I have washed my chalk bag a few times throughout the years, not that it was REALLY needed, but, I personally like to refresh my gear after sometime. Other gear I might buy new, but chalk bags I feel can just live on until they are really in bad shape and ruined, especially because they are not a matter of safety. When it comes to safety or performance, like quick draws or shoes, I would buy new, but chalk bags don't fit those categories so I just keep them for as long as they last and give them a little wash if I want to "renew" them.