First Published: 8th February 2023, written by Olivia Doonan | Last Updated on 6th January 2024 | Reviewed and Edited by Chloe Safilo
If you have recently purchased a quality leather or synthetic handbag, one of the most important things that you will need to learn is how to take good care of it. These types of bags are typically designed to stand the test of time, as long as you look after them properly. While you may consider taking your handbag to a professional, this might not be realistic for most of us.
Therefore, it can be helpful to use practical solutions at home, which can help you keep your leather or synthetic handbag in perfect condition. Today we will share our top tips to take the best care possible of your designer piece for any new handbag purchase in 2023.
Learn How To Protect Your Handbag
First and foremost, you should take every step you can to protect it. “Prevention is key when it comes to your handbag’s condition.” says the store manager of Tom & Eva, a French purse wholesaler brand. This should be done as soon as you get your new bag from the store. Remember to keep on top of everything, as you will want to ensure that your new fashion piece looks fabulous at all times.
The only way you can do this is through regular maintenance and a proper cleaning regimen. For example, you may need to look for a handbag hook, which will keep you from leaving your bag on the floor.
Use A Proper Cleaner
Another key thing to consider is the type of products that you use to clean your handbag. For example, you should avoid using baby wipes, vinegar, or similar products, which may cause damage to your handbag. Quality leather or synthetic bags such as the ones from Tom & Eva should be cleaned with a proper cleaning product.
You should ensure that you are using the right equipment as well, including cleaning cloths, lint rollers, and cotton swabs. Tom & Eva specialize in leather goods, such as purses, wallets, shoulder bags, backpacks, tote bags, and more. These types of fashion items should be cleaned using leather soap and a special leather conditioner.
Clean Stain Carefully
There are different stains that you may encounter on your handbag, but the most common ones you will find include ink, food, and wine. It’s crucial to treat any spots you see as soon as possible, as this way they will be easier to remove.
If you notice a stubborn stain that you are unable to remove by yourself, it might be a good idea to take your handbag to a dry cleaner, who specializes in these types of stains. After removing any stains from ink, food, oil, and wine, be sure to apply a leather conditioner to your leather products.
Take Care Of Deep Scratches
You might be able to take care of faint scratches with just a bit of polishing. However, when it comes to deep scratches, you may need to spend more time dealing with them. Firstly, you should focus on cleaning the area well with a damp cloth so that you can assess the situation better.
If the surface is intact but the colour is scratched, you will be able to apply thin layers of a matching colour balm. However, if the surface has been affected, it’s recommended to use a filler to restore its original appearance.
Remove Odours
Removing stubborn odours from leather products can be difficult, but there are some things you can do. The most important thing you need to focus on is removing bacteria. This means that your handbag will need to be cleaned both from the outside and the inside.
Although you may believe that you should only clean the inside of your handbag, this might not be enough to remove unpleasant smells. It’s also important to get into all pockets and pay attention to the handles and other places where oils might have been absorbed.
Find Out What You Shouldn’t Do
Apart from learning what you should do to keep your handbag looking great, you should also learn more about the types of things that you should avoid doing. For example, you should never use water to treat grease stains. Moreover, you shouldn’t use saddle soap on your leather products, as it can cause discolouring.
Also, never leave your handbag in direct sunlight, as this can cause the colour to fade, which can lead to more damage. If you have just applied hand cream to your hands, avoid holding your bag immediately.
Store Your Handbag Correctly
Finally, the way you store your handbag will make it easier to protect it from stains, which will make the cleaning process simpler. To keep the shape better, you should keep your handbag stuffed when you are not using it.
Also, if you have received a dust bag along with your designer handbag, make sure you use it regularly to keep your handbag dust-free. Alternatively, you can use an old pillowcase to keep it covered when it’s not being used.
These handy tips will help you learn how to take great care of your leather or synthetic bag so that you can enjoy it for a long time.