When I got mine, perhaps 8 years ago, it was reccomended that I soak it in cold water for 10- 15 minutes and then dry in the clothes dryer. This was to loosen up the cotton fabric that the Scent-Lok was made of at the time. I only spray it down on the outer shell of the stuff now with odor destroying spray and then throw it in the dryer. I've never washed mine, but they now make scent-free laundry detergents just for carbon clothing.