Whether your designer handbag is a Louis Vuitton, a Gucci, or any other designer, it is important to take proper care of it. Proper care will give you many years of beauty and use in return.
Most leather designer bags are not treated. This allows the bags to age gracefully and with the character expected from a designer bag, making them distinct and unique. Keep your bag away from makeup, food, or any other oil based product which can stain. When you are not using your bag, store it in a protective cloth container.
The very first thing you should do is treat your handbag with a leather protector to prevent stains from setting in. No matter how careful you are, at some point your likely to leave a mark on it and the leather protection will not allow it to soak in so youll be able to more easily remove it.
What to do if you get a stain. Heres some helpful tips worth trying.
Cleaning leather can be a bit difficult. Leather is rugged and lasts a long time but it does stain quite easily. Depending on the type of leather and the finish, will depend on the cleaning method used.
If a handbag is tanned, and pigmented you can try to wipe the stain with a soft damp clothe. If this doesnt work, try a leather cleaner specifically made for the type of leather you have. Follow the directions carefully. Once the spot has been removed it is a good idea to re-condition the leather to restore the natural luster. Always test a leather product in inconspicuous spot before applying to your entire handbag.
If the leather has become discolored there are leather products on the market that can help restore color. Try to match the product as close as possible to the natural color of your handbag.
If your not sure, we would recommend you take it to a professional leather cleaner who will have the expertise to remove the stain.
Follow or at least consider these tips when you use your handbag. Your priority is to keep your bag looking good and stain free, yet to enjoy using it.
Look after your bag and store it in its dust bag cover or use a natural fibre soft pillowslip.
Handle your bag, especially lighter bags with clean hands.
Avoid handling the designer bag after applying beauty products, face foundations or hand creams.
If the weather is really bad and raining consider using a less special handbag.
Be careful when you visit a hairdressers with your bag, as hair products can easily splash onto handbags left on the floor at your feet. Clippings of chemically treated hair can land on the bag and leave marks.
When carrying a light coloured bag consider using pencils rather than Biros - biro can be difficult to remove. Don't use your bag as a rest to place paper and write notes. Pointed pens can leave impression tool marks through paper rested on firm leathers.
If your bag has a chain handle, store the chain inside the bag to avoid scratching the outside leather when the bag is resting.
For storage, use bubble wrap to stuff your bags as it does not attract moths in the same way as tissue paper does.
If you are doing a big weekly shop then unless you are planning to impress a prospective Mr Right, avoid taking your special bag to the supermarket! Trolleys can scratch your bag and mark it permanently, as can spillages from foodstuffs such as yoghurts, cream, dips, squashy fruit, milk and even leaking cleaning products.
For long term storage, undo strap buckles so that impressions are not created. Then if you wish to wear the strap across the body messenger style and need maximum strap length or need to shorten it to wear underarm style at a later date, this unbuckling of the straps before storage will stop areas becoming impressed and unattractive.
