Part of: Bag care and repair
ProblemMadrasah bag smells musty or damp
Quick fix
A musty smell means moisture has been trapped, usually from a damp bag, a leaking bottle or old food. Empty the bag, take the Quran and books out, clean the inside for the material, then dry it fully open in a well-ventilated room. Leave an open pot of bicarbonate of soda or a sock of it inside overnight to absorb what's left.
Handmade leather madrasah bag, coming soonRegister interest
How to fix it
- Empty everything, and take the Quran and books out first. Check them for damp too.
- Shake or vacuum out crumbs.
- Canvas or nylon: wipe the inside with warm water and a little washing-up liquid, or white vinegar diluted 1:4.
- Leather: wipe with a barely damp cloth only. No vinegar on the outside.
- Dry it fully open, somewhere airy. Not on a radiator.
- Put bicarbonate of soda in an old sock inside overnight, or a few days for strong smells.
If you see spots
Grey, green or white spots mean mould. See mould on a bag.
Preventing it
- Empty the bag after every class, especially snacks and bottles
- Hang it up at home instead of leaving it on the floor
- Let it dry fully if it gets wet on the walk home
Questions people also ask
How do you get a damp smell out of a bag?
Clean and dry it fully open, then leave bicarbonate of soda inside overnight to absorb the remaining odour.
See the Madrasah Bag size and care guide for our bag's dimensions.
More on bag care and repair
← How to care for a leather madrasah bag: the full topic guide
- Why is my madrasah bag peeling or flaking?
- How to clean a madrasah bag
- Madrasah bag strap broken? how to fix it
- Madrasah bag falling apart at the seams
- Madrasah bag zip broken or splitting
- Gold print cracking or peeling on a madrasah bag
- Mould on a leather or canvas bag
- Leather bag cracked or dried out
- How to fix scratches on a leather bag
- Bag colour rubbing off on clothes
- Child keeps losing or mixing up their madrasah bag
- Breaking in a new leather bag
- Handing down a madrasah bag to a younger sibling