening. So I filled a bathtub with lukewarm water, put in a little bit of Borax, and dunked my backpack. (No soap.)

I'm surprised to report that, after an hour, the bath water took on a yellowish brown hue.

Rinsed until water stayed clear (2x) and hung it to dry.

I can't say that it smells fresh, because, ideally, fresh has no smell. But it doesn’t smell ripe anymore. Which I figure is good for not attracting animals.

And I expect that periodic cleaning of one's equipment helps it to last longer, since sandpaper is made from dirt and dirt in fabric acts as sandpaper.

[CannondaleKid]

But it doesn’t smell ripe anymore. Which I figure is good for not attracting animals.

You never know... giving off a ripe odor may attract some animals but just may detract others.
And further, if one wishes not to be bothered by other humans, ripe may just be the ticket.

[big_load]

Most manufacturers recommend using a mild detergent. Borax is harsher than that. I'd be concerned about its effect on polyurethane coatings and the like.

[chumley]

@big_load
I'd be more concerned with its effects on male fertility and libido.

But I guess if you smell really bad, that won't be something you have to worry about anyway.

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

@big_load
Hmm... now I'll have to read about Borax. My friend assured me that Borax was less harsh than soap.

I don't think that my backpack has polyurethane in it. But I don't know how to check.

I was waiting for someone to recommend Nikwax. But I have a funny story about that and odor.

[big_load]

@TooOld2Hike_EP

I doubt one washing is likely to make a tremendous difference in lifespan. As far as coatings go, most packs have them, but they're often unnoticeable until they start degrading, usually by patchy delaminating.

@chumley
Aren't there pills for that?

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

Okay, so after the fact I read about Borax and backpacks.

First, Gregory (the "controlling" source in my case) says "Do not use detergents or solvents to clean your pack."

Hard to know if they're just being super conservative about detergents to avoid warranty claims, or if there's a valid concern. E.g. When Yeti's first came out, they used to say that putting in a dishwasher would void their warranty. (Apparently worried that the heat during the dry cycle could case the vacuum walls to fail. But they've since allowed it.) Since Gregory doesn't know what kind of detergents backpackers might use, I can see their reason for a blanket "Don't."

But that would mean that you can never use any detergent on a Gregory pack, no matter how mild. (Ivory?) Is Nikwax a detergent? It's used to clean tents and sleeping bags.

And is Borax a detergent? I see people using Borax to make soap. But I don't know if that makes it a detergent per se.

It's not a solvent in the sense that Goo-Gone is.

I found other backpack manufacturers saying that mild detergent was okay.

Second, I found backpackers on the web who have cleaned their backpacks using Borax. I've make only a cursory search, but so far I haven't found anyone saying "Borax destroyed my backpack." Like Amor All and dashboards, wouldn't it be legend by now if a No No?

Third, one thing that I didn't consider (well, I did, but dismissed it, but am now reconsidering it) is what effect dunking the aluminum frame in water - or Borax-y water - could have on the aluminum. (One post said to remove the frame on your backpack if possible. (Not possible with mine.))

I'll have to look closely to see if the frame has holes in it, which would allow water intrusion. When I dunked it, it didn't seem to have holes. (They capped the ends of the tube?)

The outside of the frame is coated with a shiny black coating. Doesn't look like powder coating. But doesn't chip like paint either. Whatever, I'm not worried about corrosion on the outside of the frame caused by a Borax solution.

Even if water can intrude into the inside of the frame tubing, generally water isn't a problem with good aluminum. (Airplanes are made out of aluminum and fly in rain. Even sea planes do okay in salt water for a while. (Although best to rinse them with fresh water after a flight in salt water.)) I have seen Simple Green attack some alloys of aluminum - but it was full strength leaking in direct contact with the aluminum for years.

Even if dried Borax residue attacks aluminum, it was a very, very mild solution. (A jigger in a third full bathtub.) And only for a short time, with two fresh water rinses.

But I'll go now and check to see if it could have intruded inside the frame.

In the meantime, I'll keep searching to see if I can find any dire warnings about Borax and backpacks on the web.

Time will tell I guess. Still, so far I like the end result. I don't expect that the frame will disintegrate from any reaction any time soon.

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

@big_load
I don't recall if Gregory advertised any type of DWR. I don't recall water beading up on when new. But back then, I didn't think about these things.

And since it came with a raincover, it didn't seem like Gregory thought it was waterproof.

I sprayed it with ScotchGard last year, mostly to help keep it clean. But there hasn't been any obvious sloughing off of a protective coating ever.

[CannondaleKid]

In 2023, after 6K+ miles/7 years I replaced my Gregory Zulu 30 with a Gregory Stout 40, not even because it was worn out, I simply wanted a slightly larger pack.

Over that time, it was only when salty-white patterns became very obvious (~3-4 months?) did I resort to any cleaning, which was simply spraying it throughly with plain water out of the garden hose and hanging it up to dry on the back patio.

While Tracey has a very sensitive nose for any and all types of odors, she never complained of any less-than-pleasant odors from my pack. (From me at times? Sure. But not from my pack)

So for pack cleaning, my vote is for no soap, just a healthy dose of tap water under pressure.

[xsproutx]

I have a pool and my method of cleaning is just kind of swishing the pack around in the water and bopping it with my hand to get the salt off since I'm the saltiest sweater to ever exist potentially. Then I stash the stuff in my garage. This method works for me (more importantly, my wife who has a dog nose that can smell everything)

[azbackpackr]

@xsproutx
Hmm. Now I am trying to picture what your wife looks like.

[xsproutx]

@azbackpackr
It's a very cute nose. She's a good wife, yes she is. Oh who's a good wife?! Want a treat...?

[azbackpackr]

Want a treat...?

Hope she isn't a HAZ member!

[Pivo]

I make my own laundry detergent, it includes borax, washing soda and castille soap. It's very gentle and effective. Those sweat odors in my hiking clothes are no longer a problem. I will add that I use distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle too.

When I have needed to wash a backpack, It goes into the washing machine on a gentle cycle, and air dried.

[Grimey]

@Pivo

Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me, and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[Jim]

@Grimey
Team work is overrated. Caring is a bunch of bull, too, and helping others! And what's all this crap I've been hearing about tolerance!?