Purchasing a brand new knife bag or knife roll can be a huge stepping stone in any chef’s career. You will come to rely on it to house your precious knives as well as other essential kitchen utensils. This is why knowing how to properly care for your knife bag is so important.
Not all knife bags are created equal so not all care routines will be the same. But where to begin? If you are looking for the best care and treatment for your knife bag or knife roll then you have come to the right place to learn.
Polyester is one of the most common materials that you’ll find most knife bags are made of. This is because it is a sturdy material that works great in the kitchen and on the go. However, just because it is sturdy doesn’t mean it won’t get dirty, in fact, working in a kitchen that is almost always a guarantee. So you’ll want to learn how to clean your polyester knife bag and keep it clean.
The great thing about polyester’s synthetic fibers is their ability to repel most water-based stains. This includes any juices or wines that you might spill in your kitchen. It is also resistant to mildew, which is great if you want your knife bag or knife roll to last a long time.
The stains you do have to be careful of are those involving grease or oil as they tend to cling to polyester fibers. This will make the removal of those stains difficult but not impossible. There are steps you can take to ensure that even if your knife bag falls victim to oils or grease stains you can be confident that it won’t stay that way for long.
If your polyester knife bag needs to be washed the first step you’ll want to take is finding the right kind of detergent. While most polyester is colorfast if you are worried about the color fading from your knife bag then be sure to use a detergent that you feel comfortable with.
From there you’ll want to hand wash your polyester bag in warm water with the detergent. Gently scrub out the stains using either your hands or a firm scrub brush. Then rinse out any remaining detergent.
Remember to never over dry your polyester knife bag. While low heat is fine in small increments, too much heat can cause the material to fray at the edges. This will cause your bag to wear down sooner rather than later and we don’t want that. We recommend air drying all of your bags and to stay away from the dryer for all bags and backpacks.
Like we said oil and grease are tough to get out of polyester, but with a few easy steps, you can get your knife bag looking brand new again. You’ll want to clean the oil stain fairly quickly as the longer it is allowed to soak into the fibers the harder it will be to remove the stain.
The best solution is hand-washing your bag in warm water with a grease-fighting dish soap such as Dawn.
If you have a stiff brush you’ll want to start working the soap into the stain. You can also use your hands if a brush isn’t handy. Once you’ve worked the soap into the stain rinse it to see if the stain has been diminished. You might have to repeat this a few times depending on how bad the stain is.
Once you’ve given your knife bag a thorough spot treatment you can hand wash as normal. Make sure to let it air dry once it is done.
While nylon may not have many differences to their polyester counterparts, nylon bags do bring their own set of advantages and knife bag care best practices. Nylon is mostly used for knife bags that do a lot of traveling. Its strong material can not only withstand water but other damage from natural elements which makes it a go-to for the chef who is always on the go.
There are many similarities between knife bags made of polyester and nylon. Both are durable and water-resistant. Both are light-weight and are easily cared for. However, they differ in a few things as well. Nylon is a softer material but tends to be stronger than polyester. This is why it is an ideal material for your travel knife backpack. You can be sure that it will brave the elements without trouble.
Even still, after weeks of use, you may find that your nylon knife bag has attracted dirt and other stains that will need to be taken care of in order for it to stay in top condition.
Thanks to nylon being resistant to damage and stains you’ll only need to worry about hand washing your bag no more than once or twice a month to keep it in stellar condition. Just make sure when it comes time to wash that you use cold or cool water to prevent any stains from settling into the fibers.
For nylon, you can use the same detergent you would normally use for your clothes. You’ll only need a small amount and an added benefit is there is no need to be super delicate with your nylon bag. Nylon is hard to damage and a good hand washing session won't hurt it.
Nylon is wet resistant so there is no need to ever use a dryer. Letting your nylon bag simply air dry should do the trick. Just be sure to avoid direct sunlight as that could potentially make the color of the fabric fade.
Much like a polyester knife bag, a nylon knife bag will no doubt pick up its own share of oil and grease in the kitchen. That is why spot treating your bag is so important in order to make sure these stains never settle into the fibers and leave your bag looking ragged.
For your nylon knife bag, the first thing you’ll want to do is soak up as much of the oil as soon as possible. This can be done by simply taking a towel or napkin and dabbing at the stain in order to pick up any excess oil. Remember, the longer the oil is allowed to soak into the fibers, the harder it will be to clean.
Next, you’ll want to cover the stain with talcum powder. Make sure the entire stain is covered and let sit for a minute or two. The powder will absorb the remaining oil in the fibers. You’ll want to brush the powder away gently using a toothbrush or any bristled brush. Depending on the severity of the stain you may have to repeat this process.
While most stains can’t be avoided, especially in a kitchen, learning what kind of care your specific knife bag or roll needs can help prevent irreversible stains. It will also help keep your knife bag in the best shape so it lasts for a long time.
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