Packing cubes help keep clothes, accessories, and other travel necessities organized by creating a system that keeps everything in its place. Using packing cubes to separate items by type makes it easier to find what you need without having to rummage through an entire suitcase and can help maximize space in your luggage.
However, packing cubes, like suitcases, carry-ons, and other travel bags, should be cleaned and maintained to ensure they remain in good condition. There are also times when a packing cube needs to be washed immediately, such as when a spill occurs. This guide covers how—and how often—to clean packing cubes, including instructions for machine washing, hand laundering, and cleaning them when running water is not available.
How Often to Clean Packing Cubes
How often to clean packing cubes depends on how often they’re used. Frequent travelers will need to clean their packing cubes more often than people who go on one trip a year. A good guideline is to clean packing cubes every three to five uses. Doing so helps keep germs, bacteria, dirt, and grime from turning into stubborn stains or odors.
There are times when a packing cube needs to be cleaned immediately, such as when something spills in or on the cube. Did a packing cube come into contact with unclean surfaces, such as dirty hotel room floors or shared bathrooms? If so, wash it. If you were sick while traveling, clean everything—including packing cubes and luggage that you were in contact with—to avoid spreading germs or reinfecting yourself. Wash packing cubes used to hold dirty laundry after each use.
How to Clean Packing Cubes in a Washing Machine
Before cleaning packing cubes for the first time, refer to the care tag or check the online product description for cleaning instructions. Most packing cubes are designed to be machine-washed. Look for the laundry symbol, which indicates that something is machine washable; it features a basin with water in it. If the packing cubes are machine-washable, that is the best option for cleaning them. Here’s how:
1. Remove Contents, Make Repairs, and Treat Stains
Empty the cubes completely and make any necessary repairs, such as trimming loose threads or mending tears, before laundering. If there are visible stains, pretreat them with a stain-removing product. If the packing cube has a zipper enclosure, unzip it.
2. Wash in Cold Water
Wash the packing cubes in cold water in a load with other similar-weight items. Use a delicate or gentle cycle, and avoid washing packing cubes in the same load as bulky or heavy items, such as towels or jeans.
3. Air-Dry
After laundering, lay the packing cubes on a clean, dry towel to air-dry. If they are wrinkled, smooth them with your hands; the wrinkles will ease out as the cubes dry.
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How to Wash Packing Cubes by Hand
When machine washing isn’t an option, most packing cubes can be washed by hand. This is a helpful alternative in the event a spill or other accident happens during your travels, leaving a packing cube in immediate need of cleaning. The laundry symbol that indicates an item can be washed by hand is a basin with a hand in it.
1. Fill a Basin or Tub
Fill a basin, such as a sink, bucket, or bathtub, with lukewarm water and add about a teaspoon of detergent; if you don’t have laundry detergent on hand, any mild soap can serve as a substitute, including hand soap, dish soap, bar soap, clear body wash, face wash, or shampoo. Avoid using body washes, face washes, or shampoos that are not clear or that contain conditioning or moisturizing beads or agents.
2. Submerge and Soak the Cube
Submerge the packing cube in the detergent solution, using a gentle swishing motion to move the soap and water through the fabric. Allow the cube to soak for five to 10 minutes.
3. Drain and Rinse
Drain the wash water and rinse any suds from the basin. To rinse the cube, either hold it under cool running water or refill the basin with clean water and repeat the same swishing action to rinse the detergent out of the packing cube.
4. Extrude Water and Lay Flat to Dry
After thoroughly rinsing the cube, squeeze or press it to extrude as much water as possible. Avoid wringing or twisting, which can stretch or damage the fabric. Then, lay the cube flat on a clean, dry towel to air-dry.
How to Clean Packing Cubes Without Water
If a packing cube needs to be cleaned but you don’t have access to water or you don’t have time to let it dry, wipe the cubes clean with one of these quick-cleaning products that don’t require water or detergent:
- Fabric-safe cleaning wipes
- Baby wipes or adult bathroom wipes
- Makeup removing wipes
- Handy Naps and other food service wipes
- Liquid cleaners, such as makeup remover or hand sanitizer, paired with paper towels or a cloth
- Disinfectant spray, such as Lysol (for odors or exposure to germs or bacteria)
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