Vera Bradley bags come in a variety of materials, my favorite being the 100% cotton collection of handbags, duffel bags, wallets and other accessories. I have several different patterns, but Java Blue is my favorite because the brown/blue combination goes so well with everything.

Using my favorite purse (the Villager) day after day, it starts to get dingy on the straps and at one of the top corners that I tend to grab it by first. So I will occasionally switch it out for another Vera bag when it comes time to put it in the wash.

Vera bags come with a tag on the inside, much like clothing, that includes cleaning instructions. It is the 100% cotton quilted fabric that I am talking about cleaning in this post and not the microfiber or any other material.

First thing to do is to empty the bag of course, making sure that any zippered compartments or deep interior pockets are completely empty. Next, remove the stiff piece of cardboard inside the bottom lining – this is easy to do, because the ends are not sewn and the cardboard should slide out easily.

If you have not already turned the bag inside-out when removing the cardboard, you should in order to brush or shake out any crumbs, lint, etc. Then go ahead and turn it back right-side out, zipping up main compartment and outside zipper.

Wash the bag in your washing machine using a mild detergent on gentle cycle and only cold water. I use one made specifically for cold water washes and generally I do nothing extra for the dingy areas because they have always washed out fine. If it did not come clean, or if there was a stain that I felt would not come out in the regular wash, then I would probably just pre-treat it with a little of the detergent directly on the area before washing. I also add a ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle, which acts as a fabric softener and helps to keep the bright colors looking their best.

Never put the purse in the dryer! The best way to dry a Vera Bradley handbag is to re-shape the bag (if necessary) and hang it over a clothes hanger out of direct sunlight. Once it is completely dry, you can then replace the cardboard bottom.