Cornhole bags are tossed across dusty grounds onto boards that aren’t cleaned too often for fun. This means they accumulate quite a bit of dirt and must be cleaned for hygienic reasons.
Here are three ways to wash cornhole bags:
- Washing cornhole bags by hand
- Using a water hose
- Sticking the bags in a washing machine
This article will explain each technique for cleaning cornhole bags and look at when and how you should replace old cornhole bags. So keep reading.
3 Ways To Wash Cornhole Bags
Let’s explore each of the three methods we mentioned above in detail. This section will go over their benefits, the situations they’re best in, and any potential harms or drawbacks of using them.
1. Washing cornhole bags by hand
The first and most labor-intensive but effective way to wash cornhole bags is by hand. You use a brush, detergent, and a lot of willpower.
Here’s how to do it. First, you have to wet your bags. Soak them overnight or put them in a bucket of water. Then mix up some laundry detergent with water and start scrubbing each cornhole bag in it.
This method cleans up the damp cloth and the germs and residue inside the bag.
Dry off your bags by leaving them in the sunlight or using a fan.
2. Using a water hose
Another way to clean cornhole bags is using a water hose.
Lay the bags in a big space like your garage and spray them with a hose. The pressure will soak the bags and clean them inside out. Flip over the bags and spray them again.
Once you’re done, you can set them out to dry. You can also always dry with a fan.
This method works best when you wash cornhole bags in bulk because it takes care of many bags at once. It’s quick and easy.
3. Sticking the bags in a washing machine
The most popular method of washing cornhole bags is a washing machine. It’s the least labor-intensive option.
However, this option does have one downside. Machine washing breaks down and loosens the fabric of your bags since they’re thrown around quite a bit. Let the bags air dry to avoid further damage in a dryer.
Use fabric softener to make the bags soft to the touch.
When should you replace cornhole bags?
After a certain number of washes, it may be time for a new set of bags. If you use the washing machine method, you’ll need to do this quite soon.
Your bags need to be replaced when:
- Their seams tear, and filling spills
- They become discolored and can’t be seen from afar
- The fabric stretches, and the bags aren’t firm
Factors to consider when replacing cornhole bags
Here are two factors to consider when choosing a new set of cornhole bags:
- Material
- Color
- Size
1. Material
Cornhole bags’ material determines how they respond to being tossed onto cornhole boards. If it has good grip, it will not move much once it lands. However, if the material doesn’t have good grip, it will slip and move a lot.
Depending on your throws, you will want something in the middle of both those extremes. As someone who throws high, you’ll want something that slips to some extent. But as someone who throws low, you want something with excellent grip.
If unsure where you stand, something in the middle will get the job done.
2. Color
Always get a color you can see from super far away. It makes playing the game a lot easier because you need to know where your and your opponents’ bags are at any given moment to make the most strategic toss.
A bright color like yellow will be visible. However, if your board is also yellow, it may not be the best idea. Something like red would be better.
3. Size
Standard regulations call for a 6-inch x 6-inch cornhole bag. So you should look into those if you want to play competitively.
You’ll find a lot of variation in size in stores. This is because people tend to change up the bags’ size depending on the age and skill level of those playing. You may want something smaller if you’re getting cornhole bags for kids.
How to DIY cornhole bags
When you play cornhole regularly, you’ll run through bags quite often, especially if you clean them in washing machines. In such a situation, making DIY bags is more cost-effective.
Here’s what you need to make cornhole bags:
- Duck cloth
- Filling (corn or resin)
- Polyester thread (V46 or V69)
- Scissors
- Sewing needle
- Pen
Start by cutting out a 27-inch by 14-inch cloth and dividing it into four 13.5-inch x 7-inch rectangles with a pen. Then cut up those rectangles so you’ll have four pieces of cloth.
Take one rectangle and draw a line .5 inches from the edge. Do this on all four ends and place two pieces of cloth on top of each other. Stitch along 3 of those lines using your thread and needle. Partially stitch the last fourth side.
Invert your bag and fill it with pellets through the small slit. Once you’re done, fold the fabric in by the seam and close it up.
Your end product should be 6 inches x 6 inches.
Whether you decide to make corn-filled bags or resin-filled cornhole bags, you’ll have fun in this process.
Conclusion
There are three ways to wash corn-filled cornhole bags: by hand, with a hose, or in the washing machine. You can use these techniques for resin-filled bags too. A corn-filled bag will start to deteriorate after a few washes, much like a resin-filled one.
Even professional cornhole bags begin deteriorating. So you need to eventually replace them.
