Do You Know How to Clean Leather Purse the Right Way?
Leather is one of the most versatile and sought-after materials in the entire world. When you spend your hard-earned money on something of this caliber, you want it to last as long as possible. Of course, that means regularly cleaning the purse and practicing quality leather care habits.
Cleaning a leather purse is much easier than most people imagine, yet most people don’t understand how to clean leather purse properly. Don’t worry, it doesn’t require any special tools and can be completed with items you likely already have inside your home.
Step-by-Step: How to Clean Leather Purse
All leather items are subject to normal wear and tear from daily use or exposure. Over time, the leather develops a soft sheen to it that can’t be matched anywhere else. This is called the patina and it’s what gives leather its charm, but it doesn’t mean leather shouldn’t be cleaned regularly.
The good news is you don’t need much to get the job done. All you’ll need is a microfiber cloth, warm water, dish soap, saddle soap, and your favorite leather conditioner to protect it long-term. Of course, maintaining your leather in-between your regular cleaning is essential as well.
Let’s take a step-by-step look at what it takes to clean a leather purse the right way:
1. Mix Together Your Cleaning Solution
When your hands get dirty from working all day, you wash them with warm water and soap. Well, the same holds true with leather. Keep in mind, quality leather comes from the hide of real animals. It’s best to treat your leather items much like you would your own skin.
To create your cleaning solution, all you need is a bowl of warm water and a dab of mild hand or dish soap. Combine the two, mix them together, and then you’re good to go! You can also use saddle soap, but be careful because it’s a bit aggressive. It’s best to save this for fresh stains.
2. Gently Wipe the Leather Purse With Damp Cloth
Once you have your cleaning solution ready, take a dry microfiber cloth and wipe any surface dust off the purse. Then, dip your microfiber cloth into the solution and gently wipe the leather purse to remove any excess dirt, dust, and bacteria.
When wiping the purse with a damp cloth, you should always wipe in the direction of the leather’s grain. Do this to the whole leather handbag, but pay a majority of your attention on the areas of the purse that get touched the most.
You should also be mindful of any non-leather areas on your purse, such as the metal hardware.
3. Enhance Protection With Leather Conditioner
Once cleaned, it’s time to condition your leather purse to ensure it maintains its integrity over time. A quality leather conditioner -- like the one found at Burkley Case -- works wonders for your purse and sets it up for long-term success.
In order to apply the leather conditioner, you should put a dab of it on a dry microfiber cloth. In a clockwise motion, gently rub the leather conditioner onto the bag. It should disappear as you rub it in, much like waxing a car.
This is essential to your leather’s health because it gives your purse the nutrients and nourishing components needed to survive.
4. Let the Leather Purse Dry Naturally
Now that you have a cleaned and conditioned leather handbag, you need to let it dry before using it. Failing to do so results in You should start by taking a dry cloth and gently buffing the leather purse. This helps give your purse a last-minute touch-up with any conditioner on the surface.
You’ll want to let it sit in a natural state for several hours to a full day. Keep it in an area with quality airflow, that way your leather can properly breathe -- just like your skin! Once fully dry, you can start using your beautiful leather purse again!
Maintaining a Leather Purse Over Time
Although cleaning a leather handbag isn’t difficult, it does take some practice when mastering it. Of course, the best defense is limiting the amount of dirt, dust, and debris your purse comes in contact with throughout the day.
At Burkley Case, we’re experts at cleaning and maintaining leather as long as possible. To ensure your leather receives similar love and care, we’re going to detail some of our most prominent tips when maintaining your leather.
- To avoid unwanted stains, you should limit the amount of contact the leather has with magazines, colored items, and anything else that uses dye or ink.
- Your leather purse won’t do so well in heat, humidity, or in areas with excess moisture.
- Sunlight exposure isn’t a bad thing, but continued sunlight exposure can dry your leather out quickly and cause it to lose color.
- Scratches are avoided by limiting the amount of times your leather comes in contact with rough or sharp surfaces.
- Avoid spraying your leather purse with cologne, perfume, or getting lotion on it.
- When storing your leather purse, keep it in an area with a lot of airflow. Let that leather breathe!
- Handle your leather purse with care! Treat it like you would your own skin. The more you care for it, the less opportunity it has to age.
The days of watching your leather go from beautiful to dull in a matter of weeks or months are over. With tender love and care, your leather can last you much longer than you’d ever expect.
At Burkley Case, we take leather seriously -- it’s our passion! We offer a wide range of quality leather purses, leather handbags, and other types of leather bags at an affordable price. When you shop Burkley Case, you’re shopping for some of the best leather on the internet.
If you’re looking for a quality leather bag to replace your old one, we’ve got you covered. We only use full-grain leather, ensuring our customers are met with the best-quality leather in the world. Contact us today to learn more about our wonderful process!