I would do it, delicate cycle, add Odorban! It works great in the laundry.

What brand? We have a 15 year old JanSport bag that's been washed several times.

Delicate, warm, mild soap. Air dry.

Toss some floor rugs in with it.

If I need to balance the load, I add a couple of towels.

And use a mesh bag.

I tend to look at an item's specific washing instructions as being a warning as well as a hint for best results. If it were mine, I'd follow the label's instructions.

Good quality laundry detergents have enzymes and that should be sufficient to remove sweat and bacterial odors without resorting to additives. Check that the one you're using does. We have had and still have a family of physically active and sports playing people and a good washing has always done the trick, even on stuff that was sitting around for awhile. I agree with pretreatment with enzyme stuff like Oxyclean, followed by a cold machine pre-wash rinse, for major food or other stains.

If you're concerned, you could give it a 30 minute soak in the sink with a heavier than normal dose of the enzyme containing detergent. Rinse, then wash again.

Note that top loaders with a center agitator are more likely to cause damage to anything being washed than a front loader would.

I've been thinking about this as my son is preparing to go off to school (He loves his backpack and won't get a new one). As to sushi's suggestion, I saw this as an alternate. Hope it helps!

"Put your backpack in a laundry bag if possible as this prevents the
straps getting caught and damaging your bag or washing machine.
Alternatively you can use a pillow case or simply turn the backpack
inside out."

I am curious...is my post first comment, not showing????

Many backpacks are made with a waterproof material so don't wash it in any front loader without first contacting the washers manufacturer. Dont was any waterproof material without checking with washers manufacturer. This is in regards to front loaders.

Ava I see your post..its the first response. Do you not see it?

Thanks mamap. I thought I was invisible. OP has a top loader.

i wouldn't hesitate to wash the backpack in machine. i'd turn it inside out to make sure all the crumbs get washed away. would air dry.

i would wash it on cold, delicate. turn inside out. air dry.. should be fine

I will definitely air dry. We have plenty of other sports equipment ourselves, and I am a big air-dryer of many things, even my sports bras, regular bras, and a whole lot of clothing.

Thanks all, I feel better. It’s a Nike bag with several pockets. Pretty much almost like a book bag. And I have some Odorban so will throw some of that in with my Tide Free and Gentle. There’s not so much crumbs as just field dirt and stink from shoes, shin guards and sweaty stuff. Phew, girls are as bad as boys when it comes to sports!

Yes, I do have a top loader with a large tub (no agitator) and plan to use the delicate cycle. I may indeed put it in a pillowcase. Not sure I have a large enough mesh bag but will see if DH has something. I know we have some fairly large laundry bags somewhere. And will throw in a couple of old towels. We have plenty of those, lol, always around for some spill or the dog or whatever.

Now that I think about it and read through the comments again, it is probably a good idea to give it a soak first in the laundry sink in the Odorban. Off to do that now, maybe along with the shoes.

This forum is great! Thanks for having my back! And good luck to all of you with little off to school soon!

Outside, doing a presoak is much easier in the washing machine ... if you have that option.

Ava, I do, and I did. I didn’t even think about it when I wrote that. When I had my front loader, I completely got out of the habit. Funny, I was taking something out of the washer when I went to the laundry room, and I looked at the dial and the light bulb went off. With no kids and no big laundry problems as a rule, I completely forgot about it until now. Thank you!

Update - The soccer backpack and shoes turned out perfectly! I soaked all for quite a while. Probably ended up being around 15 hours based on my last post. I started the washer on delicate with an extra rinse with more Odorban being in the fabric softener dispenser. They are outside drying this morning with the backpack spread open on a patio chair. Backpack is nearly dry already. Shoes will take longer. They are in shade.

Thanks again to everyone who provided help and comments. And btw I also sprayed some straight Pine Sol in the shoes before I soaked them.

Good.

And while I'm thinking on it...I don't think there's any pine oil in todays Pine-Sol. Lol.

Nope, but they sure smelled better, MP!

FYI- shoes dry fast if put on top of a refrigerator. Near the back.

(Old team mom trick.)