General Care
A little knowledge about how to maintain your bag can go a long way towards extending its useful lifespan. Use the information listed in this guide to help you get the most time out of your bag and keep it looking and performing like the day you purchased it.
Fabric Cleaning
IMPORTANT: Please do not machine wash or dry any of your Think Tank Photo products. Doing so may cause damage to the product and will void its warranty.
Cleaning Think Tank Photo Nylon and Cotton Canvas Bags
There's not one solution that we can recommend for cleaning all stains. When possible, start with the method that's the most gentle and then work your way up to more persuasive methods if needed.
Water and a Cloth or Brush
When possible, spot clean your bag using plain water and a soft brush or cloth. We've found that an old toothbrush works great at getting into tight spots or into the deeper grooves of our cotton canvas. An old towel or rag soaked in plan water is good for general clean up.
Soap and Water for Stubborn Stains – The secret is in the sauce!
Really, there's a sworn-by concoction used by upholstery detailers and cleaners and we're going to share it with you. We use this mixture here in-house at Think Tank to clean bags and have found that it removes even the most stubborn of stains.
Cleaning Solution:
Mix ten parts water to one part Woolite fabric cleaner. That's it! The application varies, but the general idea is that you want to either put this mixture into a spray bottle or bowl. Then dab or spray the diluted Woolite directly on the soiled areas of the bag. Using a rag, dab at the stain or soiled areas until you start to soak up the mixture. It should foam and froth a bit. Now dab at the area with a clean rag soaked in warm water until you've picked up most of the foam.
If clean, use a fresh wet cloth and go over the areas you've cleaned once more with warm water. If the stain is still there, then repeating the process one or two more times may be necessary. The use of a soft brush may help too.
Let air dry and you're just about done. When you clean the exterior of our bags you also remove the durable water resistant (DWR) coating that we've applied. We recommend reapplying a water resistant coating, and we cover this further along in this guide.
Divider Cleaning
Clean dividers in the same method as outlined above. Take extra caution when cleaning dividers that have a soft surface. Using a stiff brush could damage the small loops that are on the outside of the divider, effectively wearing it out prematurely.
Hook-and-Loop (Velcro™-Like) Cleaning
Many of our bags and their dividers utilize hook-n-loop closures and fasteners. When clean, the mating surfaces will be strongly bonded. However, this system is only effective if both mating surfaces are free of lint, hair, dirt, or other containments.
Over time, it's very possible for the rough, hook-side surface to become dirty. Clean the rough hook side with a brush and/or tweezers. A toothpick can also come in handy. When cleaning the softer loop-side, you should take care to not pull apart any of the loops by using too stiff of a brush. It's better to carefully pick away at specific problem areas on the soft, loop surface.
Maintaining and Reapplying the Durable Water Resistant Coating
Most Think Tank Photo bags and pouches have been treated with a Durable Water Resistant (DWR) coating. This coating helps water to bead on the surface of the bag and helps to keep it from penetrating further. Any cleaning done to your bag will likely reduce effectiveness of the DWR coating. The coating also breaks down over time, so it's good to reapply a DWR coating of your own from time to time depending on if you plan shoot in damp or wet environments. Be sure to use the included seam-sealed rain cover when using your bag in the rain.
Water Repellent Recommendations:
We recommend using Scotchgard Fabric Protector or another similar product that DOES NOT require drying the fabric in a heated dryer as part of the application process. Many products do require heated drying, so be sure to check the label before application. Do your best to avoid coating the zippers during application, as many water replant products contain wax or other substances that can attract dust and grime. Use blue painters tape or similar to protect the zippers during DWR coating application to keep the zippers clean (see Zipper Care below for more information).
Always feel free to reapply a DWR coating to the included seam sealed rain cover whenever deemed necessary.
Zipper Care and Cleaning
Functionally, the zippers are one of the most important parts of your bag. We use only the highest quality YKK zippers on all Think Tank Photo products. Just like a precision machine, zippers do require some maintenance and upkeep to maximize their useful life and ability to slide effortlessly.
Why Zipper Care?
Even microscopic debris trapped within the zipper teeth can eventually cause premature zipper wear and ultimately zipper failure. Keep all zippers clean and free of dirt, dust, salt and salt water to ensure optimum performance. Never apply lubricants to zippers, as this will only attract more dust and grime. Zippers that are hard to move are suffering from a problem that cannot be fixed by applying a lubricant. If cleaning does not fix a problem with your zipper, please contact us for assistance.
Be sure to cover the zippers with blue painters tape or similar when cleaning and/or reapplying a water resistant fabric coating to other parts of the bag.
Cleaning Zippers
An old toothbrush and a little tap water are all that you need to clean a dusty zipper. Start by using the brush along the entire length of the zipper being sure to clean each zipper tooth. Make sure you clean both the front and back sides of the zipper. Dip the brush into the cup of water frequently while cleaning. Continue the process until you've cleaned the entire zipper.
To remove oil, grease and other grime, use the water technique outlined above but add a few drops of dish soap to the water. Go back over the zipper with clean water without soap when finished to remove any soap residue.
If cleaning does not fix a problem with your zipper, please contact us for assistance.
Additional Tips to Maximize Zipper Life
Don't Stress the Zippers by Overloading Your Bag
"I know I can get this to fit!" You push down on the top of your bag while attempting to zip the bag closed. Not only is this not good for the gear you're trying to protect, but it also puts unnecessary strain on the zippers. This will cause both the zipper teeth and zipper sliders to prematurely fail. Pack less gear, repack the bag or use multiple bags instead of overloading one single bag.
Fully Unzip Zippered Lids Before Opening
Try not to use the zipper as a hinge. The zipper should be fully opened all the way to its stop point on any bag lid or flap. If you leave the zipper partially unzipped, then the bag's lid will hinge on the zipper rail, causing premature wear.
Always Use the Zipper Pulls
Lastly, make sure you use the zipper pull when unzipping a zipper. Don't force open any zippered closure by pulling on the fabric around it instead of using the zipper pull. Opening a bag improperly stresses both the zipper slider and teeth.