19 April 2020
How to remove beans from a bean bagSince the 60s and 70s, bean bags with beans have made their way into our homes one way or another. Most commonly, these have been a must-have addition to our kids' rooms, but the recent Hygge movement means these comfortable and stylish additions have once again become a living room staple. Let's face it; nothing quite beats hunkering down on an oh-so-comfortable bean bag of your choice.  Luckily, in keeping with this new style focus, manufacturers have developed bean bags of every style, size, and material to suit ever-growing consumer needs. Now, you can invest in amazing bean bags for both interiors and outside spaces, consisting of a range of materials that include vinyl, suede, velvet, and even leather.  In short, there are now bean bags on the market to fit within any home space. There are countless reasons you might want to make the most of those choices, and the most notable among them include - 
  • Unbeatable comfort
  • The ideal 'Hygge' style
  • Next level Decor
  • Furniture that doesn't take up half as much space
  • A simple way to soothe backache
  • Easy to move around the house
  • An addition that's sure to get guests talking
  • And a whole lot besides

Great Addition to any home

It seems, then, that bean bags indeed are an unbeatable home addition right now. The only trouble is that, if you've never invested in this fantastic furniture choice before, you may be at a loss as to how to care for them.  In truth, bean bags with beans are relatively easy to clean and keep in top condition. But that doesn't mean you can go into an investment such as this blind. A well-cared-for bean bag will, after all, provide the best chance at durability. And could even last as long as five or six years or more.  With that in mind, you must do your research into care, and one factor that's sure to come up as you do so is that of bean removal.  While it isn't a standard part of bean bag ownership, there will be some situations in which you'll need to remove beans. Emptying a bean bag can seem like a daunting task. But it's surprisingly simple. To prove just how easy it is, we've put together a complete guide of how you can remove beans with the least possible hassle every time. 

Reasons for emptying bean bags with beans

First thing's first; why would you need to remove beans in the first place? In reality, this isn't something that you shouldn't have to worry about often, but there are certain situations in which emptying bean bags with beans becomes necessary.  Ultimately, the circumstances behind removal can vary a great deal, but the most common reasons for this course of action include - 
  • Needing to clean/dry your bean bag
  • Noticing signs of mould within your bean bag
  • General shrinkage of beans after use
  • Wanting to dispose of your bean bag
  • No longer finding your bean bag comfortable
Any of these warning signs suggest that you would be best off removing beans and even considering replacements sooner rather than later. But, as you can imagine, realising that this is a necessary plan of action is just the beginning of getting your bean bag back up to scratch and serving the purposes we spoke about in our introduction. 

Where is the best place to remove bean bag beans?

Once you're aware of your need to replace the beans within your bag, it's time to start thinking about exactly where you should undertake this task. While removal shouldn't cause too much mess if you take your time, there's no getting around the fact that some bean spillage can occur. So, taking care of this on your living room floor might not be the ideal solution.  Instead, you should prepare a workspace that's better suited to serve your needs when you start to empty bean bags with beans.  The first thing to check here is whether your bean bag has an inner liner attached to its construction. An inner liner is a real plus point when it comes to tasks like bean removal. But it isn't something that comes as standard with all bags. You may want to consider this before making your next purchase. Whether your bag has a liner or not, tile or linoleum floors are the best surfaces for this task. These floor types make for easy cleaning once you're finished (more on that later). Prepare such a surface by taking the time to clean in advance lest you want to reuse any fallen beans. Then, you're reading to begin. 

Prepare your bean removal tool kit.

Emptying bean bags with beans is a simple task when you have the right tools to hand, but it's guaranteed to get tricky if you don't stock up ahead of time. That's why it's vital that you not only get your workspace right but also take the time to stock up on everything you'll need in advance.  First thing's first, here, you're going to want to stock up on replacement beans lest you should lose any along the way. Removal is one thing, after all, but you also need to think about how to fill your bean bag back up after the event.  Stocking up on replacement beans isn't exactly a difficult task, with most bean bag manufacturers and local stores such as K-Mart offering 100-litre bags. Do note, though, that beans come in all manner of materials, and taking the time to select the right ones depends on your researching things like ease of disposal, shelf life, and comfort levels. Some types of filling you'll need to choose between include - 
  • EPS beads
  • EPP beads
  • Micro-beads
  • Compressed foam
  • Natural fillers like beans and rice
Even once you've researched each and found the ideal filling for your needs, you're going to need a few tools to hand to make this task as easy as it possibly can be. Things that you can't remove beans without include -

Some kind of tube

First, you're going to need a tube that measures roughly 25cm long and 10cm in diameter. You can make this from anything, including the body of a plastic bottle, or some poly pipe. This tube is what will ultimately help you remove and replace beads with minimal loss if necessary.

