How to Clean a Leather Purse? [Avoid THIS!]
Good leather requires much care and maintenance to last longer than usual, which can be done by cleaning the leather more often. So, how do you clean a leather purse?
Remember that the right way is the better way, and not doing it with care can actually damage the leather, which you certainly wouldn't like. For this reason, I have come up with the best ways to clean a leather purse and keep its proper form alive for as long as possible.
To clean a leather purse or a bag, grab a clean white cloth and dip it in a mixture of dish soap and water, then lightly rub the surface of the leather bit by bit until you cover it whole. When you are sure each part is covered, wipe the soap using another soft cloth. Finish by drying the leather with a smooth towel.
How Often Should You Clean a Leather Purse?
Cleaning your leather purse should depend on how often you use it and how much dirty it gets; if the stains are regular, it's best to clean the purse daily. Otherwise, it's advisable to do monthly clean-ups to ensure the essence of the leather remains unchanged.
How to Clean a Leather Purse?
Cleaning a leather purse is easier than you think; the only important thing is being careful not to use harsh chemicals and only doing what is needed.
Empty the Purse
The first crucial step is to empty the purse by ensuring nothing remains inside each pocket. Shaking away all the dust might also help. You can also use a lint roller to clean the insides of the purse by turning the lining or use a vacuum instead.
Clean
After emptying the purse, take dish soap and add a few drops to a bowl of clean water. Give it a good mix, then take a small white-colored cloth (avoid colored cloth as it may cause a dye transfer) and gently wipe the outside of the leather purse. Ensure that the cloth is moderately damped by wringing it before wiping. Use another clean damp cloth to wipe the soap.
For better results, you can opt for a leather soap and use the same approach to clean the purse discussed above.
Pat Dry
Next, when you finish cleaning, pat the purse with a soft towel and leave it to dry out completely; this should make the purse look as shiny as new.
Condition
Conditioning your leather is as vital as cleaning to prevent any future stains or dirt from forming, and it is not just for the leather bags or purses; you can also condition your leather wallets or couches. Check out the best leather bifold wallets here.
There are many fine leather conditioners available in the market that you can quickly get your hands on. The application is similar to cleaning: simply put some conditioner on a clean cloth and begin rubbing it onto the leather surface. Cover every corner with even layers of the conditioner. At last, wipe off the conditioner with a dry cloth.
However, there is another super easy DIY method to condition your leather purse, and for that, you will need one part of white vinegar and two parts of linseed oil. Combine these two mixtures, and follow the application method I mentioned above. Remember that linseed oil can darken the leather a little.
You can condition the leather purse once or twice a year, depending on how dry the climate gets.
How to Remove Stains from a Leather Purse?
It's no lie that you can escape stains on your leather purse since you come across many situations where it just happens, and you have no choice but to remove those stains as soon as possible. However, these stains can come from different sources such as ink, food, or blood, which are not that difficult to eliminate. Here are some ways you can remove stains from a leather purse.
Nail Polish Remover or Rubbing Alcohol
Nail polish or rubbing alcohol are life savers if you ever get ink stains or spots on your leather purse. All you need is to soak a cotton swab in any of these and dab on the areas without rubbing. Keep dabbing until the spots are gone and finish off by drying with a dry cloth.
Baking Soda or Cornstarch
You can treat the stains caused by oil and grease by putting some baking soda or cornstarch on the affected area, rubbing a bit in a circular motion and letting it stay for a few hours or overnight for best results. Wipe off the excess in the end.
Both baking soda and cornstarch are great at absorbing the oil and will easily remove the stains from the leather purse.
Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar
Though you should use this mixture on light-colored leather, it can easily remove wine stains. Combine a similar amount of lemon juice and cream of tartar and apply it to the stained area; let it sit for about 30 minutes before wiping it off.
Be sure to test and trial first, choose a hidden spot, and check if what you will apply on the leather has any adverse results. If not, you can continue treating the stains on the leather without worrying.
Where to Store a Leather Purse
People often store their leather purses in plastic bags without realizing how wrong they are doing to the leather. The plastic bags can adhere to the leather surface and tear off the outer-most layer. Thus, ruining the purse. Besides that, since plastic bags can cause humidity, the leather purse can form mildew and start to have yellowish stains if it is white-colored.
Instead, you can keep the purse in an old pillowcase, a dust bag, or any other cotton bag you find in your home. These will ward off all the dust and let the leather fabric breathe while keeping it soft. Other than that, an excellent way to ensure the purse keeps its original shape is to put some tissue paper inside and avoid hanging it when not in use.
Repairing a Leather Purse
If your leather purse has got some rips and got broken to some point, I recommend you to take it to a shoe repair shop where you will find professional help with the right tools.
