Cleaning and restoring handbags: Returning discolored white handbags to brilliant white
By: Stu Bloom
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Soiled or yellowed white leather or leather-trimmed handbags can be restored to brilliant white with professional cleaning
White leather handbags, purses, wallets and backpacks are the perfect accessory.
The problem, however, is that white tends to magnify soil, stains, scratches, scuffing and the like.
So what to do?
If you search the internet, the “solution” to soil, stains, scratches and scuffing on white leather handbags, purses, wallets and backpacks often involves magic erasers, saddle soaps, mink oils, warm water, ammonia, lemon juice, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, pumice-based hand cleaners, moisturizing creams, hair shampoos, hair conditioners, leather furniture cleaners, automotive leather cleaners and/or sandpaper.
On the flip side, for every “solution” proposed, you can find someone who’ll vigorously argue against any or all of these “solutions”.
When it comes to white leather handbags, it’s highly unlikely that a Do-It-Yourself “cleaning product” will cut it. And it’s even more unlikely that your local shoe repair shop will produce a result that’s any better.
Your only option may be to utilize the services of a handbag restoration professional.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”U09FC” via=”no” ]Soiled or yellowed white leather and leather-trimmed handbags can be restored to brilliant white with professional cleaning @ravefabricare[/ctt]Here’s an example of a restored white Jimmy Choo leather handbag with extensive gold hardware.
The transformation
The results of the transformation can be seen in the following BEFORE and AFTER photographs:
For even more BEFORE and AFTER photographs on the transformation of this handbag, please view our slide show below:
To view this slide show on a full screen, hit the X button with the arrow tips.
The takeaway
The takeaway from this episode is simple:
High-end handbags, purses, wallets and backpacks should always be cleaned by hand. And, then, only by a cleaner who
- specializes in cleaning and restoring handbags, purses, wallets and backpacks,
- employs full time handbag cleaning specialists and
- completes all work on premises (does not ship the work to an unknown, undisclosed, out of state subcontractor).
In Arizona, there is only one cleaner who meets these 3 criteria: RAVE FabriCARE in Scottsdale.
By the way, if you don’t live in the metro Phoenix area, all is not lost. We ship throughout the USA and Canada.
Send us your photos for a free, no-obligation evaluation and price guesstimate.
What’s been your experience cleaning and/or restoring white handbags, purses, wallets and/or backpacks? Please share your comments below.
Photo credit: stocksnap.io/Chris Biron
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Filed Under:
Handbags, Purses, Wallets & Handbags
Author
Stu Bloom
Stu Bloom is Founder and President of RAVE FabriCARE. RAVE FabriCARE, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, cares for fine garments, household textiles and accessories and serves clients throughout the USA and Canada. Stu is the author of various ebooks on these subjects, all of which are available from www.ravefabricare.com/freestuff. He is an evangelist for true quality cleaning and is a contributor to and editor of True Quality Cleaning, RAVE FabriCARE’s blog. You can find Stu on Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
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Additional Resources:
https://ravefabricare.com/services/handbags-purses-wallets-backpacks/
https://ravefabricare.com/do-it-yourself-handbag-cleaning-exercise-caution-with-cleaning-products/
https://ravefabricare.com/dont-dry-clean-your-handbag-purse-wallet-or-backpack-ever/
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