Today we will be discussing handbag care as well as some tips on how to keep your handbag shapely and wrinkle free while making it last a lifetime.
But before we get onto that I would like to let you know that am currently working on revamping and improving the appearance of this blog. I realize that it’s been quite hard to leave comments and follow us. Hopefully we should get this sorted very soon.
Back to handbags, I pose a question to you, how do you store your handbags? I will tell you how I store mine. Once I have emptied it of all its contents I throw it (neatly of course) into a shelf until I next need it! It’s no wonder they never last more than one year! I hope that you do better than that.
Here are a few tips on how to store your handbag, keep it in shape and hopefully get it to last longer.
Always make sure that you completely empty your handbag before storage. Once you have removed everything from the compartments shake the handbag while holding it upside down to ensure that all the tiny particles are out. Most likely you will find that the bag needs a wipe. You may also find a stain or dust. Aim to wipe your handbag externally at least once a week to keep it looking smooth and glossy and also to get rid of germs. You can wipe it using a soft piece of cloth or an alcohol free facial wipe. Once you have wiped it, let it stand for a few minutes to make sure all the moisture is dry before storing it. There are special cleaning agents for doing a thorough clean of handbags depending on the material. But you will find that if you do your handbag wipe every week you will not need to do a major clean.
Never store your handbag while it's empty. When a handbag is empty it quickly loses shape and elasticity and it looks rugged. Always stuff your handbag before storing it to ensure it stays shapely. You ask what will I stuff it with? Try Bubble wrap, tissue or anything that will not stretch the bag too wide. Remember we stuff it just enough to be able to stand upright! The stuffing in addition to maintaining shape will keep away dust from the interior of the bags.
Ideally, with every handbag purchase you make, you should get a dust bag in which to store the handbag. But as most of us know that’s not the case. The first time I bought a handbag and was given a dust bag I asked the shop attendant what is that? That was less than two years ago! And thankfully they were patient enough to dispel my ignorance. If your handbag doesn’t come with a dust bag you can improvise with stuff such as cotton sheets or pillowcases but not plastic bags. Plastic bags have a drying effect and will not be ideal especially if your handbag is made of leather. Do not store it too tight because it needs to be breathable!
Many gals tend to hang their handbags in the wardrobe with hangers or on coat hooks. While this seems to create space it is a complete NO for handbag storage as it just stretches them out and makes the handles weaker. It will just be a matter of time before the handle snaps.
Depending on the storage space in your bedroom avoid storing handbags next to a window as direct sunlight will damage the handbag material. Sunlight will also cause the handbags to fade and loose luster. This is true for leather and synthetic handbags.
This one I have recently learnt from experience. I have this beautiful hobo with chains and metal bits to it. I stored it right next to my other plain black handbag and when I was removing the hobo, it scratched the handbag and the mark is so big the handbag is now useless. Be careful with the handbags that have chains and metallic bits to them make sure they do not scratch the other bags as you store and remove them. One way would be to cover each of the metallic bits, but practically that would take too much time and energy so the best bet would be to store the handbags having the metallic bits separately.
Next time you look at your handbag think of it as your skin. Maybe not your facial skin as that demands almost obsessive attention. But think of it as your hands skin or your legs. Give it some tender loving care and it will tenderly love you back by lasting long, looking cute and new for a long time. That’s not too much to ask now is it?
I hope this has been helpful. If you have any more tips on how to store handbags and care for them please do let me know.
