Caring For Bags & Purses (2024)

FAQs

Caring For Bags & Purses? ›

"Gently hand-wash nylon with mild soap, rinse with water, press almost dry with a large clean towel, and air dry for a couple of hours," Chen Wu says. For leather bags, she advises to "mix a solution of warm water and dish soap, dip a soft cloth into it, wring it out, and gently wipe the leather surfaces.

To take care of your handbags, consider investing in a good quality leather or fabric protector to shield them from stains and dirt. Additionally, store your bags in a cool, dry place and keep them stuffed to maintain their shape.

It should be out of direct sunlight, in the dark and away from heat sources such as radiators and hair dryers. In a climate-controlled room with a stable relative humidity (RH) between 45-55%. If the RH is too low, tanned leather will become brittle over time. If it is too high, the leather may develop mold.

Avoid storing in a plastic bag or sealed container as the handbag needs to breathe and the slightest bit of moisture can cause mildew/mold. Store handbags with a pouch or two of silica gel, to keep any kind of moisture at bay! Store the bag in a cool & dark place. Exposure to the sun causes the leather to discolour!

Be sure you're cleaning your leather bag with clean hands. Leather bags are susceptible to absorbing grease and oil. Do a quick cleaning every other day, briskly sweeping your leather messenger bag, briefcase or backpack with a soft, dry, or slightly damp cloth. (Do not use too much water; leather takes time to dry.)

-Do not use household detergents, wax or spray polish or any proprietary brand fluids or abrasive cleaners on the leather as this will damage its surface.

To protect the shape of your handbag, stuff it with pillow inserts, bubble wraps, or non-perfumed white tissue paper. Then place it in a dust bag and store it on a shelf.

Fold the bag (not including the handle) into thirds horizontally. It should look like a strip at this point. Grab the left and right sides of the bag and bring them into the middle. Tuck one of the sides into the folds of the other, and you should be left with a neat square that doesn't pop open.

The idea behind this belief is that because people usually carry their money, credit cards, and other important items in their purse, placing their bag on the floor shows disrespect for the order of things, and disregard for your money and wealth.

Most importantly, avoid alcohol and abrasive solvents for leather products. The best way to remember what you can and can't use on your leather is to keep this in mind: The two most commonly used chemicals that will cause severe damage to your leather are rubbing alcohol and acetone.

Should I oil my leather purse? ›

Once you have gotten your purse clean, apply leather conditioner to keep it from drying out and cracking, and to make it resistant to future stains. You can buy a commercial leather conditioner or make your own by mixing 1 part vinegar to 2 parts linseed oil.

Massage the conditioner into the leather over the entire surface of the briefcase, then wipe off any excess with a clean area of the cotton chamois. Allow the leather lotion 15 to 20 minutes to dry and be absorbed into the leather, then buff it off using a large horsehair brush.

Some experts advocate conditioning every six to 12 months, but this is entirely dependent on the environment your leather is in, the amount of use it gets, and your own preferences. Leather conditioner is a moisturizer, and, just like the skin on your body, leather will soak it up.

If you would like to keep your leather satchels nourished, if it appears dry then simply sponge the leather with vegetable, sunflower, baby or rapeseed oil until the whole of the leather satchel has a light coating. Then dry the leather satchel for 24 hours, somewhere warm and airy, such as an airing cupboard.

- Start by cleaning the bag with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals; instead, use a mild leather cleaner. Both Faux Leather and Real Leather need to be regularly maintained, this will help the item to last longer, prevent cracking and peeling.

Purses & clutches range in lifespan from several months up 5-6 years depending on quality materials and construction methods used during its production process. Extra careful maintenance and cleaning practices helps keep those purses looking new for extended periods of time past their initial life expectancy.