How to wash a leather bag (as well as leatherette, suede) at home: is it possible in an automatic washing machine, how to clean the lining?

An indispensable accessory in a woman's wardrobe is a handbag. Regardless of what material it is made of (leather, leatherette or suede), over time the bag loses its original appearance.

You can restore the purity and brightness of color to your favorite item by using the tips for proper washing.

We will tell you in the article how to wash a leather bag, suede, leatherette, or patent leather.

Is it possible in a washing machine?

If someone decides to wash their leather bag in a washing machine, then most likely such an experience will end in failure - their favorite item will be damaged.

Regardless of the price or color of the product, leather loses its elasticity and softness with prolonged contact with water. Machine washing will turn a leather bag into a shapeless bag, which will no longer be able to return to its original appearance.

When starting to wash a leather bag, it is a good idea to read and remember the following rules:

washing is carried out only using liquid detergents for delicate fabrics (dry powders injure natural leather, leatherette, suede);
the water temperature for washing cannot exceed 30C;
During the washing process, do not actively rub or twist the product.

How to clean at home?

Experienced housewives advise cleaning leather handbags only by hand, using the dry method or wet washing. Read more about how to care for bags here.

Wet hand wash

The wet cleaning method involves using an alcohol wipe or a wet sponge with soapy water.

Algorithm of actions:

The leather bag is laid out on a horizontal surface.
After moistening the napkin with alcohol, first of all, carefully wipe the lining. Alcohol removes any dirt or unpleasant odors from the lining fabric.
As an alternative, instead of an alcohol wipe, you can use a sponge with a soapy solution (dissolve a spoonful of liquid detergent in a glass of water).
The outer part is wiped with napkins soaked in ammonia or a sponge soaked in a solution of laundry soap and water (you need to take a spoonful of grated laundry soap per glass of water).

Dry cleaning

With minimal soiling, dry cleaning will help quickly return your favorite handbag to a presentable appearance. To do this, wipe the leather product with a dry soft cloth. A handbag made of velvety suede is treated with a special brush.

During the cleaning process, special attention is paid to the places where handles are attached, seams, and pockets (this is where the largest amount of dust and dirt accumulates).

Washing methods

Any bag, even with the most careful handling, will sooner or later show signs of dirt. Information on how to properly wash the bag is always contained on the label on the reverse side. In most cases, it is recommended to remove stains and dirt only by professional dry cleaning.

But since a good quality bag itself is not cheap, this cleaning method can hit your pocket hard. Therefore, it is worth trying to restore the bag’s attractive appearance at home, using proven methods and available means at hand. The main thing is to choose them correctly.

Features for leatherette handbags

Just like bags made of genuine leather, leatherette products cannot be washed in a washing machine, dried at high temperatures, or cleaned with aggressive chemicals.

You can quickly and easily clean an eco-leather handbag by following the following sequence of actions:

In a small amount of warm water (200-300 ml) dissolve a spoonful of a special detergent for washing woolen items (can be replaced with powder for delicate fabrics).
After moistening the sponge with soapy water, carefully wipe the bag, paying special attention to the seams, handle joints and pockets.
The final stage is surface treatment with a silicone-impregnated sponge. Such actions will not only restore the shine of leatherette and create an additional protective water-repellent film.

Alternatively, you can use a universal skin care product. It can be purchased at any shoe store.

Before purchasing, it is important to make sure that the cleaning product does not contain solvent or acetone.

Recommendations

It is important to carry out another procedure after the washed item is completely dry. You need to rub the inside of the thermal bag with a small amount of Vaseline.

You need to soak a cotton pad in it and walk around the entire perimeter of the bag. The treated item should be left to dry for a couple of hours. After this, the inside of the product is wiped with a dry cloth until any greasy marks are removed.

In order for the item to last longer, you should adhere to a number of restrictions:

Do not use aggressive agents when cleaning.
Do not treat them with bleaches or stain removers.
Old and fairly worn cooler bags should not be machine washed. It is not recommended to wash them by hand. It is enough just to gently wipe such things with soft sponges.
New cooler bags should not be washed either. It is recommended to dry clean them for the first time. Only after several uses is it allowed to wash the item by hand.

Suede

You can preserve the delicate velvety surface of suede only with proper care.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when cleaning your suede bag:

For suede products, only quick hand wash is allowed. Otherwise, when saturated with moisture, suede loses its softness and elasticity.
To wash suede products, only special shampoos or gels and liquid detergents for wool and delicate fabrics are used.
If the lining is dirty, wash it separately, first shaking off small debris. If the lining cannot be removed, the bag is turned inside out and the lining fabric is treated with a sponge soaked in a soapy solution.
The water temperature for washing suede products does not exceed 30C.

