How to clean a leather bag: the most effective ways

Almost every woman in the wardrobe has such an accessory as a handbag made of genuine leather. With proper care, a leather product can last for years without losing its original appearance. Leather is a specific material that needs special care. The most effective ways on how to clean a leather bag, we will consider in this article.

A leather bag needs constant careful care. Even if there is no serious contamination on the surface of the product, the bag should be regularly wiped with a cloth or sponge dipped in water. You can also purchase special wet wipes for the care of leather products. After wiping the bag from dust and dirt the skin should be treated with a special protective agent or cosmetic cream.

The skin is a rather sensitive material. When caring for leather products, it is important to know which cleaning methods you should not resort to:

• Use of hard brushes. Hard bristles can cause irreparable damage to the skin.
• Washing the product by hand or in the machine. It is allowed to wash only individual problem areas or the inner lining of the bag.
• Use to remove stains of various solvents (gasoline, acetone, kerosene). Such tools are quite effective in combating serious pollution, but they should only be used as a last resort. Frequent use of solvents will ruin the leather.
• Drying the product on or near heating appliances. With this drying, the skin can become very hard and crack.

The process of cleaning a leather product also has some features. Here are some simple rules to follow:

• It is advisable to start cleaning the bag from the lining.
• Before proceeding with the removal of stains, it is recommended to pre-wipe the product with a solution of soapy water and ammonia.
• Excess moisture after initial treatment with a mixture of soapy water and ammonia must be completely removed from the surface with a dry, clean cloth.
• Care must be taken in choosing a cleanser, taking into account the color and type of skin.
• After the cleaning procedure, if necessary, the bag should be dried naturally.
• At the end, a dry, clean product must be treated with a water-repellent skin cream of the appropriate color. On sale there is also a universal colorless cream that is suitable for skin of any shade.

The procedure for cleaning the product from contamination will depend on the characteristics of a particular type of material from which the bag is made. An incorrectly selected cleaning agent can cause irreparable damage to the product. Therefore, it is so important to responsibly approach the choice of the right cleaning agent and method:

• Smooth genuine leather cleaned in two steps. First you need to treat it with soapy water and wipe it dry with a clean cloth. After that, the product is treated with a solution of citric acid (one teaspoon) and warm water (one liter).
• Good bag cleaner soft leather there will be a solution of soapy water or dishwashing detergent and ammonia. One tablespoon of ammonia should be diluted in one glass of water with the addition of detergent or liquid soap. The resulting solution must be applied to the bag with quick movements, avoiding abundant wetting. Remove any remaining cleaning solution with a damp sponge or cloth.
• Velours is a special type of leather, which has a velvety texture. To care for such skin, it is recommended to purchase special brushes that will help remove minor dirt from the pile. With strong pollution, a mixture of ammonia and soapy water will help to cope. After the stain removal procedure, the velor bag must be treated with a solution of vinegar (one tablespoon), citric acid (one tablespoon) and water (one liter).

• Polished leather needs special care, but at the same time easy to clean. Dirt can be removed with a dry, non-rough cloth. Products made of artificially aged leather are also easy to clean. Pollution from such leather can be removed with a sponge dipped in water. Stubborn old stains can be removed with ammonia or gasoline.
• Products faux leather it is recommended to clean with a special spray for this type of material.Leatherette is recommended to be regularly wiped with a foam brush soaked in glycerin. This method will remove dust and minor dirt from artificial leather, and the protective film that is formed due to glycerin impregnation will protect the product from the adverse effects of moisture.

• Reptile skin or embossed leather can be cleaned of dirt and dust with wool. Cleaning of such leather is recommended to be carried out daily in order to avoid the accumulation of dust on the relief surface. The cleaning procedure should be completed by treating the product with glycerin. From the recesses in the skin, dirt can be cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in ammonia.

Both homemade and special chemical care products are suitable for cleaning leather bags. Blemishes on light and dark skin are treated well with products such as petroleum jelly, glycerin and castor oil. Light soiling can be removed with a makeup remover or facial toner that does not contain alcohol.

You can wash small dirt with ordinary laundry soap. With a soapy solution at room temperature, you need to treat the surface of the bag, then remove the remnants of the product with a damp sponge and wipe it dry with a non-rough cloth.

