Tips for Cleaning Leather Handbags
A quality leather handbag will last for years and years, just as long as you take care of it properly. Now, if you have treated yourself (or received as a gift) to an extremely expensive leather purse, then do not attempt to clean it yourself – the same goes for suede leather bags. Suede can be very difficult to clean and unless you want to take the chance of ruining it forever, do yourself a favor and leave it to the pros. That being said, we have some tips to help you get through a basic purse cleaning.
Start the cleaning process by emptying out the handbag, turning it over a trash can to shake out of all the loose crumbs, lint, etc. If there is any debris remaining inside, grab some of the sticky sheets off of a lint roller and dab it at the crumbs leftover on the inside.
For the outside, mix distilled water with a very small amount of liquid soap, just use 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. Wiping should be done gently and in a circular motion. There are commercial products available and a popular one used for cleaning saddles and riding gear is called Lexol. They make the leather cleaner in several different forms, sprays, liquids and wipes. A good way to extend the life of any leather product is to use a leather conditioner and protector. They also come in different forms (sprays, creams) and formulas for different types of suede and leather. If you plan to cover your leather handbag, or clothing when storing, make sure you use a breathable fabric like cotton and stay away from plastic. Also be sure to store it in a temperature controlled environment (cool and dry). Storing in heat or damp areas can lead to cracking and mould.
Cold Water Detergent vs. Regular Detergent
By now, most people know that washing clothes in cold water saves energy costs, and helps to keep colors from fading. Many people still are reluctant to wash 100% of their laundry solely in cold water for reasons varying from old habits, to concerns about unsatisfactory results. A few years back, detergent companies started marketing laundry detergent “specifically designed” for use in cold water. Does it make a difference?
First, a reminder that most of the energy used on a load of laundry comes from heating the water. Second, (a fact that may be new to you) there are many areas in the world outside the U.S. where washing machines only use cold water. Third, hot or warm water is the key ingredient in making some detergents work well.
So how do companies stay with the times, help the penny-pinching consumer and promote green cleaning products? That’s right, they come up with a “reformulated detergent” containing supposedly different enzymes and surfactants designed to work better in cold water. In an attempt to find out the difference between cold water detergents and regular detergents, I went to the website of a leading producer, Tide. There you can access every variety of detergent they sell, along with a list of the ingredients, FAQs, and assorted information for each. In addition to the general list of ingredients for each product, they also offer a list of the ingredients in order of prominence, meaning whatever it contains the most is listed first and continues downward from that point. What was the most prominent ingredient? No surprise, it was water, followed by a few surfactants, and processing aids to help keep the ingredients mixed together (avoids the clumping that those of us who make our own detergent are familiar with), borax, citric acid and assorted stain fighting chemicals. When comparing the ingredients of the regular detergent and the cold-water detergent, I was surprised to find that they were basically the same, whether the list was by prominence or not. My original thinking was that there might be a greater quantity of a particular ingredient in the cold-water formula, than the regular formula, however there was nothing on the web site’s list of ingredients to support that theory. So unless there is a trade secret not mentioned, they are one in the same, just a different label. If anyone has something in writing to substantiate anything different, I would love to see it. Personally, I have found that you can wash everything in cold water successfully, as long as you follow a few basic rules: Only use liquid detergent, as most powders need warm water to completely dissolve and clean successfully. Use the proper amount of detergent – too little and your wash load will not come clean, and too much will leave a soapy residue behind on your wash. Finally, do not overload the washer – leave room for items to move around in the water.
