Ever sent a bag in for repair?

Has anyone sent their bag in for repair? I've got a minor issue with my backpack, which TB will fix under warranty, but I'm trying to decide if it's worth being without my bag for 10-12 weeks. They also said I need to fully submerge & wash the bag before sending it. My bag is pretty clean, I don't put it through a lot, so I'm wondering if just wiping it down and giving it a good vacuum would be sufficient cleaning.

Looking for anyone who has done this, how you prepared your bag, and what your overall experience was. Thanks in advance!