Top Tips on Maintaining Your Leather Handbag

Buying a high-quality leather bag usually means spending a fortune over a possession that you expect to serve you for at least a season or two or until it is out of trend. We should mention that there are bags that are pretty much a forever item as they don`t go out of style.
Their maintenance is a total must – you will definitely come upon some homemade remedies but the truth is that you should be careful with them as sometimes they can cause more harm than good. Below you will find some tips you should know and follow in order to keep your handbag at its best:

• If you are proactive, you can prevent many different stubborn stains that seem impossible to remove. Apply a suitable protection cream that will keep the leather soft so it won`t start peeling off and prevent from grease penetration. Such treatments are recommended to be applied every one or two months counting day one. However, this doesn`t mean that on daily basis you should not wipe it down. With the same frequency of your domestic cleaning, no matter if you rely on professionals or you perform it on your own, try wiping off the bag with a damp cloth. The solution you should use must be gentle so you are advised to use a mixture of a mild liquid soap and lukewarm water. This will keep dirt and dust away from your precious leather bag for sure.

• A common mistake that many ladies commit is to use baby wipes as a multi-purpose cleaning supplies. Not every type is suitable for the leather – you can easily cause discolouration of any other unpleasant damage. Some wipes may dry out the material or leave a sticky residue and cause dirt buildups. In the same line of thought, don`t treat your leather sofa in such way – leather is relatively easy to maintain but you should know the right techniques. If you are about to take up a sofa cleaning, better set aside the vinegar and wet wipes – call your local upholstery cleaners and ensure great final results.

• Many ladies struggle when they find that their leather handbag has been ruined by an ink mark. The truth is that if you don`t treat it right away, you may need to see the professionals. Ink is a really stubborn substance to remove so make sure you treat it the right way. The safest home remedy that is proven efficient is to dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and wipe the stain. However, make sure you patch-test it first as not every leather is suitable for this treatment.

• When you are not using your bag, you are advised to stuff it with old newspapers or anything that is appropriate for that purpose. Don`t risk to find out that your leather handbag lost its shape when you need it the next season. Also if your handbag came with a dust bag, don`t forget to use it – they didn`t come just for the appeal. If you don`t have one, use an old pillowcase – it will do a great job of keeping your leather bag dust-free.

• Greasy stains are very stubborn so make sure you follow some general rules in order to keep them away from your precious bag. For instance, if you use hand cream don`t grab your bag right off – wait till it has absorbed in your skin or just don`t use it for the day. If you failed to do that, don`t apply water on them as you will make the stain worse – just wipe the grease off with a paper towel or other absorbent material and apply a suitable cleaning product.

• Let`s talk about discolouration – don`t forget your bag in direct sunlight! You don`t want it to fade plus there is a risk of drying out of the leather which can cause peeling. Many ladies use saddle soap but this may result in discolouration – it may be too harsh for your handbag so don`t risk using it. Another common scenario is to transfer dye from your dark clothing to your light leather bag – such stains are almost impossible to remove so try not wearing this combination in order to keep your bag in top condition. If you are struggling with such case and you want to remedy the situation, try buffing the spot with a shoe polish in the same colour as your bag – it may help.

• If you want to banish a lingering stain, you are advised to place a pack with baking soda to absorb the smell. For even better results put it in a pillowcase and leave it overnight with the baking soda inside. In the morning, your handbag should be odour-free!

Take care of your leather bag and it will serve you for the years to come. Have the aforementioned tips in mind and you will keep enjoying being in vogue!