Whether you are a professional cornhole player practicing every day, or someone who enjoys playing at the backyard BBQs, there is a decent chance that your cornhole bags are taking a beating. Cornhole bags are like any other sporting equipment accessory – they need proper maintenance and care to play like they were intended to. In this blog, we are going to discuss a few options for cleaning cornhole bags.

Corn vs. Resin-Filled Cornhole Bags

To answer a question right out of the gate, yes you can wash your cornhole bags. However, when it comes to cleaning or washing cornhole bags, it is important to note the difference in the filling. This will affect which technique you should use.

Cornhole bags will have either a resin fill or a corn fill on the inside of the bag. When it comes to cleaning a corn-filled cornhole bag, it is somewhat more difficult than a resin-filled bag. You have to be extremely careful, corn can break down when it gets wet, whereas a resin-filled bag will not.

How to wash cornhole bags filled with corn

The primary technique for cleaning cornhole bags filled with corn is to dampen a cloth, and gently wipe down the spots that have become dirty, or muddy. If a damp cloth does not do the trick, there is another option. For corn-filled bags that are extremely dirty or need a deep clean, the most popular technique is to use a soft brush and light amount of soap to gently scrub the bag. Do not let the soapy water mixture seep into the seams of the bag.

Another key factor is to then let the corn-filled bags air dry or use a dry cloth and pat them dry. Do not put them in the dryer or anything like that.

How to wash resin-filled cornhole bags

Now when it comes to cleaning a resin-filled cornhole bag or a professional cornhole bag, you have a few other popular options and techniques that you can use. The reason for this is that you do not have to worry about resin, which is tiny plastic pellets, breaking down from getting wet.

The first and probably most popular way to properly clean your professional-style or resin-filled cornhole bags is in the washing machine. You can even use your favorite laundry detergent and fabric softener. One thing that has been noted about this process of washing cornhole bags is that the bags themselves have a tendency to expand slightly. Therefore, it is extremely important to check your bags before your wash them for any rips, or tears in the seams so they do not rupture in the washing machine. Once the bags are clean, set them out to air dry, or dry them using a clean towel or cloth.

Another common cleaning technique is to soak the bags in a tub of water. If you know that your professional cornhole bags could use a thorough cleaning, you could even soak them in the bathtub overnight and scrub off some of the dirt, grass stains, or whatever else may have been on the cornhole bags. A lot of cornhole players prefer this easy method because it’s a hands-on approach and they do not have to worry about potential damage from a washing machine.

These are just a few different options that you can use when it comes to washing or cleaning your cornhole bags. When making this decision, it really boils down to a personal preference of how the cornhole player would like their type of bags to be cleaned. They may also factor in how they like them to play, since washing your cornhole bags can help break them in.

When should you replace cornhole bags?

After a certain amount of washes, or if something in the playability changes in your professional cornhole bags, it may be time for a new set of bags. Slick Woody’s has a wide range of Reynolds bags and ACL-approved bags if you are in the market for a new set.

Be sure to explore our entire selection of the best cornhole bags available.