The short answer: spot clean with a damp cloth and a little mild dish soap, never the washing machine, and always air dry. Waxed canvas is different again — keep soap away from it entirely. The longer answer is below.

There's a particular satisfaction that comes with a bag that shows its years well. Not worn-out — worn-in. Corners softened, handles darkened just slightly from use, the kind of patina that signals this is a thing someone relies on. We've seen our canvas totes come back for repair after a decade of weekly farmers markets, first-day-of-school handoffs, and cross-country carry-ons. They don't look tired. They look like they've been somewhere.

That doesn't happen by accident. Canvas is honest material — it responds to how you treat it. A little attention early on goes a long way.

Spot clean instead of submerging. When your printed cotton tote picks up a smudge — and it will — reach for a damp cloth and a small amount of mild dish soap, not the washing machine. Machine washing can distort shape, soften structure, and fade the print over time. Work from the outside of the stain inward, rinse well, and let the bag air dry completely before using it again. Stuffing it with a towel while it dries helps it hold its shape.

Keep waxed canvas away from soap. Our waxed canvas pieces have a different set of rules. The wax finish is what makes the bag water-resistant and gives it that signature matte texture — soap strips it. For day-to-day dirt, a damp cloth is all you need. Surface scratches disappear with a little heat: hold a hairdryer on low about three inches away and move slowly until the wax softens and the marks blend in. When water stops beading on the surface — usually after a year or two of real use — re-wax with Otter Wax applied in circular motions, then use the hairdryer again to melt it in before buffing.

Never put it in the dryer. Canvas bags of any kind — printed, solid, waxed — should air dry. Heat sets stains, shrinks fabric, and can warp handles. Stand it upright or hang it from the handles in a spot with good airflow. It will thank you.

Store it with structure. A canvas bag left crumpled at the bottom of a closet eventually takes that shape. Hang it by the handles or stuff it lightly with tissue paper to help it hold its form between uses.

Common questions

Can you put a canvas bag in the washing machine?

We would not. The agitation distorts the shape, softens the structure that makes a tote stand up, and fades printed fabric. A damp cloth and mild dish soap handle almost everything a machine would, without the cost.

How do you get a stain out of a canvas tote?

Work from the outside of the stain inward with a damp cloth and a small amount of mild dish soap — going inward stops you spreading the ring outward. Rinse the area well so no soap dries in the weave, then air dry completely before using the bag again.

Can you machine wash waxed canvas?

No. Water and detergent strip the wax, which is the entire point of the finish. Wipe it with a damp cloth instead, and re-wax when water stops beading.

Will a canvas bag shrink?

Cotton canvas can shrink with heat, which is why the dryer is the real danger rather than the water. Air drying avoids it.

How do you get wrinkles or creases out of a canvas bag?

Stuff it with a towel or tissue paper and leave it to sit upright for a day or two — the fabric relaxes on its own. For a stubborn crease on unwaxed canvas, a warm iron on the reverse with a pressing cloth works. Never iron waxed canvas; the wax melts onto the plate.

How do you stop a canvas bag losing its shape?

Store it standing or hanging by the handles rather than folded at the bottom of a closet, and keep a little tissue paper in it between uses. A bag left crumpled for months eventually keeps that shape.

How often should a canvas bag be cleaned?

Only when it needs it. Over-cleaning does more harm than use does — the patina you are trying to protect is the record of it being carried.

For the full guide — including care instructions for our solid canvas totes, silk and cotton neckwear, velvet, leather, travel kits, and brass hardware — visit our Care & Keeping page. Every material category is covered.