STEP 1. You have bought a new bag, congratulations! This is an important step in unleashing your inner fashion icon. Now you can strut like Victoria Beckham and remember no apologies for being fabulous!
STEP 2. Your bag looks amazing, you look amazing, now what? For me, the most important step in bag care is prevention. That’s right, avoid those pen marks on the inside of your bag and get yourself a bag organizer. These are great for sorting loose items, which can leave permanent marks on the inside of your bag. You just paid $$$ for this lady, why ruin her with a $0.50 pen? Now this is something I cannot stress enough, always, I mean always, put your makeup items in a small makeup bag. Not only will one “oops” moment ruin the inside of your bag, but you’re wasting precious time here! An inexpensive alternative is to opt for a Ziploc bag. These babies are cheap, easy to use, and still provide protection for your bag.
STEP 3. Next, you’ll probably want prevent drag brands, scratches, bacteria and chewing gum in your bag. Guess what? Keep that bag off the floor! “Wallet on the floor, it’s money out the door” Have you ever heard of a bag hanger? Also known as a bag butler? Look at you (yes, you’re fabulous), don’t you deserve to have your own butler holding your bag? Well ladies, I’m sorry to have to tell you, go find one… Of course, there are alternatives… place your bag on the arm of a chair (keeping an eye open for potential bag snatchers), or place your bag on a shelf/hook instead of the floor. Would you put your hand on the floor of a public bathroom? Then do not put your bag, remember that this item will take you home. Your options are limitless, so don’t limit your portfolio to condo living.
STAGE 4. daily care it is essential to maintain and prolong the life of your bag. Humidity is the monster of the bag, especially for a leather bag. The best thing about wallets made of synthetic material or PVC is that they are better at repelling liquids than natural materials like leather. However, this doesn’t mean you should go dancing in the rain with a non-leather bag, as they can still ruin your “rain” as a fashion queen. There are many water repellent products on the market, invest in one for your leather wallet. It is also recommended to remove moisture from leather materials as soon as possible.
STEP 5. hydrate. You do it on your face every day, why not on your bag? Now this is where I ask you to read carefully, very carefully. When I say hydrate I don’t mean water. Your wallet probably hasn’t been pre-treated and conditioned to be all it can be, so be sure to get a leather conditioner. This will keep your supply of material and your bag looking its best. However, it is very important to clean your bag before conditioning it, which brings us to the next step.
STEP 6. Clean the outside of your wallet. Always check the material of your bag before cleaning it. Although daily cleaners may be readily available, avoid using them in your bag as they can do more harm than good. Use only cleaners specific to the material in your bag. Invest in a leather cleaner for a leather wallet, believe me you will not regret it. You know those wipes you use to remove makeup from your beautiful face? You can also find leather wipes! These are great for cleaning the outside of your bag, they come in easy to use sheets and can also be used to clean your leather furniture. Can you say a 2 in 1 bonus? Warning: Please do not use it on your face. For synthetic wallets, a damp cloth is usually sufficient to clean the exterior. If you want to go the extra mile, you can use a damp cloth with a mild soap, but be sure to test an inconspicuous area before wiping down the entire bag. For suede wallets, use a suede brush to clean the fibers. For all other materials, see our vintage bag care guide.
STEP 7. Cleaning the inside of your wallet. For most liners, a damp cloth and mild soap are usually sufficient for cleaning. I usually turn my liners out, dust, wipe, and let air dry. The key is to never saturate the coating. Another thing to avoid is humidity. That’s right my loves, steamers should only be used for your clothes.
STEP 8. Spot and stain removal. So despite everything I’ve taught you, you’ve somehow managed to get a stain or stain out of your precious bag, calm down darling because all is not lost yet. Depending on the material of your bag, there are always solutions to remove the marks. – Remove dry stains from suede by rubbing with a dry eraser. – Remove ink with a dry eraser, vinegar or nail polish remover. Be sure to test a small area before applying to the entire bag. Another secret weapon, you know for when your niece decided it was fun to color the hotel sofa with a pen? Fragrance! That’s right, a little spritz and rub rub rub. Bonuses? Your bag will smell like your favorite fragrance. – Patent leather is much easier to clean. A damp cloth and mild detergent will usually do the trick. Dry and apply a small amount of Vaseline, polish and shine your new bag.
STEP 9. Storage. So your bag has given you the best days, weeks, months of your life, but you’ve found someone else and you’d like to put things on hold for a while, well, that’s fine, just make sure you break it in gently. You just broke this lady’s heart, so make sure she has air to breathe. When storing purses, be sure to keep them covered with materials that allow them to breathe. This is especially important for items made from natural materials. Most of today’s bags will come with dust bags that are perfect for storage. If you don’t have a dust bag, pillowcases are a great alternative. Fabric and wicker slippers are also another great option. Another concern should be maintaining the shape of your bag. A great way to do this is to stuff purses with used acid-free tissue paper or wrapping paper. Be sure not to overdo it, this lady would like to keep her figure. A little trick I use is to spray a small amount of my favorite fragrance on one of the tissue fillers before I put my bag away. This way, when I release this lady again, there are no musty smells, but rather the faint lingering of a scent I once loved…
STEP 10. Get rid of musty odors. So you basically ignored steps 1-9, got your bag out of the back of your closet, and it smells (ouch!). First make sure that smell isn’t coming from some poor creature that might have made a home in your bag. Verification completed? Well, let’s get on with it. Although I really should give you a detention card, you’re forgiven. Musty odors can be caused by a variety of sources, improper storage, dry moisture, mold, and the list goes on. My advice is to clean your bag as discussed in steps 6-7 and let’s go. Next, you want to grab that stack of newspapers on the table and fill them in. Newspapers are excellent at absorbing odors. Just fill out a few pages, close for a few days, and voila! Of course, there’s always Mrs. Baking Soda, she never fails us when it comes to scents. Just put a wallet in the bag, close for a few hours or days (depending on how musty you’re talking) and get back to business. Don’t you regret never having listened?
Until next time, fashionistas, take care of your bags, they work hard to carry your valuables, so why not show them some love?
