2 materialsCotton Bags
Reusable, washable cotton bags for stores, brands and promotions.
Materials: Cotton, Canvas
How-to guide
How to wash cotton and canvas tote bags
Cotton and canvas totes are washable, which is one reason they replace single-use bags so well.
Quick answer
Wash cotton totes inside out in cold water on a gentle cycle or by hand with mild detergent, and air-dry them. Expect some shrinkage in untreated cotton and avoid hot ironing over prints.
Updated by the Vago team
Key takeaways
- Turn inside out
- Use cold water
- Choose a gentle cycle or hand wash
- Air-dry
- Iron carefully
Step by step
Turn inside out
This protects the print or embroidery during washing.
Use cold water
Cold water reduces shrinkage and colour fading.
Choose a gentle cycle or hand wash
Use mild detergent and no bleach.
Air-dry
Hang or lay flat; avoid tumble drying, which causes shrinkage.
Iron carefully
Iron on the reverse side, never directly on the print.
Tips
- Pre-shrunk fabric reduces size change after washing — ask for it on large orders
- Wash dark-coloured bags separately the first time
Mistakes to avoid
- Washing in hot water
- Ironing over screen prints
Terms used in this guide
- Colour fastness
- How well a fabric or print keeps its colour when washed, rubbed or exposed to light.
- GSM (grams per square metre)
- A measure of fabric or paper weight — higher GSM is heavier and usually stronger.
Related bags
- 2 materials
6 materialsTote Bags
Printed canvas, cotton, jute and rPET totes for retail, events and brands.
Materials: Canvas, Cotton, Jute, Juco (Jute-Cotton Blend), Recycled PET (rPET), Non-Woven (PP)+1
Terms explained
Trade terms used on this page, in plain language.
- GSM (grams per square metre)
- A measure of fabric or paper weight — higher GSM is heavier and usually stronger.
- Colour fastness
- How well a fabric or print keeps its colour when washed, rubbed or exposed to light.
Questions buyers ask
Something else? Ask on WhatsApp and the production team will reply.
Will a printed cotton bag fade when washed?
Good-quality, properly cured prints last many washes; cold water and washing inside out help them last longer.
Request a quote for custom bags
Share quantity, size, material and branding. We reply with specifications, MOQ and pricing, and arrange a sample first.