Washing suede handbags takes place in the following sequence:

add a properly selected detergent to a bowl of warm water and beat it until foamy;
Having laid out the handbag on a hard surface, wipe it with soft circular movements with a sponge soaked in soap suds;
after the bag is cleaned, it is additionally wiped with a clean, damp sponge or soft cloth;
if necessary, wash the lining of the bag in soapy water;
After washing, the bag is carefully blotted with a terry towel (you cannot wring out the suede) and laid out to dry in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and heating devices.

Suede is dried only at room temperature.
Ignoring this condition may result in damage to the product. Newspapers or papers filled with a still damp product will help speed up the drying process of a suede bag.

How to wash the lining?

Unlike a leather bag, the fabric lining is washable. And this needs to be done as often as possible. After all, stains from cosmetics, money, and dirty hands very quickly appear on fabric.

Algorithm of actions:

Before washing, turn the lining inside out. All pockets are checked for coins and other small items.
Warm water is poured into the basin, liquid detergent or gel for washing delicate fabrics is added.
Carefully, avoiding skin contact with the washing solution, wash the lining.
Afterwards, the lining is rinsed in clean water and sent inside out to dry.

If there are old, complex stains on the lining, they must be removed before washing:

lipstick stains can be removed with a sponge soaked in medical alcohol;
A sponge soaked in dishwashing liquid can remove stains from mascara, eyeliner, and blush;
Old grease stains from the lining fabric can be removed by treating with a paste of baking soda.

How to wash the lining of a bag, video instructions:

How to remove stains?

The choice of method for cleaning stains from leather and faux leather bags is influenced by the color of the product and the type of contamination.

Dark products

Black, brown, burgundy and dark blue handbags made of genuine leather and leatherette will remove stains with the following products:

A warm soap solution with the addition of soda will quickly remove greasy stains from the surface of dark bags.
The detergent is prepared at the rate of 250 ml of warm water, a tablespoon of grated laundry soap and the same amount of baking soda powder.
In order not to damage the smooth surface of the skin, the solution must be filtered before use (remove undissolved particles of soda and soap).
A napkin soaked in alcohol can quickly remove makeup stains on the dark surface of a bag.
Treatment with a solution of ammonia (the composition is prepared at the rate of four parts water and one part ammonia) will remove blood stains. The sooner you begin removing blood stains from the leather, the greater the chance of completely restoring the original appearance of the bag.

Light

You can remove stains from light leather or leatherette using the following tips:

Grease stains are removed with a cotton pad soaked in ammonia.
Lemon juice can help remove ink stains. Moisten a soft cloth with freshly squeezed juice and gently wipe the stain on the bag.
In order to remove a blood stain from a white bag, you need to moisten a cotton pad with hydrogen peroxide and gently wipe the stain. As an alternative, instead of ammonia, you can use a solution with Aspirin (one Aspirin tablet is dissolved in a glass of water).

Patent leather

An ordinary onion will help restore the purity and shine of a patent leather product.

The onion head is cut in half and the cut is wiped over the glossy surface of the bag. Afterwards, the skin is wiped with a clean damp cloth, and finally rubbed until shiny with a velvety napkin.

Methods for cleaning leather bags

It is allowed to use not only improvised means, but also any kind of professional ones.

Here are just some examples of what you might need:

Funds from the store.
Wet wipes, hand cream.
Cosmetic soap.
Other homemade gadgets.

Soap solution, detergent

Simplicity and efficiency are the main advantages that distinguish this method.

Light-colored bags should be cleaned more frequently than dark-colored ones.

Step-by-step instruction:

Using a grater, rub 10-15 grams of soap with shavings. You can take both household and cosmetic items.
The resulting material is filled with warm water; one glass is needed. After this, everything is thoroughly mixed. The result is a lump-free, gel-like mass.
A cotton swab is moistened with a soapy solution. It also wipes the surface of the bag. The main thing is that the hydration is not too strong. This only deteriorates the materials.
At the completion stage, additional treatment is carried out with castor and vaseline oils. They will make the surface shiny.

Hand cream

It is enough to follow two simple steps to get rid of all kinds of contaminants:

Remove dust and dirt from the surface as thoroughly as possible using a damp cloth.
The skin is treated with a colorless hand cream.