Ammonia is one of the popular products used to clean leather products.Ammonia is mixed with soapy water and the resulting mixture removes dirt from the surface of the bag.

Liquid leather is a popular specialty cleaner for natural materials. In its structure, liquid skin resembles gouache. With this tool, it is necessary to process the bag, lightly pressing it with a sponge. Liquid leather perfectly masks the mechanical damage that has formed on the surface of the bag.

There are many household cleaning products that are suitable for cleaning leather. When choosing such a product, it is necessary to pay attention to the label, which should contain a corresponding note about the possibility of processing leather products.

There are also several universal products that are not related to household chemicals, which help to cope with almost any type of pollution on natural leather:

• dishwashing gel;
• aftershave;
• talc.

Before you start cleaning a leather product, you should pay attention to some nuances. When choosing a cleaning agent, the color and type of material must be taken into account. Before cleaning the bag with any chemical agent, It is recommended that you first apply it to a small inconspicuous area. If the skin on the treated area is not damaged by the cleaning agent, then you can start processing the entire bag.

Paint stains are one of the strongest and most unpleasant types of pollution. You can remove such pollution, but you will have to resort to aggressive products, such as kerosene or nail polish remover, which does not include acetone.The paint on the skin must be gently rubbed with a cotton swab dipped in them. After removal of contaminants, the treated area should be immediately cleaned with soapy water.

To remove greasy traces from a leather product, you can use dishwashing gel. A small amount of gel should be applied to the contaminated area for 30 minutes. To prevent the detergent from drying out, the treated area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin must be covered with cling film. After keeping the detergent on the contaminated areas for thirty minutes, it is necessary to remove the remaining gel from the surface of the product with a damp sponge.

Dirt on the skin can be washed off with aftershave lotion. This tool must be kept on the treated contaminated areas for twenty minutes. Then wipe the bag with a clean, damp cloth. It is undesirable to clean colored leather products in this way.

Solvents can damage the leather, but in certain cases, aggressive cleaners can be used to remove serious dirt. Stubborn stains from engine oil or other petroleum products are difficult to remove with conventional means. In this case, you can resort to cleaning with a synthetic solvent or gasoline. Remove stains very carefully, without rubbing the cleaner into the skin and without touching adjacent clean areas.. After cleaning, it is recommended to treat the bag with Vaseline.

Talcum powder or baby powder will help in the fight against greasy stains. Talc must be applied to contaminated areas and rubbed lightly. After the initial treatment, the product must be brushed off the surface of the bag and reapplied.After the second application, the talc must be kept on the contaminated areas for thirty minutes. The final stage of cleaning will be the treatment of the skin with soapy water.

White skin needs even more careful care than dark material. The slightest pollution is noticeable on white leather products much more than on dark ones. It is recommended to regularly clean the white bag of dust and fresh dirt to avoid the formation of stubborn stains. To do this, it is enough to regularly wipe the product with wet antibacterial wipes.

Light dirt on light skin can be dealt with with lemon juice. Lemon juice is applied to contaminated areas, after which it is recommended to polish the treated areas with a lemon peel. Lemon juice also helps to remove yellow spots from white skin.

A folk remedy made from milk and egg white will help clean the white bag. To prepare the mixture, you need to mix a glass of cow's milk with whipped protein. With a soft sponge or cloth, the solution is applied to light skin.

You can remove a greasy stain with a regular onion. Cut the onion in half and wipe the contaminated areas with the core. The disadvantage of this method will be the onion smell. You can get rid of it with a solution of a weak solution of vinegar essence and water.

Lipstick, mascara, or eyeliner stains can be removed with hydrogen peroxide. Weak pollution can be tried to erase with an eraser. The gum must be exclusively white. A gray or colored eraser can stain your bag.

Thick white leather can be cleaned with a solution of one tablespoon of fine salt and one tablespoon of 9% vinegar. It must be remembered that thin skin can deteriorate from this tool. Parts of the product that are most susceptible to heavy contamination are seams and handles. A handle darkened from dust and ingrained dirt can be effectively cleaned with cosmetics, namely:

• face tonic;
• foam or mousse to remove makeup;
• cosmetic milk for the face.

