How to Clean Leather Purse

A leather purse is an excellent investment because of how durable animal hide is. It can last a few years and even maintain the same shine. However, you have a role to play to ensure that it stays new for as long as possible.

We’ll go over some tips to clean your leather purse and keep it in great condition.

Cleaning Your Leather Purse

Leather is quite easy to clean and often requires a mild soap to prevent damage to the material. Unlike plastic, it is not ideal to soak leather in water.

To clean the purse, you’ll need a few items. Some include,

• Soft bristle brush
• Lint roller
• Leather conditioner
• Clean cloth
• Mild soap
• Vacuum
• Cotton swabs

Step 1 - Empty The Purse

Remove everything from the purse and open all the zips. It also helps to shake the purse upside down to remove any debris that may be hidden in the purse.

Step 2 - Use A Lint Roller

After turning the lining of the purse inside out, use a lint roller to catch any debris that might be stuck inside. Also, if you have a vacuum, you can use it to reach the deep edges and clean the area thoroughly. When you’re done, wipe the interior with a damp cloth.

Step 3 - Clean The Exterior

Use your mild soap and a cloth to clean the exterior part of the leather purse. Damp, rather than wet clothes, is better for this task so you don’t damage the material. Also, only use white cloth for this because colored clothes can fade and stain the leather purse.

After cleaning with a damp cloth, wipe off the excess moisture with a dry cloth.

Step 4 - Buff it Dry

Use another clean cloth to buff the purse after cleaning off the moisture from the damp cloth. The results are often instant, and the purse will begin to shine again.

Step 5 - Clean Other Non-Leather Parts of The Purse

The leather parts are the only areas that require attention. Accessories and other hardware on the purse also need care to maintain their shine over the years.

You may need metal polish depending on the material used to make the purse’s hardware. For this, you need a cotton swab to reach the small areas. Dip the swab in the polish and apply it carefully.

Being careful is important because the hardware is often made with base metal. This means they can scrape off easily if you apply too much pressure.

Also, ensure that the polish doesn’t come in contact with the leather areas of the purse because it can damage it.

Step 6 - Leather Conditioner

It is essential to apply a leather conditioner to your purse whenever you clean it so it can remain stain-resistant and maintain its shine. There are branded leather conditioners on the market, but you can also opt for natural products like linseed oil and white vinegar.

To condition your leather purse, mix one part of white vinegar with two parts of linseed oil. Next, use a cloth to apply the mixture to the purse.

When you’re done, leave it alone for about fifteen minutes and then clean the mixture’s residue afterward.

Specific Cleaning Tips For Your Leather Purse

Besides the routine cleaning required for your leather purse, you may need to clean off stains from time to time. In most cases, you may have to deal with ink, wine, blood, and food stains on your purse.

Before cleaning these stains, it helps to know whether your leather purse is unfinished or finished. Unfinished leather may require expert cleaning when it is stained because it lacks a finishing that resists stains.

If you have a finished leather purse, then cleaning it will be easier for you.

Here are some helpful tips to get started.

Makeup Stain Removal

To remove makeup stains from your leather purse, use a makeup wipe. It helps to clean it as soon as you notice the stain so it doesn’t stick. If the wipes don't do the job, you may need to use dish soap and a clean cloth to gently dab on the area.

Ink Stain Removal

Ink stains can be stubborn, but some isopropyl alcohol should do the job. To clean ink stains, use a cotton swab with some rubbing alcohol and dab on the spot gently. It should clear off shortly, and then you can wipe off the alcohol residue with a clean cloth.

Wine stain removal

To remove wine stains, you’ll need lemon juice and cream of tartar. Mix both and apply the solution to the wine stain. The paste should stay in the area for around ten minutes before being removed and cleaned with a dry cloth.

Food stain removal

Food, especially oil stains, are easy to clean. You just need some powder or baking soda. Cornstarch may also work well. Apply the powder to the stained area and leave it overnight.

In the morning, brush off the powder and clean the area thoroughly.

Leather purse care tips

• Prevent staining by storing your makeup products in waterproof bags inside your purse.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals on your leather purse, such as bleach or ammonia.
• Clean your leather purse twice a year and apply leather conditioner to keep it moisturized.
• Store your purse in a dry area away from moisture.
• Don’t store your leather purse in plastic bags because it can stick to the leather and deface it.
• Also, storing the bag in plastic can cause mildew to grow and make the purse turn yellow due to moisture.
• Place tissue paper in your purse when it is not being used. This helps it maintain its perfect shape and prevents annoying creases from forming.

Conclusion

Cleaning your leather purse is easy, especially if it is a finished leather purse. In most cases, mild dish soap will do the trick. However, if you need to remove ink or food stains, you may need rubbing alcohol and baking soda.

You may also need to clean the non-leather parts of the purse, so follow the instructions above to avoid damaging those areas.

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