Durable materials and expert craftsmanship of a handbag only takes its life so far. Regular maintenance and daily care will extend the original beauty and prevent your accessories from unnecessary replacement. While purchasing only dark-colored purses is one option to hinder its ultimate destruction, we have some tips to treat and care for your bag and increase its lifespan.
Prevention is the best remedy! So, if at all possible, do not place your bag on the floor – use purse hooks or an additional side chair. Keep your personal items in pouches to restrict interior markings or stains from makeup or pens, and always handle your bag with clean hands to limit exterior smudges. When not in use, store your handbag in the packaging or dust bag included with purchase. These specially designed containers prevent dust and moisture and the threat of moths. Store removable straps inside the bag to avoid any inadvertent damage to the exterior during this time. Always keep storage items out of extreme temperatures, as leather has a tendency to crack and fade in extreme heat, ruining the integrity of its durability. Just the same, some materials cannot withstand cold climates.
Leather handbags require a special treatment to protect against water, staining and damage and require regular maintenance with special cleaners. The preventative care will ensure your bag does not tarnish, fade or discolor and helps to withstand permanent stains. When in doubt, take your leather handbag to a professional, but make certain you know the warranty on your bag before talking to a dry cleaner, as sometimes this method will void the guarantee. Never, ever clean your real leather handbag with water – this will damage the material. For scratches on shiny and smooth materials, like patent leather, many times a shoe polishing cloth can simply buff these out (or fill in). Try to match the polish as close to the purse color as possible. Test first on an inconspicuous location.
Most cloth purses require a wet washcloth for gentle spot cleaning – combined with mild dish soap, small stains or scuff marks (always test a small spot first) can be removed. It is not recommended to ever put a handbag into a washing machine, unless it is 100% cotton and any decorations or adornments can be removed. If you decide to go this route, always hang or lay flat to dry. As for those accents, a dry cloth works to remove dirt, grease and dust.
Something to keep in mind is the cost for repair and cleaning in accordance with the price of the bag – many times it is best just to find a replacement. And who’s complaining about that?
