Leather purses can be elegant and fashionable, but over time their beauty can be dulled by dirt and grime. Regular cleaning of your leather purse will not only help keep it looking new, but will also extend the life of the leather. By following a few simple steps, your leather purse will look great and last a long time.
Cleaning a Lightly Soiled Leather Purse
ALWAYS check the tags on your leather purse for manufacturer’s tips and suggestions with regard to cleaning. If the manufacturer’s advice contradicts anything contained in this article, ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
What You Will Need:
- Soft cleaning cloth
- Mild liquid facial or body soap (such as Dove or Neutrogena)
- Distilled water*
- Bowl or small bucket
- Warm water
- Sponge or soft rag
- Dry towel
- Water-based leather protector/conditioner (found in most leather clothing or furniture stores)
*It is best to use distilled water because tap water may contain chlorine and other contaminants which can damage the surface of the leather.
The Cleaning Process:
- Empty all contents from your purse.
- Open your purse wide, unzipping all interior pockets and turn it upside down, shaking vigorously to dislodge all loose dirt and debris.
- Wipe out the interior of the purse with a soft cleaning cloth (dry).
- Mix a few drops of liquid soap with about two cups of distilled water, mixing until suds form.
- Dip your sponge or soft rag into the soapy water and wring out thoroughly, so that it is barely wet.
- Wipe the leather surface of the purse with the damp rag.
- Dry thoroughly with the towel, buffing as you go to restore luster.
- Buff the surface with the forth clean rag to restore luster.
- Treat surface with leather protector/conditioner as per product instructions.
Removing Stains from a Leather Purse
Remember to ALWAYS test a small, inconspicuous area of the purse first before using any of these methods.
Ink stains: Dip a cotton swab in rubbing (Isoprophl) alcohol and rub over the ink stain. Dry with a blow dryer set on its lowest setting.
Dark stains: (i.e. food, blood, etc.): Make a paste of one part cream of tartar to one part lemon juice. Rub paste on the stain and leave it on for 10 minutes. Remove the paste with a damp rag and moisturizing soap, as described above for general cleaning. Buff the leather dry with a soft cloth or towel.
Grease stains: Simply wipe stain from the leather using a dry cloth. Do not apply water to the grease stain.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Avoid placing your leather purse in direct sunlight as this will dry the leather and cause it to fade and/or crack.
- If you are using a sponge to clean your leather purse, opt for natural (non-colored) sponges. (the dye may rub off of colored sponges).
- Do not expose your leather purse to excess moisture or water as this may damage the leather.
- Avoid using any type of harsh cleaners or abrasive cleansers your leather purse as these will cause damage to the surface.
- NEVER use any kind of oils (such as mink oil), polish, or any product containing waxes or silicone (including many car care products) on your leather purse as it may damage the leather and leave it feeling sticky.
- Generally, it is not good to use saddle soap, varnish, or ammonia-based cleaners (i.e. Windex) or bleach on leather as they may be too harsh, causing serious damage or discoloration.
- Leather does occasionally need to be replenished and reconditioned. Although there are products on the market for this, you might try mixing 1 part distilled white vinegar with 2 parts linseed oil. Shake well and apply to leather in circular motion. Let sit for about 10 minutes, then buff with a soft cloth. A second buffing may be necessary.
- NEVER use baby wipes or any other alkaline cleaner on your leather purse as it may damage the finish.
- Remember, if you have any doubt as to the proper way to clean your leather purse, do not hesitate to bring it to a professional specializing in leather cleaning.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
To condition your leather you can also polish it with a light coat of vaseline, works especially great for shining shoes
I just tried removing a pen stain from a dark tan colored leather bag…the rubbing alcohol really worked. Do not panic (like I did) at the “wet mark” left…it did go away when the leather dried!
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is where it’s at! Just a little bit of water rubbed on to the stain with it and tada!
what if a cat pissed Inside the purse?
I have big leather bag and my jerk cat urinated inside of it. The liner is what smells most, but the pee soaked a little onto the bottom of the leather part. How can I clean this without damaging the purse?
grease stain
I got a grease stain on my purse can I use the magic eraser go get it out? or is there a better method than just rubbing it with a towel?
grease stain removal
To Robin with grease stained purse. Magic eraser is better used as a LAST resort, only because it can be the cause of future leather problems. The best method of removing grease from leather (or cloth) is to completely cover the spot with corn starch, patting it into the stain as you apply. For best results, try to remove grease from leather as soon as possible, the older the stain the longer the corn starch will have to remain on the spot for the grease to be absorbed. After a suitable amount of time on the grease stain (an hour, perhaps) remove corn starch completely (but gently), by using a soft brush. More than one application of starch is usually necessary, repeat above steps, if grease is not completely removed.
DO NOT USE ALCOHOL
i used the tip above for ink spots on leather purses, and it totally smeared the color of my leather- the ink is gone but the area where the ink was is all smudged. it was a $350 dooney and bourke. UGH!
Help!! how to clean white leather purse
I have a white leather purse, and with time the leather has started to turn gray. There are no stains, just smudges from daily wear. I’d like to be able to see the clean white leather again!