A black or dark brown bag is fairly easy to clean. An effective tool for cleaning dark material is coffee gruel. To make it, you need to mix natural ground coffee (one teaspoon) in a small amount of warm water until a thick mass is formed. Using a cotton swab, it is necessary to apply coffee grounds to the skin with light movements without pressure, and then remove the remaining gruel with a damp cloth.

After cleaning the coffee grounds, the leather bag should be allowed to dry. Finally, the leather can be treated with a water-repellent agent that is used to care for shoes.

When buying a bag in a bright shade, it is recommended to immediately purchase a special water-repellent agent of the appropriate tone for the care of colored skin.It is recommended to treat the bag regularly with such a spray.

Often resort to thorough cleaning of the surface of the product from various contaminants should not be, as this can damage the top layer and discoloration. You can clean the product from dust with a damp soft cloth or sponge.

You can get rid of more serious stains at home with soapy water. A colored bag can be cleaned of greasy stains with dishwashing gel.

The red bag is effectively cleaned of dirt with talcum powder. After processing contaminated areas, the surface of the bag must be rubbed with a special mixture. To make such a mixture, it is necessary to mix turpentine essential oil and beeswax in a ratio of 2 to 1. After treatment with this composition, the product should dry well.

In the event of unpleasant odors or heavy soiling inside the bag, it is necessary to resort to cleaning the lining. To wash the bag inside, it is recommended to pull out or turn the lining outward if possible. You can wash it with washing powder, dishwashing detergent or soap.

If normal washing does not help get rid of dirt, you should resort to other cleaning methods. You can make a paste with baking soda and water. Soda gruel must be applied to contaminated areas and left for a quarter of an hour. After that, the lining can be washed again in warm water.

Washing leather products in a typewriter or by hand is not recommended, as such material is sensitive to moisture. It is strictly forbidden to wash bags made of artificial or patent leather. Washing of products only from natural material is allowed.

You need to resort to this method of cleaning only in special cases. In order to protect your leather bag as much as possible from damage during washing, you should follow some rules for this cleaning method.

You can wash a leather bag in the machine as follows:

• The bag must be completely emptied, including the inside and outside pockets.
• If possible, remove all belts with metal parts and existing metal jewelry from the bag. Iron can damage leather during the washing process or damage the drum of a washing machine.
• Before washing, the bag must be placed in a special bag or at least wrapped in a pillowcase.
• Wash only on delicate mode. The water temperature should not exceed thirty degrees.
• After washing, the product must be completely dried naturally.

With proper care, genuine leather products are durable. Here are some useful Here are some tips to keep your leather bag looking its best for years to come:

• As you know, the skin is quite sensitive to moisture. Such material needs periodic treatment with water-repellent agents. For these purposes, you can purchase a colorless cream or spray for leather products. Before the next treatment of the surface of the bag with a water-repellent agent, it is necessary to remove the previously applied protective cream coating from the skin.
• To prevent drying of the leather and, as a result, the formation of cracks, it is recommended to periodically treat the product with emollients. Glycerin, petroleum jelly, or a regular colorless moisturizer for hands can be used as such products.
• If cracks, scratches or breaks appear on the skin, a skin cream of the appropriate color will help to hide such defects.
• To facilitate the care of a bag made of white leather, immediately after purchasing such an accessory, it is recommended to treat the surface with a hydrophobic impregnation. Impregnation forms a protective layer that will prevent the penetration of dirt particles into the skin.

• In order not to have to frequently wash the inner lining in the bag, you need to take preventive measures that will prevent the formation of unpleasant odors and fungus. To do this, put bags of herbs or coffee beans inside the bag.
• If the bag is made of dyed leather, it should be taken into account during storage and operation that such material does not tolerate long-term exposure to bright sunlight.
• It is undesirable to expose a patent leather bag to temperatures below 15 and above 25 degrees.
• Storage of a leather product should also be given special attention. The skin is sensitive to mechanical influences. To protect the product from cracks and scratches, it must be stored in a cardboard box or linen bag. For long-term storage, the bag must be filled with paper or crumpled newspaper, and the outside should be carefully treated with a colorless cream or gel for leather products.

How to care for a leather bag, see the following video.