Nylon and Mesh Laundry Bags

Laundry bags come in all sorts of sizes and styles. The typical laundry bag is manufactured from nylon, rayon, cotton, denim or a poly/cotton blend. There are a few things to consider when purchasing a laundry bag.

One is the thickness of the fabric, measured in denier. The lower the denier number the finer the fabric.

To give you an idea of the thickness, Ultra Sheer pantyhose are less than 10 denier, while Sheer pantyhose are 10 - 20 denier and most backpack cloths begin at 420 denier. Some nylon laundry bags are as low as 75 denier while others typically range between 100-200 denier.  Our nylon laundry bags are 210 denier and our 30 x 40 Poly Cotton laundry bag is a whopping 600 denier.

Some eBay sellers describe their bags as 210 denier but really ship the 200 denier bags. Keep this in mind when purchasing your bag(s).

Another thing to consider is size, which is directly related to your laundering habits. A 22 x28 laundry bag can hold a mix of clothing between 14-20 lbs. when full. Often referred to as a counter bag by dry cleaners because they have two metal grommets for hanging it behind the counter which allows easy sorting of starched and non-starched shirts.

This size bag also comes with a carry strap for easy handling. Larger size bags, typically a 30 x 40 laundry bag or a 30 x 45 laundry bag holds up to 50 lbs. when full.

Nylon drawstrings are used to secure the bags contents, consider bags that have a self-locking closure to keep the contents from falling out during travel. There are generally two types of locking closures, a spring loaded like the one found on our bags and a cylinder tube type that slides down the drawstring.

The spring loaded closure requires it to be squeezed before it can be moved. The tube type is narrower at one end allowing it to have some resistance when moved. Both types require that the drawstring have a knot at the top end so the closures won't fall off. 

Mesh laundry bags vary in quality, size, style and weave. The tighter the weave the longer the bag will last.  Some mesh bags are open top which usually requires a large safety pin to secure the contents, while others just have a drawstring or a drawstring with a self-locking closure. Mesh laundry bags absorb a fair amount of dye when manufactured and require a couple washing before use.

A zip-net bag or hosiery bag is used for washing lingerie, under-garments and delicate items. Look for a bag that has a corrosive resistant zipper and one that can withstand repeated washer and dryer cycles. To keep the zipper from opening, during the washing or drying cycle, secure it with a small safety pin.

Garment storage bags come in many, many sizes. Look for bags that have a breathable material, a front facing zipper, a sealed bottom and are made of a clear vinyl  for fast access.

Avoid keeping wet items in a laundry bag for an extended period of time or mildew will form. The two most common ways that cause a laundry bag to wear is by dragging it on the pavement and in the winter months, getting street salt on it.  Street salt will eat through the fabric quickly. If you live in a city or town where they use street salt make sure your bag does not touch the side of your salt covered car when transporting. Toss your laundry bag in with your wash to keep it clean and fresh.

Tips for washing jeans and removing stains can be found on our laundry tips page.

Visit our About Me page for additional information.

Happy Laundering,

Laundry Bag Store Online