How to Care for Your Bag?

12 Tips for The Proper Care and Treating of Your Handbag Collection

True handbag aficionados are concerned with the proper care of their arm candy.

Articles on good grooming remind us to care for our bodies and clothes, but often neglect the handbag as an important image element for stylish women.

Has your favorite purse lost its style swagger? Want to keep your bags in pristine condition? 

From spots and stains to dust and grime, here are 12 ways to care for your handbag, extend its value and maintain its’ eye appeal.

1) Zippers - Keep your bag zippers zipping.  Rub natural beeswax along the teeth of the zipper to maintain your fasteners’ grip.

2) Leather - Moisturize your leather.  Use a leather conditioning cream to stop cracks along the base of your bag and extend the look of your purse’s handle.

3) No Bag Stuffing - Carry necessities only. Leave the heavy loads to tractor trailers and U-haul. Your bag and its handles can be stretched beyond repair when you overload it with too many items.  Overstuffing can weaken bag stitching as well.

4) Weather Protection - Rain guard not needed.  Skip the silicone spray for weather protection. If you’re caught in the rain, dab the splashes. Don’t wipe the moisture away.

5) Suede - Suede is notoriously difficult to clean, so handle it with care.  Wrap handles in cotton strips to keep leather handles away from the supple material. Never use a treatment on suede bags. A stiff suede brush can repair gentle scuffs, but leave the serious stains to professionals.

6) Beware of Beauty Products - Handbags and beauty products don’t mix. Cosmetics, perfume and lotions can cause bag discoloration.  Products that beautify your face and body can seep into the skins of your bag and age materials.

7) Dust Bags Needed - A designer handbag is sold with a dust bag to protect your investment from dust, dirt and debris.  Don’t have a fancy-flannel-drawstring-pouch to store your purse? A cotton pillowcase works just as well.

8) Patent Leather - Patent leather can be cleaned with a small dot of vinegar applied with a soft fabric. Isolate patent leather bags from dark colored bags to prevent discoloration.

9) Gimme a Bag Break.  The everyday handbag is an oxymoron.  Just like shoes, bags need a chance to breathe. Don’t carry the same bag everyday. Select three bags for work and switch between the three weekly. Your bags will last longer whether you paid 20 dollars or 3,000 dollars.

10) Fabric Bags Need Love Too.  Fabric bags attract dust more than any other material.  Rub them down with a cotton cloth and lint roller before storage. Refrain from using fabric pens and cotton stain sprays for blemish removal. Serious stains require the work of a professional.

11) Proper Bag Storage Techniques.  Retain the shape of your bag with acid free-tissue paper or bubble wrap.  Keep bags upright in your closet on a shelf. Don’t pile bags on top of each other in the bottom of your closet. Never use newspaper or colored tissue because the paper can discolor the inside of the handbag.  

12) Small Bags – Wrap small bags in tissue paper and place in paper boxes for storage. Chain handles should be tucked in bags to prevent creases and broken links. Bags with beads, sequins, swarovski crystals and jeweled ornamentation should be stored separately.

Quite frankly all women want to extend the life of their favorite bags.  Worse than severely scuffed shoes or run down heels, a poorly maintained bag is never in style.  If clothes make the man, immaculate handbags make the woman.

Mechele Pellebon reports on fashionable finds, designer bag trends and deals for the modern wardrobe. Follow Mechele on Twitter and join her network of friends on Myspace and Facebook.

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