How to Clean a Leather Purse? 7 Easy Steps

A leather handbag is an investment that, with proper care, should last for many years. Here is how to clean a leather purse.

A quality leather handbag is an investment in fashion. By learning how to care for leather, you can extend its lifespan. You’ll maintain the good looks of your hobo bags, clutches, and totes for years. Knowing how to clean leather properly is crucial.

In order to clean leather while maintaining the integrity of the material, dirt, and debris must be taken out of the handbag. Daily wear, spills, and stains are just a few uses. Let’s examine some cleaning supplies, abilities, and detailed instructions for leather purses.

How to Clean a Leather Purse?

1. Identify Type of Leather: Handbags are made from one of five different types of leather. Split grain, bonded, genuine, top grain, and full grain are some of them, according to Liberty Leather Goods. The type of leather must be identified in order to determine the best cleaning method.
2. Empty the Purse: Start by emptying all pockets, releasing all clasps and zippers, and shaking the purse upside down to remove debris, dirt, and small items.
3. Remove Debris From the Liner: Pull the interior lining to the outside of the bag has a fabric lining. Dust and crumbs can be collected using a lint roller. You can also clean the inside with a vacuum’s fabric brush attachment. If the bag has no fabric lining, clean the interior with a cloth that has been slightly dampened with water.
4. Wipe Down the Exterior: Buy a quality leather soap. Drop a few drops into some warm water, then dunk a clean, soft white cloth in it (avoid using colored rags as they may transfer dye). To clean the outside of your leather bag, wring out any extra moisture.
5. Buff the Purse Dry: Once clean, use a second white cloth to buff the bag dry. The leather should start to look better and feel suppler.
6. Clean the Hardware: To make the hardware on your bag shine, use metal polish or brass cleaner. Apply the polish to the metal by dipping a cotton swab into it. Buff the tarnish off with a white cloth. As most hardware is just base metal that has been painted, it should be gently rubbed as it occasionally flakes. To prevent discoloration, take great care to keep the cleaner off of any fabric trim made of leather.
7. Condition the Purse: To help the bag stay flexible and stain-resistant, apply a leather conditioner last. Commercial leather conditioners of the highest caliber are available online or at your neighborhood home improvement store. As stated on the label, apply the product as directed.

Tips for How to Clean a Leather Purse

For the best results for how to clean a leather purse, keep these tips in mind:

1. Never use too much water on a leather purse or soak it.
2. Useless substances like bleach or alcohol should not be used.
3. Do not wait to treat spills and stains; do so immediately!
4. After washing and letting a leather purse air dry, always condition the leather.
5. For tough stains, think about seeking advice from a leather care expert.

Here are more tups on clean leather products:

• How to Clean a Leather Jacket to Keep It Looking Good?
• How to Properly Clean Leather Shoes to Keep Them Last Longer?

Removing Stains from a Leather Purse

Even with caution, stains can still appear on your purse. Pick up one of these and move to remove them.

• Nail Polish Remover or Rubbing Alcohol: The removal of ink stains and scuffs can be accomplished using this method. Lightly blot the stain after dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover. Rubbing might cause the ink to spread. Until the stain disappears, gently blot. Dry with a towel after wiping with a fresh, damp cloth.
• Baking Soda or Cornstarch: Sprinkling baking soda or cornstarch on oil or grease stains will help them disappear. Apply a damp cloth and gently rub it in. Allow to sit for a couple of hours or overnight. The oil will be absorbed by the soda or starch. Apply a soft cloth to the powder and remove it.
• Lemon Juice and Cream of Tartar: Create a paste by combining both ingredients in a similar amount. Apply to the stain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. To get the paste off, use a wet cloth. Use this only on light-colored leather because lemon juice and cream of tartar have a slight bleaching effect.

Care and Repair of Leather Purses

The best place to take your bag if it breaks or rips is a shoe repair shop because they have the specialized equipment needed to fix the problem. A mail-in purse repair service is another option. Some high-end handbag manufacturers, including Chanel, Mulberry, and Givenchy, offer free repairs within a year of purchase.

Try a tear-mender adhesive, which is available in fabric and craft stores, if you need to fix something small, like fraying purse straps. Trim any protruding threads, apply the adhesive according to the directions, and wait until it is completely dry before using. And here are ways to Get Scratches Out of Leather.

Where to Store a Leather Purse?

Inadvertently damaging the leather, people frequently store their leather handbags in plastic bags. The plastic bags can adhere to the leather surface and tear off the outermost layer. Consequently, 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.

Conclusion: Clean a Leather Purse

Using a clean, white cloth dipped in a solution of dish soap and water, gently rub the leather surface of the bag until it is completely covered. Use another soft cloth to wipe the soap after making sure every component is covered. To conclude, use a smooth towel to dry the leather.

Given that they can last a very long time, leather purses are a wise investment for any wardrobe.

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