A funnel

You're also going to need a funnel. You can buy one of these or simply make your own from rolled up cardboard. You could even chop the top off a large plastic bottle to make this option work. Again, this is fundamental for replacing beans once you have completed tasks like cleaning, etc. 

A handled vessel

A handled vessel such as a jug, pitcher, or mug can also prove beneficial for bringing ease to this process. With this to hand, you'll merely need to scoop beans out of that bag casing, without the risks of a mess that can come from tubing solutions.

A large plastic bag

Even if you're removing beans to dispose of them, you're going to need a receptacle in which to place them. Typically, a large plastic bag is best here and should be around twice the size of your bean bag itself for the best possible ease of use.  As you can see, none of these essentials will break the bank. In fact, except for replacement beans, you should find that you can make most of this stuff at home. As such, this task is likely to be easier than you're expecting. 

Cleaning up after emptying bean bags with beans

Of this entire task, it's fair to say that cleaning up is often the most challenging process. Admittedly, you can simplify this a great deal by merely taking note of the pointers mentioned above. But, that doesn't change the fact that emptying bean bags with beans can result in tiny beads getting into places you never thought they could. Worse, it's vital to note that any stray beads can be dangerous when swallowed by humans or pets, as well as posing a significant choking hazard to any youngsters. Luckily, if you remove beans in a clean and well-prepared environment, clean up should be easy enough to manage with a vacuum cleaner. If you wanted to reuse beans, a bagless option is best, but any vacuum model will work if you've already purchased replacements.  Note, too; you must take due care when it comes to the disposal of your beans, a task which primarily comes down to the materials on hand. The best ways to dispose of the most common fillings for bean bags with beans include - 

EPS Bean Bag Filling

EPS beads are perhaps the most common bean bag filling used today. This is fantastic news for your disposal purposes. Expanded Polystyrene beans can be easily compacted when placing them in the bin. And they are now 100% recyclable. Do note, though, that this is not a material most local recycling plants cater for, so you will need to take time finding an EPS-friendly recycling plant. 

Foam filling

While it is now relatively rare, memory foam bean bags and the like do still rely on foam fillings. These are problematic because they're large and typically challenging to discard. You certainly can't recycle options like these in the traditional sense. What you can do is repurpose foam filling where possible, either for future bean bags, or cushions, etc. Failing this, you may want to dispose of foam bit by bit to avoid filling your rubbish bin in one hit. 

Natural fillings

Like EPS beads, natural fillings provide the benefit of being recyclable, both through local schemes or through the use of things like composting. Either way, these offer another easy option for disposal that's not going to leave a dent on the environment.  By thinking about these disposal options during bean purchase and cleanups, you can ensure that disposal is easier than ever and that it doesn't compromise on your eco-friendly efforts elsewhere.

The replacement process

Whether you're entirely rehauling a bean filling or are just looking to top back up after you've emptied everything the first time, you'll also want to know a little about how to refill your bean bag. The good news is that, after removal, you'll already have the tools necessary to make this work. All you need to do is turn back to that tubing and funnel that you had. And, as mentioned, you'll also want to spare some time stocking up on filling supplies from stores like K-Mart or your bean bag manufacturer.  Once you've got those basics out of the way, your main concern will likely be how much filling you need to get your bean bag back up to scratch. The main thing to remember here is that this is mostly a matter of opinion, and will depend on everything from - 
  • The size of your bean bag
  • The shape you're after
  • The level of firmness you prefer
As a general rule, you'll need 100 litres of filling for a bean bag with a 60cm diameter. 200 litres for an 80cm. 300 litres for a 96cm. 400 litres for a 104cm. 500 litres for a 112cm. And 600 litres of beans for a 120 cm bag. If in doubt, speaking to your manufacturer can lead you towards the ideal calculations for refilling to the perfect firmness every single time. 

Bring your bean bag back to life with bean removal

Like any other piece of furniture, caring for your bean bag is crucial. Especially to keep it looking the part and making sure that it lasts for a long time to come. When it becomes necessary, bean removal plays a considerable role in this. So ensuring you know how to master this art ahead of time is vital. As you can see, it's a surprisingly easy task. You should now have all the tools you need to keep your bean bag fighting fit for years to come.
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