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!
Next to losing weight, getting organized is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions made by thousands (maybe even millions) of people each year. This is how I happened to find out about the Butler Bag a little more than a year ago, when I made it my goal to become more organized. Getting to whatever I need in my purse has been a snap ever since switching to a Butler Bag. Unfortunately this year, after packing on a few extra pounds I'm back to that first resolution.
Well for those of you who have made self organization your goal this year, you may want to check out the Butler Bag. There are two specials going on right now – the first one is buy one Butler Bag, get one Butler Bangle free! The Butler Bangle is a jewelry organizer that travels well, keeping your jewelry organized, protected from damage and tangle free. If you buy two Butler Bags, you can get either one Butler Bangle free, plus free shipping, or one Small Tote free, plus free shipping. Remember to specify the color you want in the Butler Bangle or Tote in the comments section of the order.
The other deal going on for the next 36 hours is buy two Butler Bags, get one free (of equal or lesser value), plus free shipping. A great way to get in on this deal is to go in with friends or co-workers and split the price – save money and get free shipping!
The Butler Bag Sample Sale site also has a few bags left too, if you feel like getting one for even less.
Compartmentalization is the key to an organized handbag. Unless you have a Butler Bag, you will have to compartmentalize your handbag in your own way, in order to effectively organize your purse. This method of organizing your handbag makes it very easy to get to whatever you need in a hurry, and it makes switching purses effortless!
Here are some quick and simple ways to keep your handbag organized and clutter-free:
- Use any pockets that are already included as part of the bag – most have at least one or two interior pockets, and one on the outside.
- Try to use an interior pocket for your cell phone, for easy access.
- Keep a wallet for your credit cards and identification – limit the amount of credit cards to one or two. Keep any gift cards there so you use them first.
- Use a small pouch for loose change, instead for fishing around for it and wasting time at the register. If there is an extra interior pocket you can use exclusively for change – that works great too.
- A small cosmetic bag should always be used for your lipstick or any make-up items that could open or leak, and potentially cause damage your purse or other items inside.
- Use an eyeglass case to protect your sunglasses or reading glasses from scratches.
- If your bag does not have many pockets, buy a few inexpensive zippered pouches to organize supplies you need. pouches work well. You can find these type of pouches everywhere in all types of sizes, colors and transparencies. Organize them according to category (makeup, medical, etc)
- Don’t carry more than you really need. Look at the stuff inside your handbag and think about when you used each item last. If there are items inside that you have rarely used, or never used, then you really don’t need them.
- Downsize items to fit in the zippered pouches. For example if you need pain-reliever or other medication, don’t pack the entire bottle. Put some into a small pill case – very inexpensive and found at most pharmacies.
- Use travel-sized items for things like tissues, contact lens drops, hair brush, etc.
- A poly-envelope (sold at any office supply store) can be a great way to temporarily store receipts or coupons, along with a pen.
- Arrange all of your zippered pouches/containers in a manner that fits well and works for you.
If this seems like too much work for you, there are a number of all-in-one organizers that you can purchase and insert into your handbag.
