How to Clean a Soft Cooler

Introduction

We all know what happens when we forget to clean our cooler. You can smell it from a mile away and you don’t even want to think about cleaning it out. However, with these tips, I hope to help you realize that cleaning your soft cooler after a long day in the sun isn’t as bad as it seems. Leaving a soft cooler out with melted ice and food can cause mold and a horrible smell that seems to linger. Here is how I keep those pesky smells away and easily clean my soft cooler after I use it.

Can You Dish-wash?

I recommend deep cleaning your cooler every few uses, however, a simple and quick cleanse will do the trick as long as you keep up with it. Some soft coolers can be washed in the dishwasher, but many of them can’t take the harsh cleaning that comes with it. So, for those of us who don’t have a dishwasher safe soft cooler or aren’t sure if there's can be dish-washed and just want to be safe, this article is for you.

Simple Cleanse

To start, pour out any water left in the cooler and remove any left-over bits and pieces of debris. If your soft cooler has been kept out of water throughout the day, you simply need to get a bucket and fill it with warm water and some dish soap. Mix that solution around so the soap gets combined and add a washcloth to the bucket. Make sure to ring out the rag first and then go over each side of the cooler and the handles, zippers, etc. Next, take a clean wash rag with regular clean water and go over the soft cooler to remove any access soap. Leave the cooler open to dry and that’s how to quickly clean the cooler.

If Your Soft Cooler Has Gotten Wet

If your soft cooler has gotten wet, dropped in a river, and been rained on, it is best to fill up a bathtub or bucket large enough to fit the whole cooler in with warm water and dish soap. Mix the solution around and put the whole cooler into the water and soap mixture. Scrub the cooler with a washcloth or sponge for a few minutes and then remove from the water or drain the tub. After the cooler is out, take a clean washcloth or sponge with just water and go over it to get the left-over soap off. I have found it is often easier to run the hose over your cooler or use the bathtub faucet to get the extra soap off. Always leave the cooler open and out to dry.

Deep Clean

Sometimes you need to deep clean even the best soft coolers because it smells or is getting stained. I recommend doing this process every few times you use the cooler. This will keep it from getting nasty to where you will have to spend a long time cleaning it. To create a weak bleach solution, I use one-part bleach to nine parts water. Fill a spray bottle with this bleach solution and spray the inside of your soft cooler. Use a rag to wipe the bleach solution off and allow the cooler to dry completely with the lid open. Make sure to get into the crevasses of the cooler with the solution to ensure you get everything clean. If this isn’t a deep enough clean for your cooler, do this next step.

To Remove Pesky Odors

Create a paste with baking soda and water and put the paste on the inside of your soft cooler. I apply this solution with a regular rag and allow it to dry. Once it has dried completely, remove the solution with a cloth and wipe it out with regular water. You can also add dry baking soda to the inside of your soft cooler and leave it overnight to reduce the smell.

Soft Cooler Cleanse Reminders

Remember to always clean out your soft cooler as soon as you can to prevent molding and smells from lingering. Because of the material, this type of cooler can get dirty quicker and hold more odor. I would recommend giving your soft cooler a good clean with the bleach solution every four to five times you use it. Soft coolers are so convenient and easy to use so you want to keep yours in good, working condition. If you have kept food in your cooler overnight or forget that it was in there, I would also recommend using the bleach and baking soda method to eliminate the smells and possible stains. Make sure to keep your soft cooler clean and don’t forget that even though it seems like a drag, cleaning your cooler isn’t that difficult.