Care & Repair Guide

Natural materials. Intentional care. Timeless use.

Our bags are designed to carry your life beautifully—for years, not seasons. But natural materials like jute, canvas, and waxed canvas do need care that’s a little more thoughtful than polyester or synthetics. This guide helps you care, repair, and extend the life of your Pelli bag with ease.

✨ Quick Care Guide

The 5 Yes’s & 5 No’s of Looking After Your Pelli Bag

Say Yes To:

1. ✅ Spot cleaning with cold water and a soft cloth

2. ✅ Air drying in the shade

3. ✅ Re-waxing waxed canvas when needed

4. ✅ Storing bags upright and open with tissue inside

5. ✅ Repairing seams, patches, or wax finish as needed

Avoid (Always No To):

1. ❌ Machine or hand washing – ruins wax and fabric integrity

2. ❌ Soaking or saturating natural fibers

3. ❌ Prolonged sunlight or heat (causes fading and breakdown)

4. ❌ Folding, cramming, or scrunching your bag into drawers

5. ❌ Harsh soaps, bleaches, or chemical cleaners

🧵 Material-by-Material Care & Repair

🌾 Jute Bags

Strong, breathable, biodegradable. Needs protection from moisture and pressure.

Care Tips:

• Spot clean only with damp cloth and mild soap

• Air dry flat in shade

• Never machine wash

• Store in a cool, dry place—keep away from humid cupboards or wet car seats

• Stuff with tissue and store upright on a shelf

Repair Tips:

• Trim frays, reinforce with hand stitching

• Use natural fabric patches on small holes

• Sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch on oil marks; brush off after drying

Lifespan Expectation: 2–3+ years of regular use with good care

🧵 Canvas Bags

Hardwearing, flexible, and everyday-friendly. Sensitive to sun and shrinkage.

Care Tips:

• Wipe clean with a soft cloth and diluted soap

• Air dry in shade—never tumble dry or heat

• Store fully dry, with soft stuffing to keep shape

• Avoid full sun (canvas fades fast)

• Use eco fabric protector spray to increase water resistance

Repair Tips:

• Small rips = canvas patches or visible mending

• Seam tears = reinforce with waxed cotton thread

• Mildew = dust with baking soda, air outside (indirect sun)

Lifespan Expectation: 3–5+ years of everyday use

🕯️ Waxed Canvas Bags

Weather-resistant and full of character. The more you care, the better it looks.

Care Tips:

• Never machine or hand wash – it strips the wax and damages the fabric

• Spot clean only with a brush or cold water

• Keep away from direct heat and strong sun (melts or dries wax)

• Store stuffed and upright, not folded

• Re-wax seasonally or when it looks dry or faded

How to Re-wax:
You'll need natural wax (Otter Wax or beeswax), a cloth, and a hairdryer.

1. Clean the bag thoroughly

2. Rub wax into dry fabric in circular motions

3. Gently warm with hairdryer until wax is absorbed

4. Hang for 24 hours in a cool, dry spot

Repair Tips:

• Patch with waxed canvas or stitch with waxed thread

• Re-wax repaired areas for continued water resistance

• Scuffs? Rub gently with your hands—heat softens the wax and blends it

Lifespan Expectation: 5+ years with seasonal maintenance

👜 Product-Specific Notes

• Lunch Bags: Line with reusable wrap or containers to avoid food spills. Air out regularly.

• Totes: Shake out sand or crumbs often. Don’t overfill with weighty items.

• Zip Pouches: Keep dry; ideal for organizing, not for heavy-duty exposure.

• Van Lifers & Car Commuters: Avoid leaving bags in direct sun—heat weakens wax and fades jute. Tuck bags into shaded bins or soft-side compartments.

🌧️ Waterproofing Canvas (Optional)

For added durability, you can use a plant-based waterproof spray (like Nikwax or Tectron) every 4–6 months, especially in wet climates.

📦 End-of-Use Guide

Circularity begins at the end. Here’s what to do when your bag reaches the end of its practical life:

• ♻️ Compost what you can – Jute and uncoated canvas can break down in home compost (cut into small strips).

• 🧵 Repurpose into storage wraps for shoes, tools, or drawer liners.

• 🧩 Cut clean fabric into patches to repair other bags.

