Leather purses can be quite expensive. If you have owned one for a long time, then the leather may start to warp and crack over time.
You might wonder who in their right mind would purchase an old leather crossbody purse when there are so many new ones on the market today.
There are lots of reasons why someone may want an older purse. It could be a discontinued style or it could simply be that they love and appreciate quality and classic design.
Anyway, instead of just throwing out your old purse, why not learn how to make it look brand new again?
All you will need are some supplies and a little bit of time.
You can find the supplies in any craft store, but I got everything from Micheals because that's where I get most of my crafting stuff.
The Supplies you will need are:
- Scissors
- Old paintbrush
- Rubbing alcohol or clear nail polish remover
- A clean rag
- Leather cleaner/conditioner (I used Kiwi)
The Method
It's best to start with something small so I suggest cleaning the little leather pieces first. If your purse has a lot of metalwork on it, you will need to use something like a toothbrush and nail polish remover to get the dirt and grease off of it.
After you have all of your little pieces cleaned and looking new again, you can move onto the main body of your purse.
You will want to wipe down the leather with a clean rag using alcohol or clear nail polish remover. You want to make sure that the rag is not so wet it will warp your purse, but moist enough to get all of the dirt off of it.
Check: Leather Laptop Bag Black
Next, you want to take an old paintbrush with stiff bristles and apply a coat of leather cleaner. I suggest using the Kiwi brand because it smells good and leaves your purse looking clean. If you are using color, make sure to use something leather-safe.
After you have let the cleaner sit for a few minutes and it has dried, take your old paintbrush and apply some conditioner. You don't want to put too much on because again if your purse is colored, you don't want it looking like an oil slick.
After all the pieces are conditioned, it's time for some shoe polish (I used black). Just rub a little bit of it on with your fingers and then wipe off the excess with a clean rag. If you don't have any shoe polish on hand, an alternate is to use colored lip balm or Vaseline (be sure to test it on a small area first).
You will want to apply several coats of polish so that your purse regains its shiny, new look. For added protection against scuffs, you can put another coat of clear nail polish on the metal pieces.
If you are worried about spilled liquids staining your purse if it gets knocked over, you can get a leather spray protectant at pretty much any craft store.
You might want to wait for a day or two after you do the initial cleaning before you add this extra protection because it can make your purse look shiny and new again; over time, the shine will wear off and leave your purse looking like it did when you first bought it.
Now that all of the pieces are clean again, your purse will look brand new. Once you master this technique on small areas of your purse, you won't be afraid to work with the big pieces.
Now you have a whole new-looking purse! I hope that this article was helpful to you. If you find any other ways to clean your purses, don't forget to leave me a comment...
Buy: Designer Tote
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to clean your purse?
A: Your purse is like a little home for all of your valuable items and you will want to make sure that it's always in good condition; if not, some things might get ruined.
Why do I need to use nail polish remover on the metal parts of my purse?
A: Nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol is important to use on your metal parts because it gets rid of the grease that builds up over time.
How do I remove stains from my purse?
A: The best way to deal with this will be to try and clean the stain as soon as you notice it; if not, bleach might be your best bet. If this doesn't work, try rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to lighten the stain.
I noticed that my purse has a funny smell after I clean it; is there anything I can do?
A: To get rid of the smell, you will want to leave the cleaner on for a few minutes and then wipe it off. If that doesn't work, you can try using vanilla extract or essential oil to make your purse smell better.
Why should I use a paintbrush when applying the shoe polish?
A: A paintbrush with stiff bristles is best used for getting in all of the little nooks and crannies of your purse; it's also reusable.
Why can't I use regular shoe polish to clean my purse?
A: Regular shoe polish is meant for shoes, not purses; even if you find a color that matches your purse, it will leave your purse looking oily and dirty because of the ingredients in it.
