How To Clean A Leather Handbag: The Zatchels Care Guide
A high quality leather handbag should last you a number of years if cared for correctly. In order to help you keep your bag in tip top condition, we’ve put together the following guidance on how to clean a leather handbag successfully.
Basic Guide To Cleaning Leather Bags
- The first step in our guide on how to clean a leather handbag is to empty the contents of the bag. Remove any personal items from the interior and exterior pockets and put them somewhere safe before starting any actual cleaning. The last thing you want is your belongings getting ruined by the water and cleaning products
- Once you’ve emptied your leather bag out, start the cleaning process by dusting the bag off using a soft bristled brush. When you’re using your bag regularly, it’s easy for dirt and dust to gather on the bag and so it’s important not to skip this step
- Next, apply a leather bag cleaner to all areas of the bag using a lint free cloth. It’s important to use a proper leather handbag cleaner rather than homemade remedies, as when used incorrectly, these can cause serious damage to the leather
- Once you’ve cleaned all areas of the bag, wipe off any excess moisture and leave it to dry for a little while. Once dry, apply a leather protection cream, making sure to cover handles and corners. This will make the bag shine like new and make it a lot more resistant to wear and tear in the long run
How often should I clean my leather handbag?
The above tips explain how to clean a leather handbag, however what you might be wondering is how often should I clean it? Well, how regularly you should clean your bag really depends on how regularly you use it. If you use the bag everyday then you should clean it at least every two to three months, however if it’s more of a weekend or special occasions bag then every six to nine months should help keep it protected.
Of course, there may be exceptions to this, such as if you spill something on the leather or cause it to stain. In this case you’ll want to get cleaning as soon as possible...
Dealing with stains
Our advice on how to clean a leather handbag certainly wouldn’t be complete without mentioning how to remove stains. Rain, beverages and perfume leaks are all common stains to find on leather handbags, but the great news is that if treated quickly they can be removed without damaging the bag. The most common stains are from liquid and grease, so with this in mind let’s take a look at how to deal with both
Liquid stains
- If you spill liquid on your bag, start by blotting the leather with a clean, dry cloth or tissue before it dries on its own. Leaving the liquid to absorb into the bag can leave an unpleasant mark on the bag that is hard to remove and so the key is to act as quickly as possible
- Once you’ve removed the excess liquid, blot the stained area with a damp cloth or tissue using warm water only. Work from the outside of the stain inwards and never rub the stain as this can cause it to spread
- Leave the bag to dry in a warm room and never use a hairdryer or put it in the sun to speed up the process as direct heat can be damaging to the leather
- Once dry, gently wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth to remove any dust before applying a leather conditioner to replenish the oils and moisturise the bag
Grease stains
- Our most important tip for how to clean a leather handbag when you’re dealing with a grease stain is to never use water. Water doesn’t break down oils and can actually leave the stain more pronounced
- Instead, wipe the oil or grease off the surface of your leather bag using a clean, dry cloth
- Once dried, wipe the bag over with a polishing cloth to give it that finishing shine
If you would like any further advice on how to clean a leather handbag, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Zatchels team.