How to Clean Your Luggage

Oct 06, 2023

Luggage gets dirty. It is in its nature. Luggage is also tough. A nearly impermeable carapace on wheels, it is designed to withstand the rigors, mishandling, and general debasement of this life as it travels through cargo holds and luggage sorting facilities. Dirty, tough, and a small object lesson of the sort of personal resilience we should all hope to foster in ourselves.

One of the perks of reviewing luggage for a living means I don't use a single bag often enough that it ever needs this kind of deep maintenance. But it seems true (especially after conducting research for this article) that I should—at least occasionally—try to tidy things up. Courage, friends. Let's begin!

Cleaning a standard piece of carry-on luggage shouldn't take longer than 15 minutes.

You aren't trying to restore luggage to its original shape fresh out of the box. But a little maintenance between trips can go a long way. It is a mostly thankless task, and repetition, like with most cleaning, is a part of its perverse pleasure.

The easiest luggage to clean is a simple hard-sided piece with a single zipper made of either polycarbonate or metal. These materials resist stains with a shrug. However, in the long term, these same materials also show more unavoidable wear and tear—scuffs, scrapes, and fender benders—than soft-sided luggage.

To clean your hard-sided luggage, rub it down with either an alcohol wipe or a rag with a mix of dish soap and water. Avoid anything abrasive that might cause scratches. That's it. If you want to restore polycarbonate to something close to its original luster, try buffing it with a wax-based furniture polish.

Fabrics like nylon, canvas, and polyester tend to resist scratches and scuffs and, like loyal friends, absorb more bruising from our mishandling than hard-sided luggage does before anything shows. And, like close friendships, once the damage is done, fabric luggage requires more tender concern to restore.

At an airport or hotel, you might be limited to wiping down your soft-sided luggage the same way as you would hard-sided luggage: a wet rag or alcohol wipe. If you can, go one step further with a 1:2 ratio mix of vinegar and water applied to tough stains with an old toothbrush. Wipe and let dry in an open-air spot.

If you’re home and want to take a little more time, make a mix of dish soap and water (not too soapy) and work the solution gently into the fibers of the luggage with a soft brush such as a toothbrush or plastic bristle brush to pull up any dirt and stains. Next, wipe away the excess moisture and residue before letting the case dry in the sun or an airy spot.

For deep stains and grease, a foaming fabric cleaner might be necessary. I don't recommend doing this often, as it might strip the fabric coatings on some luggage. If you’re committed to it, spray your luggage as you would a car seat (or stroller) or well-worn rug. Work in the foam with a soft-bristle dish brush or plastic bristle scrubber. Vacuum the foam with an upholstery cleaner and let dry. To spot-clean, rub a paste of baking soda and water onto the stain and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping away.

Check your wheels for debris such as carpet fibers, dirt, and hair (you may have to cut some of it away if it's really stuck in there) so that each wheel turns and spins freely along its axis. Wipe the wheels and handles with an all-purpose cleaner. If you want to restore plastic handles, try an automotive trim restorer.

Empty your luggage of any unnecessary items, removable pockets, and debris. Detach what you can. Open the case and shake out whatever is left. Look carefully in the corners where the grit collects after so many miles. Rid yourself of it all.

Vacuum the lining with a small hand vacuum or sweep it out with a small brush. Wash any liners or pockets by hand with a solution of soap and water. Let them dry on a washing rack or line.

If your lining is stained, use a solution of water and laundry detergent with a very high ratio of water to detergent (1:5 or 1:10 for HE detergent). Spot-clean any stains and scrub lightly. Wipe down after a few minutes with a soft cloth.

Some people suggest wrapping your luggage in a luggage cover during travel and for storage. Many brands provide cloth luggage bags or sell luggage covers now as well. It feels a bit fussy to me.

This article was edited by Brittney Ho, Amy Koplin, and Sofia Sokolove.

Kit Dillon

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

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