How to clean a leather bag at home?

Among all the accessories that effectively decorate a woman's image, a leather bag has always occupied one of the most prominent places. This product is not only stylish, but also very practical, however, and it gets dirty over time, in need of restoration to its original appearance. Fortunately for every woman of fashion, solving this problem is not so difficult: it is enough to know how to clean a leather bag at home, which will be discussed later.

To begin with, it should be noted that any leather bag needs to be regularly looked after. You should not ignore this advice, and therefore the owners of such products it is reasonable to consider the following significant points:

• light-colored bags need more frequent care than dark ones;
• products, the material of which is artificially aged leather, are distinguished by increased resistance to wear;
• accessories decorated with suede inserts or lacquered should be cleaned with the utmost care;
• bags made of embossed leather must not be rinsed under running water.

There are a few more general recommendations that can bring a lot of benefits to the owners of leather bags. Here they are:

• to soften the material of the product, glycerin, petroleum jelly or hand cream are optimal;
• before you start cleaning the problem area, it must be treated with a soapy solution mixed with a few drops of ammonia;
• Make-up remover helps to remove light dirt.

Taking into account the experience of many women of fashion, it can be stated that this cleaning method is extremely risky. Practice shows that most leather products do not tolerate such washing, even in those cases when its delicate mode is selected. As for accessories made of leatherette and lacquer bags, then it is impossible in principle to rid them of dirt in the washing machine.

In order to wash a genuine leather product in an automatic machine, you must adhere to the following sequence of actions:

• completely empty the bag;
• if possible, disconnect from the accessory all parts, the material of which is metal, in order to avoid damaging the skin and drum with them;
• pack the bag in a laundry bag or unnecessary pillowcase;
• select a delicate mode of operation of the device at a temperature of 30 ° C.

Like any other accessory used with enviable regularity, the leather bag is gradually losing its former appearance. Due to negligence, changes in temperature and humidity, as well as various kinds of mechanical influences, its surface loses its spectacular shine, gets dirty, becomes dimmer and begins to shine. In most situations, such symptoms can be eliminated with the help of ordinary improvised means, selected taking into account the color of the product and the characteristics of its material.

Light bag. Such accessories require more frequent maintenance than their dark counterparts, since any, even the most insignificant, dirt is clearly visible on their surface. To clean such items, it makes sense to use the following tools:

• A soapy solution to which a little hydrogen peroxide has been added. After putting the surface in order, remove all residues of the cleaning agent from it in order to avoid the appearance of streaks. Using this method, you can wipe off dirt of an average level of complexity.
• A napkin previously soaked in warm water. This method is suitable for simple tasks such as dust removal.
• Egg white with milk. The use of this mixture is especially justified in situations where it is necessary to clean a bag made of thin leather. To prepare such a cocktail, you will need 1 protein, which must be whipped in 3 tablespoons of milk. This product is applied for 10 minutes, sufficient for it to dry. The final step is to remove the mixture with a moistened cotton pad.

• Facial toner or make-up removal mousse. Using these tools, you can easily wash the handle and seams - the most easily soiled places in all light-colored bags.
• Citric or acetic acid. A weak solution of any of these substances has an excellent brightening effect, and therefore it is reasonable to use it to return an accessory to a presentable appearance.

Black bag. Due to their color, such accessories require relatively rare tidying up, however, they should not be abandoned in any case. Dust on the surface of the black bag can be removed with a damp cloth, and a solution prepared as follows:

• a small amount of ammonia and a tablespoon of grated laundry soap must be poured with 200-250 ml of warm water, and then - mix everything well;
• after applying the solution to the problem area of ​​the surface, it must be rubbed thoroughly, but without excessive effort;
• the third stage of the procedure - removing the remains of the cleaning composition and wiping the bag;
• after getting rid of dirt, it is advisable to treat the accessory with a cream of moderate fat content.

Wet coffee grounds are another effective remedy that can remove tough stains and give a shine to the surface of a black bag. Having wrapped it in a woolen or flannel rag, you need to rub well the problem area of ​​the product. You can get rid of the remnants of the grounds with a napkin, having cleaned the cleaned surface with it.

Red bag. Tidying up colored leather bags has its own characteristics, and therefore deserves a separate consideration. An example is red products, cleaning which involves the use of the following products:

• regular wet wipe (suitable for removing dust);
• a soap solution that can handle more difficult stains;
• a water-repellent spray of a suitable shade for the care of colored leather accessories;
• dishwashing liquid that allows you to clean the most problematic areas of dirt.

