SMOOTH leather bags like this Chanel lambskin tend to be harder to clean because of the soft and delicate nature of the leather. Extra care is needed while carrying this bag to prevent scratches or scuff.
THE GOYARD white fidji can take color transfers from denim clothing, so checking for stains regularly is prudent, as it can still be lightened or even cleaned.
MANILA, Philippines—So you finally bought that bag you’ve been lusting for. You either use it a lot because you want to get maximum mileage out of it, or you keep that “holy grail” in your closet to admire in private.
I must admit I tend to be the latter. But when I do use the bag often, I obsess about maintaining it. All right, I am the prisoner of my bag. I know many women can empathize with me. After all, bags these days don’t come cheap.
Our humid climate is not bag-friendly. That and there are countless reasons you want to protect your bag, your investment.
Patent bags
Patent bags are not easy to clean. Many patent bags are structured, so be careful where you store your bag. They lose their form easily, oftentimes permanently.
Stains on patent bags are toughest to remove. Pen marks are nearly impossible to erase since the ink seems to seep into the “varnish” coat and stay beneath the coated surface.
Patent bags can also get discolored, so store them in a place with no direct light (natural or artificial).
If you accidentally mark your bag with a pen, use baby wipes to clean immediately. Don’t wipe it off in different directions lest the fresh ink leaves a smudge.
Pat it down first to ensure the ink doesn’t smear all over before you rub it with the wet wipes. It may not erase the stain completely, but it could lighten the mark.
Never use acetone. It could damage your bag.
Coated canvas bags
Coated canvas bags are generally the easiest to clean and maintain. They are waterproof or water-resistant. You can even use your canvas bag to cover your head in a downpour. I’ve done that with my Goyard. You just wipe off the water droplets with a dry cloth.
Louis Vuitton, Goyard, and even some Gucci bags come in coated canvas. To keep a coated canvas bag clean, wipe it with a clean, damp cloth, carefully avoiding the leather trims. Dry it off with another clean, dry cloth.
Lighter colored coated canvas bags tend to absorb color transfers from denim or darker colored clothing. So it is always prudent to check your bag every so often for stains.
Should there be color transfers on the bag, lather up a soft sponge with white soap (hand soap or bath soap will do). Apply soft pressure and clean affected area with the sponge in circular motions. Wipe off suds with another clean, damp cloth.
Repeat the process as needed, but again, be careful not to soap up the leather trims. Then use a dry, non-abrasive cloth to wipe the bag clean, and let it air-dry.
Leather trims
The leather trims on your coated canvas bags are a different matter. For bags that belong to the classic Monogram line of Louis Vuitton, the cowhide (or vachetta) leather trims are very pale when new. This leather is sensitive to liquids and can retain water spots, so make sure you wipe your hands clean before you handle your bag.
The cowhide leather develops a honey-colored patina over time with continued use or constant exposure to air and light. I have tried to retard the darkening process by using a non-abrasive, soft white pencil eraser to “erase” the dark spots. It had some kind of lightening effect although constant erasing dries up the leather, so it’s a procedure I don’t recommend.
There are serious discussions on how to delay the darkening process by using water/stain repellant/protection sprays (see Internet forums like The Purse Forum, forum.purseblog.com).
Some also turn to non-alcoholic baby wipes. I don’t like to use baby wipes to clean or protect the leather handles. Like our own skin, constant cleaning of the leather can strip away its natural oils, causing the leather to dry and crack.
I recommend occasionally wiping the handles and trims with a leather moisturizer if you have already begun applying cleaning agents on the leather. Always leave it to dry overnight (preferably over 10 hours) before using the bag again.
Smooth leather bags
Smooth leather bags require more care than pebbled leather bags. They are more prone to scratches and scuff if not properly handled. Interior pockets lined in smooth leather also fall prey to humidity, and end up sticking to each other. I found that smearing a bit of baby powder on the pocket walls can help prevent the leather from sticking.
If you store your bag for a long period, put small silicon gel packets inside the bag to help absorb humidity. These are available in hardware stores.
As for scratches, it may not seem like a very hygienic thing to do, but there are times when rubbing the area with your index finger (make sure you have short nails) and a little dab of saliva can help clear out the lighter and more superficial scratches.
But as for deep scratches or heavy scuffing, there is not much you can do except perhaps take it to a bag specialist to assess whether the bag can still be restored to its original scar-free state.
Pebbled leather bags
While I refrain from experimenting with cleaning agents on smooth leather bags, I go all out when I clean my pebbled leather bags. There are different textures and thicknesses, and I often try cleaning pastes, erasers on the thicker ones first.
I have even tried a computer-keyboard cleaner on my chalk-colored bag handles to clean out the dirt from constant handling. Although it cleaned the dirt the first time around, the handles eventually turned into an ugly shade of algae-green after several cleaning sessions! The chemicals of that cleaning paste must have been too harsh.
In the end, I found the Apple leather cleaner delicate enough on leather, yet effective enough to clean a layer or two of dirt.
Suede bags
Suede bags are hard to clean and maintain in humid weather. Once your bag has molds, there is really not much that can be done to remove the stains.
It is always a good idea to spray your suede bag with a coat of rain/stain protection chemical. Leave the bag overnight and spray again if you deem it necessary.
There are also suede “erasers” to clear out or lighten scratches and scuff. Erase the affected area lightly. Vigorous erasing can damage the leather.
Fabric bags
Fabric bags are dirt magnets but can get protected with a spray or two of Scotch Gard Fabric Protector to keep it from getting dirty fast.
There are also fabric bags that can be washed or dry-cleaned. You can always ask your local dry cleaners to see if they can clean or launder your bag without damaging it.
Metal hardware
Metal hardware on your bags is another thing when it comes to cleaning. Because of the humidity, you may notice the zipper pulls and metal buckles or plates of your bag oxidizing (tarnishing). Don’t fret because there is a way to make the hardware look brand-spanking new again.
Silver cleaning agents like Glo metal polisher can get the job done fast and relatively easy.
For smaller metal links or zippers, try using a cotton bud sparingly dipped with metal cleaner.
And again, be careful not to rub any of this polisher onto the leather or fabric body of your bag because it will stain!
All these cleaning agents are quite toxic though, so be sure to wash your hands with soap thoroughly when you’re done cleaning the bags.
3 top tips
That said, here are three of my most important tips for cleaning bags and maintaining them in good condition:
1. Always work with a test area on the bag (the bottom corner is a good place to start) and leave that test area to dry overnight to see if the cleaning agent used was effective or not before applying it again throughout the bag.
2. Find the time to air out your bags. Take them out of their protective cloth cases, and leave them out of your closets every week or so. This will allow the bags to “breathe” as well as prevent molds from growing. If you store your bags in enclosed areas, you can also buy the disposable dehumidifiers and place them strategically in the room to absorb humidity that can cause molds to grow.
3. Do your research. Bag forums that tackle cleaning issues are always a good way to find out the products that people recommend in cleaning bags. There are also sites that review cleaning agents and also provide step-by-step instructions on how to clean your bags. Arm yourself with enough cleaning information. If not, you can always experiment! And if you do experiment, refer to No. 1 tip.
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