EVELYSS / Guides / Accessories & Jewelry

How to Clean a Leather Handbag at Home (Inside, Outside, Ink and Colour Transfer)

“Leather forgives almost everything except panic. Most bags are ruined by the rescue, not the stain: too much water, too much scrubbing, something clever from the kitchen. A soft cloth and a light hand will do far more.”Her take

First, test what kind of leather you have

Before anything touches the outside, work out what you're dealing with. Put one small drop of water on a hidden area, such as the underside of a flap or the inside of a strap. If it sits on the surface or beads up, the leather is finished, and you can clean it gently with a damp cloth.

If the drop soaks in and leaves a dark mark, the leather is unfinished or very delicate, like nubuck or some vegetable-tanned leathers. Don't use water or soap on these, and keep to a soft, dry brush or a leather specialist. Suede has its own rules: a suede brush and an eraser. Check the care card if you kept it, especially for a piece you love.

How to clean the outside, step by step

This is the routine for most finished leather bags. Do it in daylight so you can see what's happening. Work on one panel at a time, and don't wet the bag more than you need to.

• Empty it fully, shake it out and brush away loose dust, especially along seams.
• Mix a few drops of mild, unscented liquid soap into a small bowl of lukewarm water.
• Dampen a soft microfibre cloth, wring it out until almost dry and test on a hidden area. Let it dry fully before you go further.
• Wipe gently with light, overlapping strokes, without scrubbing. Rinse and wring the cloth often.
• Go over it again with a clean, barely damp cloth, then pat dry with a soft towel.
• Leave it to air dry at room temperature, away from radiators and direct sunlight.
• Once fully dry, buff a very small amount of leather conditioner into the bag with a soft cloth, testing first.

How to clean the inside

Pull the lining out as far as it will go without forcing it, and shake the bag over a bin. A lint roller or the small brush on a vacuum will pick up crumbs from seams and corners. For a fabric lining, use a slightly soapy, wrung-out cloth, then wipe again with a clean, damp one, and leave the bag open to dry fully before you use it. A leather or suede lining needs the same care as the outside, so test it first.

To freshen a stale smell, put a small open bag of bicarbonate of soda inside the closed handbag for a day or two, taking care that it doesn't spill on the leather. Leaking make-up should be removed as soon as possible. Keep cosmetics and pens in a small washable pouch, and this job gets much easier.

Dealing with marks: jeans dye, ink, grease and rain

Pale bags often pick up blue from jeans. Clean it early with the method above, as it's much harder once it has settled. A specialist leather cleaner may help, but test it first, because some products lift the colour as well. For the future, carry pale bags on the side away from new, dark denim.

For grease, blot it straight away with a dry cloth, don't rub it in and don't add water. Then test cornflour or talc on a hidden spot, because it can leave pale patches on some leathers. If the test is clean, cover the mark with a thick layer, leave it overnight, brush it off gently and repeat if needed. For ink, don't use hairspray or alcohol, which can spread the mark or strip the finish. Take ink stains and anything valuable to a leather specialist. If your bag gets soaked in the rain, blot it with a dry towel, stuff it lightly with clean paper, and let it dry slowly at room temperature.

Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and other things not to use

The internet loves a kitchen remedy, but leather rarely does. Vinegar and lemon juice are acidic, and they can dry out a finish or mark the colour. Bicarbonate of soda, also sold as baking soda, is abrasive when it's rubbed, and it can leave a dull patch. Baby wipes, household sprays and anything with alcohol or bleach can also strip the surface.

Keep away from hair dryers and radiators, because heat makes leather stiff and can cause it to crack. Skip furniture polish and heavy oil too, since both can darken a bag and leave it sticky. Patent leather only needs a soft damp cloth and a dry buff. If in doubt, a leather-care specialist can usually tell you more than a bottle will.

How often to clean it, and how to store it

An everyday bag does well with a quick dry wipe every week or so and a gentle clean every few months. Condition it only when the leather looks or feels dry, as too much product can leave it tacky or attract dirt. Empty it regularly as well, because a heavy load will pull the shape out of the straps.

When it's not in use, stuff the bag lightly with clean tissue paper to hold its shape, then keep it in a breathable cotton dust bag somewhere dry, out of direct light. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture, and keep an eye on damp cupboards in winter. Don't hang it by its handles. Store it upright on a shelf so they don't stretch.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Test first, wipe with almost no water, let it dry slowly and condition sparingly. If in doubt, leave the kitchen cupboard out of it.

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