To avoid the nuisance of changing the shade of the product before using the last resort it is highly recommended to test it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the surface. If there are no changes, you can start a full cleaning of the bag without the slightest fear.

The optimal solution for cleaning such a bag is to use any artificial leather products that have a neutral reaction. After removing dirt from the surface of the accessory, it must be thoroughly wiped with a napkin and allowed to dry completely, not forgetting to fill it with paper more tightly. As a rule, the remaining moisture completely evaporates within 24 hours.

When cleaning a leatherette bag, special attention should be paid to its seamy side: it should not get wet. To maintain the latter in proper condition, it is best suited antibacterial wipes, eliminating simple pollution and not allowing artificial material to "suffocate".

Regular cleaning of such bags is carried out using wet wipes, and it is justified to use lemon or onion juice to deal with difficult dirt. The second tool is interesting in that it not only makes the varnish surface clean, but also returns its glossy shine. Its only drawback is the characteristic onion smell, which can be eliminated by a solution of 9% vinegar.

Other means that give the lacquer bag an effective shine are:

• Castor oil;
• a mixture of milk with whipped protein.

You can use a shampoo or liquid detergent diluted in warm water to remove less difficult stains from the lining. Putting the inside of the product in order, it is advisable to ensure that moisture does not get on its leather surfaces. In addition, the lining can be cleaned with antibacterial wipes or alcohol.

When it comes to tackling heavy pollution, the following can help:

• Mix baking soda with water. This gruel should be applied for no more than half an hour.
• Spotting pencils.After cleaning the surface with their help, it remains to wipe it with a wet cloth.
• Aqueous solution of detergent and ammonia.

Another solution to return the lining of the bag to its former purity is to use an acid - boric acid or acetylsalicylic acid.

Talking about removing stains from the surface of a leather bag, first of all, it is worth listing those tools that are universal:

• Talc. A few pinches of the substance should be applied to the contaminated area and rubbed lightly, and then removed and poured again, leaving for half an hour.
• Dishwashing liquid. A few drops, spread over the stain and left on for 30 minutes, are enough to remove it in the vast majority of cases.
• Potato starch mixed with warm water. It is necessary to process contamination with such gruel ¼ hour, after which the cleaned area is smeared with castor oil.

Products such as citrus juice and aftershave are equally effective. They do well on stains, but are not suitable for all colored leather products, as they tend to discolor the paint. In order to avoid such a nuisance, it is advisable to test the selected tool on an inconspicuous area of ​​the bag.

Also worthy of attention is refined gasoline - an aggressive, but very effective tool that can solve the most difficult problems. Alternatively, with its help, it is possible to really remove a greasy stain from machine oil or remove paint that has dried on the surface of a leather accessory. Gasoline can be used either separately or by mixing it with baking soda, and after removing contamination, the treated surface must be lubricated with petroleum jelly or glycerin.

Snow-white accessories are the most easily soiled, and therefore they have to be cleaned most often. To solve this problem, it makes sense to use both the means already listed above (lemon or onion juice, a mixture of egg white with milk), and others, the list of which is presented below:

• A mixture of 1 tablespoon of finely ground salt and the same amount of vinegar. It is advisable not to use this combination for cleaning thin leather bags.
• Hydrogen peroxide. It copes well with dirt that is not distinguished by increased complexity.
• Antibacterial wipes. This tool not only cleans the surface of the leather product, but also disinfects it.

The stationery eraser also deserves a mention, as it can wipe off a lot of dirt.

Taking into account the fact that leather bags do not tolerate abuse, it remains to list a few good ones in the end. recommendations for putting such products in order:

• resort to the use of aggressive cleaning agents should be used as a last resort;
• to avoid deformation of the accessory surface, do not use brushes with coarse bristles;
• if during cleaning the skin gets wet through, it must be dried immediately, avoiding prolonged contact with heating devices;
• to fight stains, do not use large salt crystals that can damage the surface of the accessory;
• it is necessary to refuse the use of coffee in the process of cleaning light skin.

Following the tips listed in this material, you can not only get rid of dirt, but also significantly extend the life of your favorite leather accessory. Thanks to this, the bag will be perfectly clean without losing its other significant qualities - shine, shape and softness.

For information on how to properly care for a leather bag, see the next video.