The things we own cannot possibly take care of themselves unless we make sure they are taken care of. It could be pretty hard to come in terms with knowing that our precious luxury bags we invested a fortune to acquire can wear out but the truth is our bags are prone to wear out just as anything else if we don’t take proper care of them. It all starts with a little scratch or stain and before you know it, the handbag you once loved becomes a remnant of what once was. Paying little or no attention to our handbags is something everyone is guilty of, but if you have had to lose a bag you adore at some point, then you understand the importance of caring for them. Every bag in your closet deserves a little TLC to ensure they remain a classic mainstay so you can make the most of the pieces you have with this creative and timeless storage techniques.
Stuff to keep in shape
There is nothing as sad as a sunken-in, saggy or shapeless handbag but this structural damage can be avoided by stuffing up your bags to help them maintain their shape. Keeping it stuffed when not in use is a great way to start. We could use bubble wrap, air pockets, unscented tissue paper or even old t-shirts. The trick is to ensure you stuff it up rightly ensuring your zippers and fastening closes without strain because over stuffing will result in getting a sagging and slightly out of shape bag and you don’t want that.
Store properly
How you store your handbags determines the maintenance of the shape of the bag and condition of the bag. Keeping your handbags in the original boxes they were purchased in is recommended to prevent the handbags from being squashed and mis-shaped. Alternatively, you can store your handbags in shelves. Each handbags should be stored standing upright, if it’s one that cannot stand up straight or won’t fit into the shelf, lie it flat on its sides instead and do not stack other bags on top. If you are storing a handbag with metal chains, charms or detached zippers, it is best to wrap up the metal parts and store inside the interior of the bag. This is to avoid press marks and scratches on the exterior of your bag. Also while storing your handbags on shelves, ensure to leave a gap between each bags to avoid scratches or transfer of colors or dyes. Never hang your bags by the straps or handles as this will distort the shape of the area hung and distort the leather.
Cover with dust bags
Keeping your handbags covered is an important care step. It is advisable to keep your handbags stored in the original dust bag it came in but if you no longer have them you can get a replacement or use a soft cotton breathable pillow case to store as it is large enough to comfortably fit the bag without bending the handles or crushing the sides of the bag. Store in just one bag per dust bag and ditch plastic polybags if you have been using those instead of dust bags because they can cause moisture build up that can destroy your bags.
Keep out of the light
Ensure your bags are stored in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight as exposure can cause damage. Store out of direct sunlight to avoid fading, discoloration and low humidity that encourages molds.
Clean
Cleaning your bags may require different approaches depending on the make. If your bag is a nylon bag, you can gently hand wash it with a mild soap, rinse and press dry with a towel and air dry for a couple of hours but for leather bags, it is recommended to clean when necessary to prevent drying out the leather or wearing it out. To clean your hard-pressed leather bags, you can clean by using a damp towel or an alcohol-free baby wipe to take off dirt and give it that “I just bought it now flair” and dry off with a towel but for natural leather bags or suede, you can just dust off with a soft dry cotton cloth and refrain from getting it wet.
Use handbag liners
You can protect the insides of your handbags from spills by using a liner. A liner will not only protect your bags from liquids such as cream and lotions or even ink but you will get even more pockets spaces for storing things and the liner also makes it easy to quickly swap bags.
Repair and fix as soon as you notice
Do not delay in getting that small repair done on you handbags because you will be sabotaging their lifespan if you don’t. At the first sign of damage, visit a repair shop to have it fixed depending on what damage occurred.
Invest in maintenance products
While your bag ages with time, nourishment and protection can prolong its lifespan and keep it beautiful. Certain bags work well with creams, sprays and others with protectants made with natural ingredients. Applying on maintenance products provides your bag with a protective layer, hiding its natural state and makes it durable and fit to handle the elements.
Treat with respect
Treating your bag with respect is a great way to prolong its lifespan. Leaving your bags on the floor or storing it on the floor will increase the risk of bottom and corner wears and cause dirt and mildew to build on your bags. Remember your bags too deserve a seat. Most bags as a result of its make or color are open to the risk of discoloration or oil transfer. Be mindful to carry your bags with clean hands and place on clean surfaces to avoid wears and scratches.
Taking care of your bags is necessary to prolong its lifespan but it is important to love and respect your bags as well as they both go hand in hand to achieve an overall cared for bag.