How to Clean a Vera Bradley Fabric Purse

baglady — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:56:15 +0000

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.

Ways to Clean Your Leather Purse

baglady — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:14:21 +0000

A leather purse will last for years and years, as long as you take care of it and show it some love from time to time. If you invested your life savings into an extremely expensive bag however, you should have it professionally cleaned. I have never owned such an extravagant handbag, so I have always cleaned mine at home. Note – never attempt to clean suede yourself – that would end in disaster!

For a basic purse cleaning, start by emptying it out and then turn it over a trash can and shake out of all the loose crumbs, lint, etc. It is always good to do this part at least once a month, so you can get rid of trash and organize your handbag again. If there is any remaining debris inside, I like to swipe the inside with a lint roller, or take one of the sticky sheets off the roller and dab at the remaining specks (if it is a smaller bag).

For the outside, mix distilled water with a very small amount of liquid soap, only enough to make suds when mixed (it really does not take much). Then dip a soft (lint free) cloth or natural sponge (no dye) into the water and wring it until just damp. Wipe down the leather with the cloth and follow up by immediately drying the leather with another

clean, dry cloth. Just gently rub in a circular motion.

There are commercial products available and I have used one called Lexol. My daughter had it for cleaning her riding saddle, so I tried it on an old leather purse and it came out just fine. They make the leather cleaner in several different forms – I find the wipes very convenient.

A good way to extend the life of the purse is to use a leather protector when you first get it and after cleaning and conditioning. They come in different forms (sprays, creams) and formulas for different types of suede and leather.

I will repeat this though – if you have a very expensive handbag (or one made of suede), you should have it cleaned by a pro – definitely not worth taking the risk, since you’ve already spent big bucks!

Organized Handbags » Handbag Care

How to Clean a Vera Bradley Fabric Purse

Ways to Clean Your Leather Purse