For those who love quality backpacks, you most likely have a Kånken bag or are considering one. To keep your Kånken in good shape, you have to take good care of the bag. But what do you do when your Kånken looks dusty, and you haven’t used it for a long time or have not been to a dusty area?
Kånken looks dusty because it has been exposed to dust that settled on its fabric. The dust on the bag can be from dust mites, pollen, soil, food crumbs, or pet dander. You can use a soft bristle brush to brush off the dust from your Kånken bag. Alternatively, if you have dust and dirt on your bag, you can hand clean it.
In this article, you will discover why your Kånken bag looks dusty. You will also find out how you can remove dust from your Kånken bag. In addition, in the article, you will find out how you can take care of your Kånken bag.
Reasons Why Your Kånken Looks Dusty
A dusty Kånken can be uncomfortable since it makes you look untidy. Thus, whenever you notice that your Kånken looks dusty, you must remove the dust as soon as possible.
If your Kånken has some stains on it and the stains are allowed to set it, the stains will become stubborn and challenging to remove. Thus, whenever you notice dirt and other stains on your Kånken bag, you must remove the stains as soon as possible.
Whether you have used the bag or you had stored your bag, here are some of the reasons why your Kånken bag looks dusty;
Dust Mite
Dust mites are very small to see without a microscope. They mainly occur naturally and flourish in humid settings. Even though you might be convinced that your house is not damp, there is the chance that dust mites could be hiding in some spots in the house, such as on curtains, bedding, and even on the couches.
The dust mites in your house might eventually find their way to your Kånken bag and make it dusty.
Pollen, Soil, And Particulate Matter
There is a high chance that the dust on your Kånken is from outside. If you walk in areas with pollen, soil, or particular matter with your bag, some of the dust produced by pollen, soil, or particulate matter will find its way to your bag.
Moreover, you could carry pollen, soil, and particulate matter with your clothes, shoes, or hair. Once you get home and start moving around the house, the pollen, soil in the form of dust, and particulate matter could float in the air and eventually settle on your Kånken bag.
Pet Dander
Pet dander are the small microscopic flecks of skin that the pets we keep in our houses shed. Moreover, even if you don’t have pets in your house, friends coming into your house and have pets could bring pet dander along with them in their clothes.
Once the pet dander gets into the air, it will eventually settle on a surface, and if your Kånken bag is one of the surfaces that the pet dander rests on and accumulates, then the bag will look dusty even if you never took it outside.
Food Crumbs
Once you have eaten a meal, there is a chance that you will spill food crumbs. Most people tend to ignore the crumbs, especially if they are in a hurry. When the food crumbs accumulate over time, they become an element of dust.
The dust from the food crumbs might eventually find its way on your Kånken and make it look dusty.
As you can see, there are different reasons why your Kånken bag might appear dusty even if you have not used the bag outside, where it is likely to be dust.
When you are not using your Kånken, you should put it inside a dust bag so that it is protected from the dust.
How Do You Remove Dust From Kånken?
The method you can use to remove the dust on your Kånken depends on how dusty your bag is. If there isn’t a lot of dust in the bag, you might be able to remove dust without washing the bag.
However, if your bag is very dusty and it has dirt on it, washing the bag would be the best thing to do.
Kånken bags are made from Polyvinyl fibers which make the vinylon fabric. The fabric has various properties common in natural fibers, and as such, when the fabric is dusty, the dust can be removed from the fabric without washing it.
Method 1: Removing dust from Kånken without washing
You should use this method if your Kånken is dusty but not dirty. For example, if you stored your bag after cleaning it only to find it dusty, this method would be the best way to get rid of the dust.
In addition, if you noticed that your Kånken is dusty and you don’t have time to wash the bag and wait for it to dry, you can also use this method to get the dust out of your bag.
1.Empty the Kånken bag, so there is nothing inside the bag. It is essential to empty the bag since if the inside of the bag is also dusty, you will need to remove dust from the bag.
2. Detach all the accessories on the bag.
3. Shake the bag when turned upside down to remove loose dust, dirt, and crumbs.
4. Using a soft bristle brush, lightly brush the exterior of the Kånken bag so that any dirt and dirt on the bag’s surface is removed.
5. If the interior of your bag is dusty, turn it inside out (if possible) and gently brush it to remove the dust.
If you don’t have a soft bristle brush, you can use a dry towel to remove dust from the bag.
You should not use a wet towel since when the dust on the bag comes into contact with the damp towel, the bag could become dirty, forcing you to clean it with lukewarm water and dish soap.
Method 2: Removing dust from Kånken by washing it
When washing your Kånken, you should never wash it with a washing machine.
Even if the vinylon fabric used to make the Kånken bag is machine washable, washing your bag in the washer may damage it since the bag can bleed, while the water temperature in the washer could also damage the bag.
When washing Kånken, never use hot water. The high temperatures of water can damage the water-resistant property of your Kånken bag. Always use lukewarm water when cleaning your bag.
