4 Easy and Effective Ways to Break in Your New Cornhole Bags

Try these techniques to loosen your cornhole bags for the perfect toss

Co-authored by Finn Kobler

Last Updated: February 20, 2023 References

Washer-Dryer Method

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"Bag Relaxing" Serum Method

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Conditioner Method

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The Old-Fashioned Way

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Warnings

So you’ve just got a fresh new set of cornhole bags that you can’t wait to try out - but, right out of the box, they’re still way too stiff to play with! Need a simple, foolproof approach to loosen up your bags so you can get out there and start tossing? You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll give you multiple methods to break in your cornhole bags - from washes to serums to conditioners. You’ll be able to start a game with your new bags in no time!

Things You Should Know

Machine-wash your cornhole bags with fabric softener to speed up the process of breaking them in.
Alternatively, boil your cornhole bags, then apply hair conditioner to them to break them in.
There are also “bag relaxing” serums on the market that will loosen up new cornhole bags.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Washer-Dryer Method

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Fill up your washing machine halfway. Turn on your washing machine at normal speed and let it fill up with hot water. Once it’s approximately half-full, pause the cycle.^{[1]
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Let the cornhole bags soak with fabric softener for 2 hours. Pour about a cap full of fabric softener of your choosing directly into your washing machine. Then, insert the cornhole bags you wish to break in inside. Let them soak in the still water for around 2 hours.^{[2]
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- After they’re done soaking, make sure to squeeze and flatten your cornhole bags to remove any excess air bubbles that may have gotten trapped inside.
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3
Machine-wash your cornhole bags. After 2 hours, resume washing until the machine’s cycle is complete, with cornhole bags comfortably tumbling inside. The tumbling motion should simulate the tossing of bags during a game, breaking them in even more.^{[3]
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Dry the cornhole bags in a dryer. Once the wash cycle is done, put the cornhole bags in your dryer and dry them on low heat until they’re no longer damp. Then, voila! You should have broken-in cornhole bags.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

"Bag Relaxing" Serum Method

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Wet your bags and massage in a bag relaxing serum. Dampen your cornhole bags and apply a dime-sized amount of “bag relaxing” cornhole break-in serum to each bag. Then, gently massage the serum into the bags. This serum will help loosen the fabric around each bag making them easier to toss and more likely to stick when you play your next cornhole game.^{[5]
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- There are lots of different “bag relaxing” serums that can be purchased online. Brands like “Sac Relax” and “Toss Sauce” are used by most cornhole players, but see which one is right for you!
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Let your bags sit for 15-20 minutes. After your "bag relaxing" serum has coated each of your cornhole bags, leave the bags still for approximately 20 minutes to let the resin sink into their material.^{[6]
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Soak the bags in water for 30 minutes. After letting the serum sit on your bags for 15 minutes, soak them in a bucket of room-temperature water for about a half-hour.^{[7]
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Rinse your bags with warm water. After your bags have effectively soaked, thoroughly rinse each one with warm water (roughly 90 degrees) until there is no serum remaining.^{[8]
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Let them air dry. Once your bags have been thoroughly rinsed, hang them vertically to let them drip and dry.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Conditioner Method

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Boil your bags for 2 minutes. To make your bags looser and more receptive to the moisturizing chemicals in the conditioner, set a pot of water on your stove and let it boil. Once it begins bubbling, insert your cornhole bags and let them heat for about 2 minutes.^{[10]
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Transfer your bags to cool water. Using tongs, remove your cornhole bags and place them in a bucket or pot of cold or room-temperature water to let them cool down.^{[11]
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Massage your bags with conditioner. Apply a quarter-sized amount of paraben-free conditioner to each bag and gently massage the resin inside. Make sure to get the corners. Wring your bag out of any excess conditioner when you’re finished.^{[12]
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- Like “bag relaxing” serum, hair conditioner helps relax the fabric in your cornhole bags to make them looser and easier to play with.
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Scrub your bags with soap. Once your bags have been coated in conditioner, rinse each one off in warm water for about a minute at a time. Then, scrub the bags with Dawn or an equally powerful cleaner until the conditioner has been fully removed.^{[13]
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Let them air dry. Once you’re done scrubbing your cornhole bags, place them on a drying rack and let them air out.^{[14]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

The Old-Fashioned Way

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Just toss them. The simplest method of breaking in new cornhole bags is to just play with them. While it may take some time for them to get properly loosened, just tossing them right out of the box is an equally effective (and probably more fun) way to get your bags to your desired state.^{[15]
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Warnings

Do not try any of the wash-and-dry methods on cornhole bags filled with corn as the material is not suited to handle the chemicals. These methods should be used on professional-grade cornhole bags only.

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