Can I wash my Mooradian bag case?

SteveFreides · #1 10-30-2008, 04:52 PM

OK, we got a new cat a few weeks ago. I haven't needed to take my bass out of the house and, yes, the cat apparently urinated on my bass case.

It's a good, padded bag from Mooradian - does anyone know if these can be washed in the washing machine, dry cleaned, or otherwise salvaged. It smells pretty awful, and I'm going to take the bass to my rehearsal tonight in the car without a case.

Thanks. <sigh>

-S-

jtlownds · #2 10-30-2008, 05:19 PM

I'm sure that it can be dry cleaned. It might be pretty expensive tho. Don't know about the washing machine approach.

Stan Haskins · #3 10-30-2008, 09:56 PM

I had to put my Mooradian through the wash about three or four times after my cat got too comfy in it. It went into the dryer at least once, too (low heat). That was almost two years ago, and the case is holding up fine.

Some of the padding is a little more compressed now, but otherwise the bag can handle it.

jrlynch · #4 10-30-2008, 10:14 PM

yup. throw the cat in the washer and the bag will smell better in no time!

seriously, why don't you contact the mooradian folks directly? i'm sure they'll have a suggestion.

jeff.

robobass · #5 10-31-2008, 06:07 AM

I had a cat pee on my bag once. I put it in a big laundromat washer and added lots of vinegar. The detergent alone won't neutralize the smell. The bag is fine after 10 years. I don't think I used the dryer, just left it in a very warm room for a day.
Robobass

CamMcIntyre · #6 10-31-2008, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrlynch

yup. throw the cat in the washer and the bag will smell better in no time!

seriously, why don't you contact the mooradian folks directly? i'm sure they'll have a suggestion.

jeff.

+1

SteveFreides · #7 10-31-2008, 07:48 AM

Thank you for your replies, everyone. I did contact the company but I noticed this after business hours and was hoping for a reply here that might have helped me make the case useable last evening. I ended up putting a blanket down in the back of the minivan and taking the bass, sans case, to a rehearsal. We all survived.

Here is the response I received from the company, which does not recommend the washing several here have said is OK:

* Begin forwarded message *
Steve:
Unfortunately the best advice I can give you is to visit a PetCo or large Pet Supply and try and find a topical order remover. The bag should not be dry cleaning or immersed in a washing machine. The dry cleaning fluid will only seal in the catpee odor and the washing machine will basically destroy the bag and render it water logged and hard to dry. The material we use is water resistant but not waterproof.
Topical cleansing without soaking is your best bet.
Good luck and best regards.

Peter Hoffman
Mooradian Cover Co.
* End forwarded message *

I found a local craigslist add for a bass that includes a gig bag, a stand, a few other things I want, so I may just buy that whole package later today or over the weekend, have myself a spare gig bag and a spare bass at least for a while, and then take my time deciding what to do with my original bag.

The best ides is putting the cat in the dryer!

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Ike Harris · #8 10-31-2008, 10:56 AM

There is a product called Dryel that is kind of a do-it-yourself dry clean process that can be bought at the grocery store. Put the clothes(gigbag) in a large plastic bag with the sheet - like a large dryer sheet - in your clothes dryer. Doesn't actually clean the clothes, but is more of a deodorizer. May or may not actually work on cat pee but is worth a try. Maybe use the topical cleaner first and this to finish. Gotta be cheaper than buying a whole new outfit.

Ike

Carl Johnson · #9 10-31-2008, 05:11 PM

Yup, had the same thing happen to my Messina bag, twice... I just took it outside and hosed it off real good then let it air-out in the sun for a couple of days; good as new.

Stephen Koscica · #10 11-06-2008, 05:06 PM

Here is my $.02 of advice on the cat peeing on the bass cover. First of all, I do not know what the deal is with cats and bass covers, but they tend to gravitate to them when they are on the floor. My advice would be not to use any kind of dry cleaner product on that cover. It will (melt) the nylon and like someone already posted, lock the smell in forever.

I am with what Stan posted (put it in the washer!) otherwise you're not going to be able to use it ever again anyways. Ever wash a goose down vest or jacket? You're supposed to put a sneaker inside the dryer so that the down doesn't get matted down. I woud do that too. BUT, loooow heat. You just want something to help it dry so that it doesn't get musty too! The Mooradians are not stuffed with down, but the foam padding will dry.

Let us know how it turns out.

Kaden · #11 11-07-2008, 02:52 PM

My cat urinated on my mooradian case last week and i popped it in the washer and it turned out fine. i figured if it shrunk i could always sell it as a 5/8ths

SteveFreides · #12 11-07-2008, 05:42 PM

We took the advice we got here, took it to the laundromat and washed it with a lot of vinegar. Seems to 98% get rid of the smell, and some "UrineAway" or similar from the pet store did the rest. I used it last night and no one in the rehearsal room complained so I guess it's good enough.

Thanks to everyone here for helping, and I forwarded a link to this thread to the guy at Mooradian who said I couldn't wash the bag.

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