How to care for your handbag

The HOW TO for a long lasting handbag marriage

Depending on how much money you spend, handbags can become a real investment.  That is why it’s important to CARE (yes in capitals!) for your bag properly to ensure it has a long, happy life.

How to clean your handbag.

  1. Keep your handbag looking shinny and new by rubbing it regularly with a damp cloth or alcohol free baby wipes.  A little dishwashing detergent may help remove stubborn spots.
  2. For canvas or linen bags, use a lint brush to remove debris from the exterior.
  3. If there is a big stain, don’t try to clean it yourself. Take it to a leather expert as soon as possible (I have learnt this the hard way).
  4. To clean your bag’s interior, gently pull the lining out and use a lint roller to pick up debris.  Don’t have one handy?  Then try the fabric-brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
  5. Stop your bag’s zippers sticking by carefully applying beeswax (available from most hardware stores) over the open zipper’s teeth.  Don’t overdo it – a little goes a long way.
  6. Washing your hands is good for your bag too!  If your hands are dirty or lathered up with hand crème try to handle your bag as little as possible as hand crème residue may cause its handles to discolour and age.

How to extend the life of your handbag

There are a few other things you can do to ensure a harmonious relationship with your handbag.

  1. Invest in a Borne Naked handbag liner (from www.BorneNaked.com, Sml $24.95, Med $29.95, Lrg $34.95).  Not only will this keep your keys away from your phone, it will also prevent the dreaded pen leak, eye shadow explosion, or melted lipstick catastrophe from obliterating the inside of your handbag.
  2. Keep your bags’ stitching and straps in shape by never overstuffing your bag.  A heavy load can hurt your bag as much as it hurts your shoulders.  Take good care of any metal detailing, too, as deep scratches are difficult to repair.
  3. If you are out, try to resist putting your handbag on the floor – remember all things gross congregate on the floor.  YUCK!  Try hanging your bag from your knee or the back of the chair, or invest in a handbag hanger.  These nifty little hangers mean you can suspend your loved bag from almost any surface.
  4. As an alternative to the above, if your handbag does not have “feet” on the bottom, you can have them added by a leather-care expert. Having feet will protect the bottom of your bag from scratches and dirt.

How to store your handbag

  1. Handbags can be hung on a hook for a few days, but any longer puts too much strain on the straps and may cause the straps to stretch.
  2. Fill handbags loosely with balls of tissue paper to help keep the shape.  However, stiff bags don’t need this.
  3. Put your handbag in the storage bag it came with.  If it didn’t come with a roomy drawstring sack then make one out of cotton or use a pillow case.
  4. Ideally, handbags would be stored in cubbies built into your wardrobe.  However, since we are not all Carrie (from Sex and the City) you can also store them in baskets or bins made of plastic-coated wire. Stand them upright or lay them down and don’t crowd them. They need to breathe, so don’t put a tight-fitting lid on.