• 🧑🎨 Upcycle creatively – turn panels into plant holders, wall pockets, or even book covers.

• 📬 Stay tuned – We're working on a take-back program for worn bags.

“Every Pelli bag tells a story. When it’s time for yours to retire, let it leave the lightest footprint possible.”

Insulated Cooler Bags

Chill Homie
OK Chill
Big Break Lunch Bag

- Wipe the inside of the bags with a warm damp cloth and mild detergent. Spot clean outside of bags with a warm damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Allow to dry completely.
- Do not wet the stitching or immerse in water or liquid. 
- If a spill within the bag seeps into the seams, immediately remove all the items from the bag and clean the area with water only and dry completely before using again. (Note: some spills may weaken the seams and cause loosening of the seam. 
- Do not overload the bags - maximum weight of 4kgs at any one time is recommended.

Canvas / Calico Bags

Market Bag
Duffle Bag

- Spot clean the bags with mild detergent and cold water.
- Hand washing and machine wash not recommended and may cause changing of colour, size and/ or shape.
- Air dry in the shade to avoid shrinkage or discolouration.
- Do not overload the bags - maximum weight of 4kgs at any one time is recommended.

Produce Bags

Surf the Net
Scoop and Pour
Bread Bag

- Hand wash in cold water with gentle detergent. Air dry. Do not tumble dry.

Bento Box Sets

- Hand wash in warm soapy water. Stainless steel containers can be placed in the dishwasher on the top rack.
- Do not place bamboo lids or cutlery in dishwasher.
- Do NOT soak bamboo. It is a natural product and may swell and crack. 

Glass Water Bottle

- Hand wash in warm soapy water.

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

- Hand wash in warm soapy water.
- Dishwasher Safe
- Do NOT soak wooden lid. It is a natural product and may swell and crack.

Waxed Canvas

The best thing about Waxed Canvas fabric is that it looks better the more it ages and wears! Waxed canvas is a tightly woven cotton that has been saturated with wax. This provides a strong layer of protection against the elements and increases the life of the products. The creases and folds are recorded in the waxed coating creating a lovey weathered patina over time.

Your waxed canvas bags shouldn’t stain easily, they will be naturally dirt and sand resistant and any inevitable scuffs should blend into the weathered patina of the fabric. We recommend spot cleaning only with a damp towel, never soak your waxed canvas bags or put them in the washing machine or the dryer. Mild soap may be used diluted with cold water for stubborn stains, and simply air dry.

If you would prefer to reduce the appearance of the marks on the waxed canvas a hairdryer can be used – hovering it on a high setting, a few inches above the fabric, moving quickly and not heating the fabric for too long in any particular spot. Bags can also be re-waxed with beeswax every year or two.

Waxed Canvas Insulated Cooler Bags

Cross the Seas WC
Lunch Squared

- Wipe the inside of the bags with a warm damp cloth and mild detergent. Spot clean outside of bags with a cold damp cloth and water.
- Allow to air dry completely.
- Do not wet the stitching or immerse in water or liquid. 
- If a spill within the bag seeps into the seams, immediately remove all the items from the bag and clean the area with water only and dry completely before using again. (Note: some spills may weaken the seams and cause loosening of the seam. 
- Do not overload the bags - maximum weight of 4kgs in cooler bags at any one time is recommended.

Waxed Canvas Bags

Beachy Keen
Waxed Canvas Tote Bag
Tasman Cross Body Bag

- Bags naturally hide and resist dirt.
- Spot clean the bags with a cold damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Allow to dry completely.
- Do not overload the bags - maximum weight of 4kgs at any one time is recommended. 

Shopping Bags with internal Lamination

Think Big Bag
Turn the Tide Bag 

- Wipe the inside of the bags with a warm damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Spot clean outside of bags with a warm damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Allow to dry completely.
- Do not overload the bags - maximum weight of 4kgs at any one time is recommended.

Jute Shopping Bags without internal Lamination

Compostable Think Big Shopping Bag
Compostable Turn the Tide Shopping Bag

- Bags naturally hide and resist dirt.
- Spot clean the bags with a warm damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Allow to dry completely.
- Do not overload the bags - maximum weight of 4kgs at any one time is recommended.