Noemi said, “I have had a red patent leather GUESS satchel for 3 years; it doesn’t have any stains on the exterior, but the lining inside is stained with spilled power foundation, which makes the lining look muddy and really dirty. How can I clean the lining? Also, because I’ve had the purse for so long, the leather isn’t stiff anymore and for lack of better words, it slouches instead of standing straight up like when I purchased it. Does anyone have any advice on how I can clean the inner lining and what can I use to stiffen the leather again?”
Many women carry some kind of makeup product in their purse, even if it’s just lip balm. Stains in a purse lining can be difficult to treat if the purse can’t be washed. However, you can get the stains out without washing the outside of the purse. Use the information in the steps below to remove the stains.
Always test a cleaning solution on a small hidden area first to look for any adverse effects.
Removing the Stain
You Will Need:
- Rubbing alcohol
- Witch hazel
- Baking soda
- Dish liquid
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Mild laundry detergent
- Baby shampoo
- A cloth
- A cotton swab
- Makeup remover
- A towel
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- If the purse can be turned inside out and that would make the cleaning easier, do that.
- Get the cleaning product needed for your specific type of stain.
To Remove Lipstick: Rubbing (Isoprophyl) Alcohol or Witch Hazel
To remove Lip Balm or other Greasy products: baking soda¹ or dish liquid²
To Remove Mascara or Eye-liner: Dish liquid
To Remove Liquid Foundation: 3% hydrogen peroxide
To Remove Blush, Eye Shadow or Powdered Foundation (non-oil-based): Mild laundry detergent (liquid) WITHOUT bleach/bleach alternative, such as Woolite, or baby shampoo¹ - Apply the cleaning product to the stain.
To use baking soda: Pour a small pile of Arm & Hammer baking soda over the stain. Let the baking soda sit on the stain for about 20 minutes, then brush off the powder and repeat the process if necessary.¹
To use dish liquid or laundry detergent: Mix a small amount with some water, dampen a cloth with the soapy water, and use the cloth to blot the stain. Continue blotting until the stain is removed, rotating the cloth to a fresh area as the stain transfers to it.²
To use alcohol, witch hazel, or peroxide: Apply a small amount on a cotton swab and rub the stain away with that. - Sponge the area with water to rinse, blot the area with a towel to remove the water, then sponge the area with water again for a second rinse.
- Pat the fabric dry with a dry towel.
- If the purse is not inside-out for the cleaning, prop it open to let the remaining moisture air dry.
Additional Tips and Advice
- A dry cleaner may be able to remove the stain, or you may be able to use a home dry cleaning kit (found in the laundry aisle).
- Put a plastic sandwich bag inside the pocket of your purse where you keep your makeup to guard against any future spills.
- To prevent lipstick from melting in hot weather while in your purse, freeze a water-filled infant teething toy and put it in the purse pocket or makeup bag with your lipstick.³
- Clean the outside of your makeup products with a cloth and some rubbing alcohol before putting them back in your clean purse.⁴
Sources
- Joey Green’s Cleaning Magic by Joey Green
- Clean It Fast, Clean It Right by Jeff Bredenberg
- Handy Hosuehold Hints from Heloise by Heloise
- Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin
A pale pink polyester suit with a sculptured neckline has a slight stain of makeup at the inside edges. How can I remove the stain without wetting or dry cleaning it?
Eliza,
You can try using the baking soda method in Step 3; many types of makeup can be soaked up by the baking soda, including powders. Baking soda can sometimes be used to clean dirt off of unwashable items; for a suit or purse lining, it should work well. If simply sprinkling a generous amount of the baking soda onto the stain does not work, you can try laying a paper towel over the pile of baking soda on the stain and setting a book on top of the paper towel to press the powder more firmly into the stain.