Natural leather is tolerant of moisture in small quantities. The material becomes more durable and more wearable.

The main thing is to carry out the treatment regularly. Oil helps too.

Store products

There are a large number of manufacturers of household chemicals on the market. You need to purchase bottles that initially state that they are intended for the skin.

Natural skin is tolerant of moisture in small quantities

It remains to use the product according to the instructions proposed by the manufacturer.

Products may have additional properties depending on the specific composition.

Among these properties:

Versatility of use.
Adding additional shine to the surface.
Rejuvenation. This type of washing is beneficial.

Here are just some of the options:

Hi-Gear.
Protector.
Leather Cleaner.
Acid Wipe.
Eco-lux.
Spew Remover.

Vinegar

Even this substance can become an indispensable assistant for those who are interested in cleaning.

Actions are performed in the following algorithm:

Vinegar is mixed with water in a ratio of 1 to 2.
You need to moisten a cotton pad in the previously prepared solution.
Stains on the leather surface are treated.
After drying, the remaining parts of the product are removed with a rag. All that remains is to lubricate the item using a moisturizer.

Starch

Removing stains
Starch is often used when it is necessary to remove splashes of grease that have landed on a leather accessory. It literally takes a minute.

Instructions:

The stain is generously covered with starch.
The substance is added as the old layers dry out.
The remaining product is wiped off with a soft cloth after the stains disappear. The fabric should be soaked in soapy water.
Wipe the bag dry.

Crushed chalk, talc or baby powder are acceptable analogues that can replace starch. The last option is relevant for bags with a light shade. The effect of the substance will be similar - the fat is simply absorbed from the surface of the bag.

It becomes effective when removing recent fresh stains. The sooner the owner starts cleaning, the better.

Petrol

Crushed chalk, talc or baby powder are acceptable analogues that can replace starch.
The above products do not help with particularly difficult stains. Then purified gasoline becomes an indispensable assistant.

Compared to acetone, the solvent is not as caustic. But the action still remains aggressive. Gasoline is only suitable for bags made using thick leather. It's good if it's artificial.

The first step is to apply solvent in small quantities to an inconspicuous area. This will allow you to check how the composition acts on the bag. Then you can continue working.

The work will have the following algorithm:

A lint-free cloth is lightly moistened with purified gasoline.
The dirt is wiped away until everything disappears.
The area is carefully cleaned with soapy water.
Wipe with a clean damp cloth. Then everything is wiped dry.

You can also use ammonia, but only for leatherette. Patent and natural leather do not survive the effects of gasoline.

How to dry after cleaning?

Simple tips for proper drying will help you maintain the shape and presentable appearance of a leather or leatherette bag after washing

bags are hung out to dry on a line or laid out on a horizontal surface;
drying can only take place in a well-ventilated place, away from sources of open fire and heating appliances;
drying in the open air takes place in a dark place, sheltered from direct sunlight;
when unfolding the bag to dry, be sure to pull out the lining;
Paper or newspaper stuffed inside a leather bag will help speed up the drying process.

Adviсe

It is strictly forbidden to clean a bag made of leather or leatherette with aggressive chemicals: acetone, gasoline, solvent. Ignoring this rule will lead to final damage to the product.
It is forbidden to clean leather products with hard brushes. Such cleaning leaves scratches on the glossy surface that are impossible to get rid of.
To clean suede bags, use only special velvety Velcro brushes.
Bags made of leather, leatherette or suede should not be completely immersed in water. When the product gets wet, it loses its shape, softness and presentable appearance.
After washing a leather product, faux leather must be treated with Vaseline or greasy hand cream, and then polished with a soft cloth.
Leather or suede handbags are strictly prohibited from being dried with a hairdryer. High temperatures are harmful to the skin (they make it hard and brittle).

Periodicity

How often you have to clean the bag largely depends on how often it is used, as well as on the color, type of material and in what weather conditions it was worn. Often, stains appear on the surface, which are subsequently covered with dust and are difficult to remove. To avoid this, the accessory requires daily care.

Unlike dark ones, bags in light shades require frequent care. Before use, the women's accessory should be treated with protective cream and wiped with a damp cloth after returning from the street. Products made of nubuck and suede should be wiped with a soft rubber brush and treated with steam from time to time, this will give freshness and improve their appearance. Regular care of the accessory will eliminate the need to wash it from serious, difficult to wash off contaminants.