Canvas Tote Bags: How to Choose One and Keep It Clean

Quick Answer: A canvas tote bag is a large, usually unfastened bag with two parallel handles, made from plain-woven canvas fabric. When choosing one, check the fabric, how the handles are attached and whether it has a zip pocket for small items. To clean it, brush off dry dirt, spot-treat stains by hand and let it air dry in a well-ventilated place. Check the care label first.

A tote is simple, so the details decide whether it suits you: the fabric, the handles, the pocket and the size. This guide explains what a canvas tote bag is, what to check when you choose one and how to keep it clean. The examples come from the totes in Akitai's Frida Kahlo inspired bag collection, and since Akitai is the brand behind this site, those are our own products.

What is a canvas tote bag?

It is a tote made of canvas. Wikipedia (checked October 2026) defines a tote bag as a large, typically unfastened bag with parallel handles that come out of the sides of its pouch, often used as a reusable shopping bag. The classic version is sturdy cloth, sometimes with thick leather at the handles or bottom.

Wikipedia describes canvas as a durable plain-woven fabric. Historically it was made from hemp, and modern canvas is usually cotton or linen, or sometimes PVC. It comes in two basic types, plain and duck, and the threads in duck canvas are more tightly woven.

What should you look for when you choose a canvas tote?

Start with how you will use it, then check the five details in the table. Most totes have no closure, which is why a zip pocket matters if you carry small items.

One detail about weight: Wikipedia says canvas in the United States is classified by weight in ounces per square yard and by a numbered grade, and the numbers run in reverse, so a number ten canvas is lighter than a number four. If a listing gives a canvas number, that is what it means.

How do you keep a canvas tote bag clean?

Brush off dry dirt first, then treat any stain by hand. The steps below are general canvas care from an answer on Ask Extension, a cooperative extension service (answered June 2013, checked October 2026). The answer is about mildew, and it says mold stains can be difficult or impossible to remove, but that mild stains that have not soaked in are worth trying.

1. Take the bag outside and brush off the mold with a stiff brush, or brush it over newspaper and throw the paper away.
2. Mix 8 ounces of water, two teaspoons of salt and two teaspoons of lemon juice in a spray bottle until the salt dissolves.
3. Spray the canvas until it is visibly wet, wait five minutes, scrub with a brush and rinse with clear water.
4. If the stain remains, scrub in a paste of lemon juice and salt, then rinse with clear water.
5. Let the canvas air dry in a well-ventilated area.

Check the care label before you start, and test any solution on a hidden spot, because printed or dyed canvas may react differently.

What should you avoid with a canvas tote?

Avoid leaving it in strong sun for long periods. The Wikipedia tote article says fabrics such as natural canvas, jute and nylon may degrade with prolonged exposure to sunlight. The extension answer dries the canvas in a sunny, well-ventilated area, so the practical middle is a ventilated spot, not a day in direct sun.

Dry the bag fully before you put it away, since mildew is the problem the extension answer deals with. Keep sharp or leaking items in a separate pouch so they do not mark the inside.

Which Akitai totes are canvas?

The Frida Kahlo inspired totes. The travel tote page describes a canvas bag made with a double layer of canvas fabric and reinforced vegan leather straps, with an inside zip pocket, and says it fits a laptop or tablet. The black triangle tote page describes the same double layer of canvas with an inside zip pocket.

The designs show the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The pages state that the bags are not authorized or licensed products of the Frida Kahlo Corporation, and that there is no business relationship between the seller and the corporation. The product pages give no care instructions, so check the care label on the bag and treat the steps above as general canvas care.

Frequently asked questions

What is a canvas tote bag?

It is a large, typically unfastened bag with two parallel handles, made from canvas, a durable plain-woven fabric.

What is a canvas bag made of?

Canvas is historically made from hemp. Wikipedia says modern canvas is usually cotton or linen, or sometimes PVC.

What is the difference between canvas and duck canvas?

Both are plain-woven. In duck canvas the threads are more tightly woven.

How do you get mildew out of a canvas tote bag?

Brush off the mold, spray a salt and lemon juice solution, scrub, rinse and air dry, per the Ask Extension answer. Mold stains can be hard to remove completely.

Can you wash a canvas tote bag in the washing machine?

Check the care label. The extension answer covers hand treatment of mildew, not machine washing, so this guide has no sourced machine-wash steps.

What makes a good tote bag for women?

There is no single standard. Look at the fabric, the handles, whether there is a zip pocket and whether the dimensions fit what you carry.

Is a canvas tote a good gift?

It can be one idea among many. Akitai's product pages describe the totes as a gift idea. For gifts from the jewelry side of the range, see the guide to Christmas jewelry gifts.