Hello reader.
Today, I am here with a new chapter of the same book - the very essential leather handbag cleaning guide that we all need. When I was trying to find a basic at-home cleaning guide for my own bags, I found myself clueless about where to look. And when I did find some quality content, it was either too detailed and lengthy for my level of dedication or too taxing for my pocket. So, here I am, with my attempt at a comprehensive yet doable at-home cleaning guide for your beloved leather handbags. I will also link a couple of products for your convenience that are the showstoppers of this arena.
Completely empty your bag.
Hold it upside down if you have to, make sure every fleck of debris is taken out and the bag is as empty as it can be. If your bag features a removable lining, or if you use a compartment organiser, remove that as well.
Once your bag is completely empty, use a microfibre cloth or a suede brush to gently clean the interiors. Make sure to hit all folds and crevices - it is likely, if you haven't cleaned your bag in a while, that you find debris of unknown origins randomly hiding around in your handbag. Don't be embarrassed, we've all been there!
Wipe down the exteriors of your bag.
After you have emptied your bag as above, use an unscented baby wipe or a leather wipe to gently clean the surfaces of your handbag. If you are using a new product, please DO A PATCH TEST first. This is absolutely essential because every handbag brand has a different type of leather and polish, and every brand of baby wipes or leather wipes is composed of a different ingredient list. You can do a patch test on a fairly inconspicuous area, like the base or an interior fold of the leather.
Again, make sure you hit all folds and crevices. Give extra attention to the parts of the bag that come in contact with your skin the most - the handles and the base of the bag. These parts get in contact with the oils in our skin and are prone to be dirtier that other parts of the bag. Dry with a microfibre cloth after.
Gentle buffing as and when needed.
If you're bothered by some scratches or wrinkles on your bag or even if you just want to bring back the shine your bag used to have, you can buff your bag applying light pressure. It will erase signs of light wear. You can use a leather conditioner with a soft sponge to do this. Make sure the conditioner is suitable for the leather you are dealing with, and don't forget to do a patch test first.
Do not freak out if your bag changes colour on the application of leather conditioner! It is normal, and the bag should regain it original colour on exposure to some sun. Conditioning is a great way to maintain your bags at home, at little-to-no risk.
Do not be fooled by marketing gimmicks aimed to sell leather cleaners separately. A leather conditioner usually does the job of cleaning too. When you apply it, the back and forth motion cleans any dust on the surface of it. Most leather conditioners on the market are also cleaners.
How often?
The steps I have mentioned are good for regular cleaning, maybe at a frequency of once a month if you use your bag plenty or of once in 6 months if it's a special occasion bag.
Stain removal?
While I have covered the regular cleaning process in this post, I would highly recommend you to avoid trying your hand at stain removal at home. Especially with designer leather, it can be very delicate and the harsher chemicals required to remove stains might cause a reaction. My rule of thumb is that if the bag cost upwards of 500$ or if it is fairly new, best to leave it to the professionals. They might charge more, but rest assured your bag will come back safe. If you still must try, I would recommend a mild, unscented cleanser, with minimum ingredients. I will leave a recommendation below.
Product recommendations
Cadillac SELECT Premium Leather Lotion: This is cult-favourite and very respected in the handbag community. It works even for delicate leathers like lambskin.
Chamberlain's Leather Milk in Leather Care Liniment: Classic choice, loved by many. Works for most leather types.
Whichever leather conditioner you pick, make sure it is silicone and wax free.
Leather Honey Leather Conditioner Wipes: Can be used on-the-go as well as for regular conditioning, to get in those nooks and crevices. Patch test is a must.
Cobbler's Choice Co. 100% Horsehair Shoe Brush: A great brush made with super soft horsehair that will clean your leather bags seamlessly.
HandBagRescue All-Natural Cleaning Wipes: Great solution for on-the-go cleaning as well as well as for regular cleaning by, to get in those corners and curves. Patch test is a must.
The Honest Company Clean Conscious Wipes: A great alternative to the pricier wipes above. Fragrance free. Patch test first!
Bickmore Bick 1 Leather Cleaner: A good option for cleaning your leather bags, even for attempting to remove stains. Do not scare away from the tagline saying "aggressive"! Tried and tested by many, Bickmore claims it is gentle enough for designer leathers.
Hope this helped you, and helps people for years to come! In the interest of time, I have restricted this blog post to cleaning only. I have another one coming about general tips and care guidance. Keep an eye out for it, I promise it's going be an all-at-once three-pointer of a care guide. Thanks for tuning in!
xoxo,
Vuer enVogue
Comments