How to Clean a Kula Cloth (At Home & in the Backcountry)
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How to Clean a Kula Cloth (At Home & in the Backcountry)


Dearest Kula friends,

Okay — so you've taken the plunge, and you've snapped a Kula Cloth to your pack. First off: YAY. Jump up and down, celebrate a little, and do yourself a favor and dance to this song. Seriously. It'll make you feel amazing.

Now that you're properly energized — let's talk about using and cleaning your Kula Cloth.

How to use it

Pee like normal (read this post for the full methodology), then use the black absorbent side to pat dry.

Do

  • Pat gently to absorb moisture
  • Hold it in place for a moment — surprisingly effective on those last pesky droplets
  • Snap it back to your pack when you're done

Don't

  • Wipe — patting is the whole technique
  • Pee directly onto the cloth (it's a toilet paper substitute, not a toilet substitute)
Illustration showing the wrong way to use a Kula Cloth

When you've finished, snap your Kula back to your backpack — and double snap it closed if you'd rather it not touch your pack.

Cleaning it at home

I use my Kula all day on day hikes and day trips, then wash it in the sink when I get home.

  1. Add a few drops of soap — I like Bronner's peppermint or unscented
  2. Wet it and agitate until it's sudsy
  3. Rinse thoroughly
  4. Hang to dry

You can use a standard washer and dryer. Just snap the Kula closed first so the strap doesn't get snagged and ripped on the agitator. I'd also avoid washing it with anything that has a lot of velcro on it. A lingerie or delicates bag is a gentler option if you want one.

quick note

No fabric softener, no bleach. Both are hard on the fabric.

Cleaning it in the backcountry

First off — amazing. I'm so glad you're carving out time to spend snippets of your life out in nature. In fact, you should do it more often. Here's a permission slip. If anybody questions you, hand them this and tell them Anastasia from Kula Cloth says it's fine.

A printable permission slip granting the holder more time in nature

Okay — I digress. Cleaning your Kula out there is easy.

before anything else

Don't wash it in a stream or lake. That doesn't follow Leave No Trace principles. Carry it at least 200 feet away from any water source, along with your water bottle and a little soap.

  1. Walk at least 200 ft from lakes, rivers and streams
  2. Put a few drops of soap on the cloth — I carry a 0.5 oz Nalgene of Bronner's unscented or peppermint
  3. Wet it with water from your bottle and agitate with your hands until sudsy
  4. Rinse it off with your water bottle
  5. Hang it to dry overnight

If it's damp or humid out and your Kula won't dry on its own, wring it out as best you can, then tuck it inside your long underwear against your skin while you sleep. Body heat does the rest — you'll wake up to a dry Kula, ready for the day.

A Kula Cloth hanging to dry at a backcountry campsite

How often should I wash it?

Entirely up to you. I like washing mine every evening before bed. Plenty of people go two days between washes. It's a personal preference, not a rule.

If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to ask — you can always reach me at anastasia@kulacloth.com.

I'm so honored that Kula Cloth gets to be part of your most wonderful adventures, and I hope it helps you have a more confident and connected experience in the wild.

You are so loved, friends.

Love,

Anastasia

Anastasia Allison · Founder, Kula Cloth®

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To say hello
To all the travelers
Who also go

And then use your mind
And try to think
Where I might have hidden
The next secret link.


114 comments

D
Danielle

hi questing queens! (am I borrowing this from dimension 20? yes I am!)

G
Gretchen

Hello! Stumped but I shall persevere!

AC
Anne Carney

Here for the quest — is it over? I only saw the post today

AC
Anne Carney

So excited to try out my new cloths as a newbie hiker!

J
Janet

So thankful a good friend turned me onto the Kulacloth! One of the must have tools on my backpacking trips and even my quick day hikes. I love the fun prints too, they look good great on my pack. Blessings

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