How to Clean and Care for a Handbag

Knowing how to clean a handbag is mostly knowing what not to do. Go gently, use less water than you think, and match the method to the material, and your favourite bag will look good for years rather than months.

Before You Start: How to Clean a Handbag Safely

Start by emptying everything out, including the receipts you swore you had thrown away. Turn the bag upside down over the bin and give it a gentle shake to free the crumbs, hairgrips and the odd mint.

Then check what it is made of. The product description and the label inside usually tell you. A structured leather-look tote needs different care from a woven straw-look shoulder bag, and a glossy croc-effect shoulder bag different again.

Finally, test any cleaner on a small, out-of-sight spot first, such as the underside of a strap or the base. Wait until it dries. If the colour or finish has changed, stop there. The full range of bags covers most of the finishes below.

Bags to start with

A few pieces that fit what you have just read.

Structured Leather-Look Tote with Shoulder StrapGlossy Croc-Effect Shoulder Bag with Zip TopWoven Straw-Look Shoulder Bag with Striped Strap

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How to Clean a Handbag by Material

How to clean a faux leather bag

Mix a drop of mild washing-up liquid into a bowl of warm water. Dip a soft microfibre cloth, wring it out until it is barely damp, and wipe the bag in small sections. Follow with a second cloth dampened in clean water, then dry with a soft towel. Avoid alcohol, nail polish remover and baby wipes with harsh additives, which can dull or crack the coating over time.

That soft cloth and bowl of soapy water will see you through most smooth bags. The secret is the wringing: a dripping cloth leaves water marks and can soak into seams.

Leather

Dust it with a dry cloth, then use a cleaner made for leather, following the instructions on the bottle. Leather likes a little conditioner a few times a year, which keeps it supple and less likely to crack. Never soak it, and always let it dry naturally, well away from radiators and sunny windowsills.

Suede and suede-look

Water is not your friend here. Use a soft suede brush, always in the same direction, to lift dust and revive the nap, and a suede eraser for small marks. Our guide to cleaning suede boots and shoes uses the same methods and goes into stubborn stains.

How to clean a straw bag

Brush off sand and dust with a soft, dry brush, working along the weave. For marks, use a cloth that is only just damp and dab rather than rub. Stuff the bag with tissue while it dries so it keeps its shape, and never leave it in a hot car, which can make the fibres brittle.

Fabric and corduroy

Spot clean with a little mild soap on a damp cloth, dabbing from the outside of the mark towards the centre so it does not spread. On a corduroy tote bag with zip pockets, brush along the ridges once dry to lift the pile back up.

Glossy and patent finishes

Wipe with a barely damp cloth, then buff with a dry one for shine. Store glossy bags apart from others, as the finish can pick up colour from neighbouring bags.

The Inside: Linings, Crumbs and Pen Marks

The inside is where most bags quietly fall apart, so cleaning a handbag lining is worth ten minutes of your time. Pull the lining out as far as it will go, use a lint roller or sticky tape to lift fluff and crumbs, and run a vacuum with a brush attachment along the seams.

Then wipe the lining with a cloth dampened in mild soapy water and leave the bag open to dry. For make-up marks, a dab of washing-up liquid usually lifts them. Ink on a lining is stubborn; dab, never rub, and accept that a faint shadow may remain.

Prevention is easier. Keep make-up, pens and anything that might leak in a zipped pouch, and your lining will thank you. A crossbody phone strap with a zipped pouch also takes your phone out of the bag entirely, which saves a lot of rummaging.

How to Store a Handbag So It Keeps Its Shape

Most handbags lose their good looks in the wardrobe rather than on the shoulder. A few habits keep them in shape:

• Stuff the bag with acid-free tissue paper or a small, clean towel so it holds its shape. Avoid newspaper, which can transfer ink.
• Store it upright, in a cotton dust bag or an old pillowcase. Plastic traps moisture and can encourage mould.
• Do not hang bags by their straps for weeks on end, as handles stretch and crease.
• Wrap chains and metal hardware in tissue so they do not scratch the bag or its neighbours.
• Keep bags away from direct sunlight, which fades colour faster than you might expect.

If you put a bag away at the end of a season, clean it first. Marks set over time, and a crumb left in May is a much bigger problem by October. The same goes for clothes, and our guide to storing winter clothes covers the rest of the wardrobe. While you are tidying, the accessories deserve a quick look too.

Next, from our accessories

Something from a neighbouring rail, for the same moment.

Crossbody Phone Strap with Zipped PouchKnitted Scarf Shrug with SleevesFluffy Fur-Effect Winter Hat with Rolled Brim

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