Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | May 03, 2003 05:32am | #1

   OK for the bag, or OK for the washer?!  I can't answer the first, but will hazard a guess for the second -- probably not a good idea to put it in the washer without doing a "pre-wash" first, either with a high pressure fitting on a garden hose, or down at the local DIY car wash.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   migraine | May 03, 2003 05:25pm | #2

   Don't wash them.  Closes off the pores.

3. 
   Jamie_Buxton | May 03, 2003 05:43pm | #3

   I've done it, with no apparent problems.   I think of it as returning the bag to its original condition.

   Washing the bag removes the fine dust that is caked on the inside of the bag, and which is forming part of the filter action of the bag.  That's good in one way, and might be bad in another.  It is good in that air flows through the bag more easily, so the collector sucks better.  It might be bad in that fine dust might flow through the bag and back out into the shop.   Any bag is a compromise between catching fine dust and getting high volume flow.   By washing the bag, you're pushing it back toward high flow.

4. 
   RoyinMD | May 05, 2003 06:27am | #4

   I was wondering that myself a couple of months ago and searched Knots and the Internet. What I found was: hand or machine wash and line/air dry. Like ForestGirl said, I would take the garden hose to that beast before putting it in my washer.

   I take my huge paint tarp to the laundry mat every several years, depending on use. I ain't putting that thing in my washer.

   Enjoy, Roy