How to care for your Designer bags

We all love our handbags – mood lifter, companions, always by our side. Their investment is justified on the premise that they will last for years and years. However, we often don’t know how to take care of handbag.

We've form a list with 6 tips to ensure that you look after your beloved purses for as long as possible.

Regular maintenance

Try to avoid touching and handling your bag after you have applied hand lotion, hand sanitiser or if your hands are less than clean. Once in a while empty them out, turn them upside down and gently shake to remove dust etc. Unless otherwise indicated, occasionally wipe down the exterior with an alcohol-free baby wipe.

Remove stains right away - Removal techniques will depend on the source of the stain. Here are some quick tips:

• Food stains: Let crushed white chalk sit on the stain for several hours, ideally overnight. Then wipe it away with a clean cloth.
• Water spots: Blot water stains, let them dry naturally, and bring your bag to a professional for removal.
• Pen marks: For fresh ink stains, try rubbing lightly with a white eraser.  However, don’t use much pressure, and if it doesn’t disappear immediately or if too much time has passed, see a professional, pen marks stains are tricky.
• Odours: Store your bag with a silica pack inside. Zip the handbag closed, or if it doesn’t zip closed put it in a larger bag that seals. Dryer sheets and herbal sachets also work wonders, if you leave them in for several days.
• Protect the interior: We recommend using zip lock or cosmetic pouches to store products like cosmetics, pens (don’t even think about throwing a click pen in your bag!), hand sanitiser and other liquids. Don’t let these items loose in your bag as they can stain the inside lining. Lipstick really hard to remove from fabric! 

Use care products, and use the right ones

Once in a while gently rub leather with leather cream or balm with a clean white cloth, followed by a dry cotton cloth to buff.  Herve de Luxe has good creams and balms specific for handbags. We advise protecting your bag before an accident happens. Always make sure that you read the instructions carefully to ensure that the product is right for the material. Better do a patch test on a tiny portion of the material first, to ensure there is no discolouration.  

Store them properly

We recommend to store your bags upright, in their dust bags or in a cotton pillowcase (never in plastic, boxes or a non-breathable bag, as increase trapped moisture). Don’t stack bags on top of one another. Ensure the bag is stuffed to maintain its shape; use soft, dry materials like acid-free tissue paper, scarves or pillow handbag stuffer. Unclip and roll up any long straps and store these inside the bag.  If possible, hang handle over a hook or a wooden hanger in your closet or store upright. Always keep out of direct sunlight.

Don’t forget about the hardware 

Avoid scratching hardware on rough surfaces, zippers and jewellery.

Seek professional help 

 You know when your bag should go to rehab! For stains, rips and tears, broken zip or pulls, don’t be afraid to seek a professional, they can work magic and revive your bags. Let us if you want advice or get in touch with a repairer we can help and recommend the one we trust the most.

With a little kindness and love, your bags should continue to serve you for many years to come!