How to clean a leather bag at home

A leather bag is an indispensable attribute in both women's and men's wardrobe. Firstly, products of this kind are practical due to the increased wear resistance, and secondly, a wallet made of genuine leather gives the image a solidity and a sense of completeness. The bag will serve you faithfully for many years only if you take care of it properly. Like any other thing, the skin will fade over time, get dirty and wear out, so you should approach the cleaning process with all responsibility.

General recommendations

1. If grease stains, splashes from passing cars, dust and dirt remain on the bag, the product must be wiped well. To do this correctly, grate a little baby soap on a fine grater, pour cool boiling water over it and wait 10 minutes. When the composition is completely dissolved, pour 2 ml. ammonia and mix. Fold the bandage in several layers, soak it in the solution, wring it out a little and wipe the contaminated areas. Walk on the surface of the product with a damp sponge so as not to leave streaks, then wipe dry with a lint-free cloth. When the cleaning phase is completed, use skin softening agents.
2. If the bag is in good condition, except for small droplets or dust, use milk or toner to remove makeup. Dampen a cotton swab in the product, treat the spots of dirt, wipe the surface dry with a soft cloth. If possible, use cosmetics designed for the eyes, it is more sparing than all the others. Discard products that contain large amounts of alcohol.
3. During use, scratches, scuffs and creases appear on the surface of the leather bag. They will not be able to hide, unless you use decorative patches or rhinestones. In this case, get a softener cream in the color of your bag at a leather goods or shoe store. Before direct application, test the composition in a separate area to avoid possible errors. The cream usually makes the skin dull, if, in your opinion, the bag should shine, rub it with a shimmering shoe sponge.
4. It is very important to use emollients for the skin to prevent the very cracks and creases. The product requires special care in summer and winter. To maintain shine and elasticity, as well as visually renew the thing, wipe it with liquid glycerin. Apply a little to a cosmetic swab, walk over the entire surface, wait half an hour. After this period, polish the product with a soft, lint-free cloth. If you don’t have glycerin at hand, use petroleum jelly, castor oil, or a fragrance-free, oily hand cream. The method of application is identical.
5. When you apply a tint cream or emollient, carefully monitor the amount. Leather products absorb only part of the product, everything else remains on the surface, dries and turns into ugly spots / stains. If you have made such a mistake by inexperience, grease a cotton swab with olive oil and wipe the product several times. Then treat the surfaces with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Leather bag cleaning technology

Consider the general methodology, which involves passing through 2 stages: cleaning the lining and removing stains. The technology is the same for all skin types.

Stage number 1. Lining cleaning

1. Before starting the procedure, empty the bag and carefully check the small pockets.If you miss this moment, a coin may roll up inside, which will later oxidize and leave traces of rust. Prepare a soapy solution: mix 80-100 ml. liquid soap / shampoo with 400 ml. warm water, mix until foam. Turn the lining fabric inside out (if it does not come off), lower it into a container with a solution, leave it for 10 minutes. After the expiration date, stretch the product with your hands, try not to get on the leather parts. It is not necessary to prepare a solution, take a wide kitchen sponge, apply liquid soap or shampoo to the soft side, wipe the lining. In both cases, the procedure ends with a thorough rinse and drying away from ultraviolet radiation.
2. It is not necessary to wash the lining with foaming agents, which are then difficult to wash. If the fabric is not very dirty, fold the bandage in 4-5 layers, soak it in medical alcohol or vodka, then wipe the surface of the lining. As a rule, the upper part gets dirty most, so pay special attention to it.
3. On the road or on the plane, you can clean the lining with conventional antibacterial wipes. It is enough to wipe the inside several times, and then leave to dry. Of course, the method is only suitable for long flights / transfers, since all contents must be pulled out.

Stage number 2. Stain removal
On the surface of the bag often spots appear, which subsequently become covered with dust and become noticeable. Consider universal methods of cleaning leather products.

1. Talc or chalk. In cases where the stain has appeared recently, get a baby powder without perfumes in the pharmacy. Distribute it for contamination, wait at least half an hour, then carefully remove it with water and a brush with soft fibers. If talcum powder is not at hand, use white chalk. Grind it into powder, spread on a stain and leave for a quarter of an hour.
2. Aftershave. Apply a small amount of lotion to a cotton pad, treat contaminated areas, leave for 10 minutes. Try not to distribute the composition on clean areas of the skin, especially if the product is not of a natural shade (painted surface). Rinse off with a damp cloth, wipe dry and treat with a softener. It is advisable to use a lotion test before using the lotion.
3. Dishwashing liquid. The composition carefully treats any type of skin, whether it is suede or varnish. Put a small amount of Fairy on your finger, grease the spots with it, put a piece of cling film on top. Leave for half an hour, then rinse with a damp sponge. In cases with complex and chronic spots you have to sweat a little, repeat the procedure 2-3 times.
4. Grapefruit. Squeeze a little citrus juice, moisten a cosmetic swab in it, wipe the stain. If the contamination is strong, mix grapefruit and lemon juice in equal proportions, but be sure to do a test before using the composition. Lemon can whiten the skin, resulting in a stain. After you remove any dirt, wipe the surface of the bag with a damp cloth.

How to clean a patent leather bag

Patent leather is no less resistant than matte without any coatings. However, products of this kind require not only cleaning, but also polishing, otherwise the surface will fade.

1. The dirt leaves the varnish bag quickly enough, you just need to wipe the surface with an antibacterial cloth, and then polish the product with a woolen cloth. To maintain coverage for many years, purchase special wax (spray, aerosol) for patent leather in a shoe store or in the leather goods department. Coat the bag according to the instructions, but at least 1 time per week.
2. The second option involves the use of ordinary onions. For dark bags, it is worth giving preference to vegetables of yellow and burgundy color, white onions are suitable for light items.Cut one middle onion into 2 parts, wipe the stain with it, then remove the mixture with a damp cloth and polish.

Important!
Do not clean the surface of the product with a tonic or lotion for removing makeup, face and hand cream, alcohol tinctures. It is strongly not recommended to wear a varnish bag in winter at temperatures below -10 and in summer above +25. Tools for softening, shining, and smoothing creases need to be selected only on a water basis, otherwise you risk damaging the product.

Do not wash the leather bag in the machine and use a stiff brush to remove stains from its surface. If you encounter dirt on suede, rub it with coffee grounds or apricot kernels.

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