A washed thermal bag is dried open, somewhere air can reach both faces. The surface looks dry within minutes, but moisture left in seams and between layers turns into mould and odour on a closed shelf. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that wet materials dried within 24-48 hours will in most cases not grow mould.
- Open the zip fully, and take out the base and dividers to dry separately.
- Hang the bags with enough space that they do not close over one another, and keep the room's relative humidity below 60 percent where possible.
- Use a heat source only if the care label allows it, and within the limit it gives.
- Before loading, press a clean dry cloth into the corners, seams and zip tape; if there is moisture, odour or a tacky feel, the bag is not ready for dispatch.
Drying time also belongs in the bag count. If the fleet is sized only on bags out on the road, clean but wet bags come up short at the start of a shift; count dirty, washing, drying and ready bags separately in stock.