Here is how you are supposed to handwash your Kånken bag;
What You’ll Require
Washcloth / Soft Sponge
Soft-bristled brush
Dish soap, detergent
Clean towel
Old/ spare Toothbrush
Bucket or washbasin
Step 1: Empty the Kånken bag and detach all the accessories
Open all the pockets and compartments and remove everything. Ensure that all the pockets are unzipped. In addition, detach all the accessories from the bag.
Step 2: Turn the Kånken upside down and shake it
To remove any dirt, and crumbs on the bag, turn it upside down and give it a good shake.
Step 3: Use the soft bristle brush to brush off the dirt
Using a soft bristle brush, brush off any dirt and dust on the bag. If you have a garment vacuum cleaner, you can use it to vacuum the dirt and dust from your bag.
Step 4: Use an old or spare toothbrush along the zippers
Since your soft-bristled brush might not be able to remove dust and dirt along the zippers, use an old toothbrush to remove any dirt along the zippers.
Step 4: Mix water with an enzyme-free soap dish or mild detergent
Mix lukewarm water with a soap dish or mild detergent. Enzyme-free Soap dish or a mild detergent should be used when washing the Kånken bag since they do not have abrasives or enzymes that can damage your bag’s surface.
Step 5: Start cleaning the bag from the inside out
Dampen the soft sponge with the solution of lukewarm water and mild detergent. Use the sponge to clean the inside of the bag and the outside.
If you have stains on the bag, use the toothbrush to work on the stain. You should also use the toothbrush to reach the hard areas of your Kånken bag.
Step 6: Thoroughly rinse the Kånken bag
Using clean lukewarm water, rinse your Kånken bag thoroughly. Ensure that foam has been rinsed from the zippers and straps since it could damage them when left there.
Step 7: Air dry your Kånken bag
You should never dry your Kånken in the dryer. If you dry the bag in the dryer, you will damage it. When drying the bag, ensure you hang it upside down with its pockets unzipped.
If your Kånken was smelling, you could air dry it outside so that the sun can de-deodorize it.
Make sure that your bag is completely dry before storing it. As is the case with the Prada nylon bag, storing your Kånken bag when it’s still wet will result in mold on your bags.
Does Kånken Get Dirty?
Yes, Kånken gets dirty. The bag can get dirty when used for a couple of days in a dirty environment. For example, when you use your Kånken in a dusty environment, the bag will get dirty.
Kånken can also get dirty when using it, and something accidentally falls on it. For example, when grease or other products that have made your fabric contact your Kånken, the bag will become dirty.
Can I Put My Kånken In The Washing Machine
When you want to wash anything in the washing machine, you have to read the care label and find out whether the item you want to wash in the machine is machine washable or not.
Most Kanken bags should never be washed in the machine. Washing your Kånken in the machine will damage the water-resistant property of the bag. Instead, Kånken should be hand washed with lukewarm water and a mild detergent.
Do kånken Bags Fade?
The fabric used to make any garment or bag determines how the bag will react in different situations. Generally, synthetic fabrics resist fading better than natural fabric.
Kånken bags are made from vinylon fabric, a synthetic fiber produced from polyvinyl alcohol.
Kånken bags last a long time before they begin to fade and crack since they are made from a synthetic fabric that is highly resistant to fading and very durable.
Are Kånken Bags Waterproof?
Many people tend to think that waterproof and water-resistant are the same thing. However, that is not the case since the two are different.
Waterproof fabric can endure water, meaning that the fabric will not allow water to go through its fibers and wet them. Thus, a waterproof bag can be left outside when raining and would not get wet inside.
On the other hand, a water-resistant fabric can repel or resist water for some time. Therefore, when water accumulates on the surface of water-resistant fabric, the fabric will eventually allow the water to go through its fibers.
Kånken bags are not waterproof. However, the bags are water-resistant. Kånken can resist light precipitation, implying that whatever you have inside your bag will not be damaged by light showers or snow.
However, if it was to rain heavily for some time when outside with the bag, whatever you have inside the bag will be damaged by water since water will seep through your Kånken bag fibers.
How Do You Waterproof A Fjällräven Kånken?
The fabric used to make Fjällräven Kånken is water-resistant but not waterproof. To waterproof the fabric, you can apply a special coating on the bag’s outer surface.
One of the most effective waterproofing coatings for Fjällräven Kånken is the Greenland Wax. Many people have used it to waterproof their Kånken bags and have found it effective.
Moreover, apart from waterproofing your bag, the Fjällräven Greenland Wax improves the wind resistance of the bag. The product’s packaging gives clear instructions on using it on your bag.
Conclusions
If you want your Kånken bag to last a long time, you have to make sure that you take good care of the bag. To do that, you have to avoid washing the bag regularly. If your bag is dusty, you should consider brushing it instead of washing it.
You should never wash your Kånken in a washing machine. Moreover, when cleaning the bag, use lukewarm water and mild detergent or enzyme-free dish soap if your bag has stains. Always spot clean the stains with dish soap instead of washing the whole bag.
