Storing Your Designer Bag
- The handbags you use regularly need to be easily accessible, so store them on the top or side shelf in your closet, standing upright in a line. You can organize them by size, type or color. Place your bags on wardrobe shelves rather than on the floor, unless you are storing them in boxes.
- You should keep your bags in their original dustbags, cotton pillow cases or cloth storage bags. Do not put them in enclosed plastic dry cleaning bags, or boxes without air flow – they must be able to breathe.
- You can also store handbags in plastic boxes or wicker storage baskets which allow air to circulate in the same way as a shoe box. This protects them from the elements, stops them being damaged, lets them breathe, and makes them easy to store/stack. Make sure the boxes are big enough so that you are not folding over the bag handles.
- If storing bags together make sure you cover any brass or mental chains, rings, studs and so on to stop them marking other bags. You can do this with a piece of tissue or cloth. Tuck chain handles inside the bag. This prevents the chain from scratching or marking the outside leather. Undo metal fastenings and buckles on straps so that they do not leave an impression.
- To keep bags in proper shape you can stuff them with tissue paper or any alternative acid-free filling, but do not use old newspapers. Bubble wrap is better than tissue paper for padding out or wrapping bags as it doesn’t attract moths in the same way as tissue paper.
Caring for Your Bags
- Take preventive measures-- before carrying the bag, spray it lightly with a fabric or leather protector. Applying a thin coat will make sure that spills will wipe clean and using leather protector will ensure that the leather will stay in great shape. This is most important if your bag is cloth fabric. If you're thinking about purchasing a designer purse, dark colors or prints usually work best for maintenance since they can disguise some imperfections that occur from natural wear and tear.
- Be careful of what you carry in your bag. Items such as lotions & polishes may be great for last minute fix-ups & touch-ups, but they can also cause permanent damage to the interior of your beloved bag. Before putting anything in your bag, consider what would happen if the item were to spill or burst. Would it leave a stain or mess up the signature interior of the bag?
- If you are going to store bags for a long time then give them a thorough clean. Check and ensure that you have completely emptied your bag, and if necessary, do a spot of vacuuming to be doubly sure. Wipe the outside of your bag all over with a barely damp cloth and make sure that the bag is completely dry before you store it.
- For leather bags, you can use commercial leather cleaner to give them a thorough cleanse. Suede bags can be cleaned with a suede and nubuck cleaner available from shoe retailers or shoe sections of large stores. Alternatively, just use a suede brush to reduce dust and grime.
- If using an air freshener to freshen the inside of your bags, then make sure to choose one that has a natural smell such as vanilla rather then an artificial floral fragrance. Also you don’t want the fragrance to be too strong, so consider keeping it in its wrapping and make small slits for the fragrance to escape.
- Take the purse to a cleaners or shoe shop each year to have the straps tightened, the purse cleaned, and the leather maintained. While you may not visibly see any stains, the purse is still likely dirty from carrying and you may not notice small marks. If the bag has hardware, such as rivets or rings, these may tarnish overtime so be sure to keep those shined and polished to prevent discoloration.
