How to clean a leather bag at home?

Among all the accessories that effectively decorate the female 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, requiring restoration of its original appearance. Fortunately for every fashionista, 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 should be regularly looked after. Ignore this advice is not worth it, but because the owners of such products It is reasonable to consider the following significant points:

• light bags need more frequent care than dark ones;
• products, the material of which is artificially aged leather, are characterized 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 washed under running water.

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

• glycerin, petroleum jelly or a hand cream are optimally suitable for softening the material of the product;
• before you start cleaning the problem area, it must be treated with a soap solution mixed with several drops of ammonia;
• To remove simple pollution helps makeup remover.

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

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

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

Like any other accessory used with enviable regularity, a leather bag gradually loses its former appearance. Due to carelessness, changes in temperature and humidity, as well as various kinds of mechanical influences, its surface loses its effective shine, gets dirty, becomes dull and starts to shine. In most situations, these symptoms can be eliminated using conventional improvised means, selected taking into account the color of the product and the characteristics of its material.

Light bag. Such accessories require more frequent care than their dark "colleagues", since any, even the most insignificant, pollution is clearly visible on their surface. To clean similar items, it makes sense to use the following tools:

• Soap solution in which a little hydrogen peroxide is added. After putting the surface in order, it is necessary to remove all residues of cleaning agent from it in order to avoid the appearance of stains. Using this method, you can wipe off pollution of medium complexity.
• Napkin pre-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 of thin leather. To prepare such a cocktail, you will need 1 protein, which you need to whip in 3 tablespoons of milk. This product is applied for 10 minutes, sufficient to dry it. The final step is to remove the mixture with a moistened cotton pad.

• Face tonic or makeup mousse. Using these tools, you can easily wash the handle and seams - the most easily soiled places of all light bags.
• Citric or acetic acid. A weak solution of any of these substances has an excellent clarifying effect, and therefore it is reasonable to use it to return a presentable appearance to an accessory.

Black bag. Due to their color, such accessories require relatively rare tidying, however, in any case, you should not refuse it. The dust on the surface of the black bag can be removed with a damp cloth, and from mud allows you to get rid of a solution prepared as follows:

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

Another effective remedy that can remove complex dirt and add shine to the surface of the black bag is wet coffee grounds. Wrapping it in a woolen or flannel rag, you need to rub the problem area of ​​the product well. You can get rid of the residues of the grounds by means of a napkin, having cleanly cleaned the cleaned surface with it.

Red bag. Putting in order colored leather bags has its own characteristics, and therefore rightly deserves a separate consideration. As an example, red products cleaning which involves the use of the following products:

• ordinary wet towel (suitable for dust removal);
• soap solution that can cope with more complex pollution;
• a water-repellent spray that has a suitable shade and is designed to care for accessories made of colored leather;
• dishwashing liquid, which allows you to clean the most problematic areas of dirt.

To avoid such troubles as changing the color of the product, before using the last remedy It is strongly recommended to test it on an inconspicuous surface area. If there are no changes, you can proceed to the full cleaning of the bag without the slightest fear.

The optimal solution to clean such a bag is to use any means for artificial leather 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 stuff paper tightly. As a rule, residual moisture completely evaporates during the day.

Special attention when cleaning a leatherette bag should be given to its wrong side: it should not get wet. To maintain the latter in good condition are 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 to combat complex pollution it is justified to use lemon or onion juice. The second tool is interesting in that it not only makes the lacquer surface clean, but also returns gloss to it. Its only minus is the characteristic onion smell, a solution of 9% vinegar allows you to get rid of it.

Other products that give the lacquer bag a spectacular shine are:

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

To remove impurities from the lining, which are not particularly difficult, you can use shampoo or liquid detergent diluted in warm water. 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.

Regarding the fight against heavy pollution, here can help:

• A mixture of baking soda with water. This slurry should be applied no more than half an hour.
• Spotting pencils.After cleaning the surface with their help, it remains to wipe it with a wet towel.
• An aqueous solution of detergent and ammonia.

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

Talking about removing stains from the surface of a leather bag, first of all, it is worth listing those funds 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 distributed over the stain and left for 30 minutes are enough to remove it in the vast majority of cases.
• Potato starch mixed with warm water. It is necessary to treat contamination with such a slurry for ¼ hours, after which the cleaned place is lubricated with castor oil.

No less effective are such means as citrus juice and aftershave. They cope well with spots, but are not suitable for all products made of colored leather, being able to discolor the paint. In order to avoid such a nuisance, it is advisable to test the selected product in an inconspicuous area of ​​the bag.

Refined gasoline is also noteworthy - an aggressive, but very effective tool that can solve the most complex problems. As an option, it can be used to really remove a greasy stain from engine oil or remove paint that has dried on the surface of a leather accessory. You can use gasoline either separately or by mixing it with baking soda, and after eliminating the pollution, the treated surface must be lubricated with petrolatum 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 as already listed above means (lemon or onion juice, a mixture of egg white with milk), and others, a 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 bags made of thin leather.
• Hydrogen peroxide. It copes well with pollution that does not differ in increased complexity.
• Napkins with antibacterial effect. This tool not only cleans the surface of a leather product, but also disinfects it.

A stationery eraser that can wipe away a lot of dirt is worth mentioning.

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

• resort to the use of aggressive cleaning agents should in the most extreme case;
• to avoid deformation of the surface of the accessory, do not use brushes with rough bristles;
• if during cleaning the skin is wet through, it must be dried without delay, avoiding prolonged contact with heating devices;
• To combat stains, you can not use large salt crystals that can damage the surface of the accessory;
• the use of coffee in the process of cleaning light skin must be discarded.

Following the tips listed in this material, you can not only get rid of pollution, 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 - gloss, shape and softness.

See how to properly care for your leather bag in the next video.