Are you worried about the offending stain that ruined your expensive designer bag? Stains, marks, scratches, and cosmetic damage to your bags should be treated depending on the type of material the bags are made of and the sources of the damage. The most common problems encountered are color stains that are inadvertently transferred from clothing, makeup, food and drink stains, and ballpoint ink marks. In this article, we will share with you some proven tips to restore your bag to its pristine and pristine original state.

Sweden

Examples: Coach Ergo Pieced Suede Tote, Coach Hamptons Suede Hobo, and Jimmy Choo Alex Suede.

Most stains on suede bags can be removed with a suede brush. If the stains refuse to go away, try brushing with a chamois cleaner over the steam coming out of the boiled water. You can also use a white pencil eraser to erase small, dry marks. If yours is a Coach bag, it may have come with a half pink, half white block from your purchase. Quite a few readers of Branded Bags for Less have reported that it is effective in removing unsightly stains, marks, and even mildew from moisture on their Coach bags. Simply moisten the block and gently rub it against the stain.

Keep in mind that you should never use stain removers that do not explicitly state that they are for suede fabric, as they can aggravate the stain and cause irreparable damage.

Leather

Examples of partial leather: Coach Carly Signature (fabric with leather trim), Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas (canvas with leather trim), and Burberry Nova Check Shoulder Tote (canvas with leather trim).

Examples of full leather: Fendi Nappa Leather, Coach Legacy Leather, Coach Carly Leather, Louis Vuitton Mahina, Louis Vuitton Epi Leather, Gucci Leather Hysteria, Burberry Classic Check, and Chanel Classic Medium Flap with Gold Chain.

You can apply leather cleaning cream, conditioner or protectant to remove dirt and scratches from the surface, which is also good for moisturizing the leather to keep it looking pristine. One very rave cleaner is the Apple Leather Care line of cleaners, which can remove many types of stains including dirt, grease, food, and excess oil from leather. Alternatively, any leather protector like Eagle One Nano Protectant works well too. Spray a generous amount onto a dry white cloth and smooth evenly over the leather material of your bag.

For ink marks and stubborn stains on leather, use traditional Asian medicated oil such as Ax brand medicated oil or alcohol available at pharmacies. This little-known technique is employed by bag store clerks, and many Branded Bags for Less readers have also raved about it doing wonders for their bags. Dab a little on a dry white cloth and lightly rub over the offending mark or stain and it should come off easily.

Patent leather

Examples of patent leather pieces: Coach Signature Stripe Patent (fabric with stripes and patent leather trim) and Fendi Canvas Patent Leather Bag Du Jour (canvas with patent leather trim).

All-over patent leather examples: Tods Patent Leather Tote, Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis, and Coach Patent Zoe.

Of all the varieties of material, patent leather is probably the most difficult to treat. Once the color is transferred to the patent leather, the damage is likely to be permanent, unfortunately. However, if you discover the stain early enough, it might still be possible to salvage the bag with non-acetone nail polish remover or Mr Clean Magic Eraser, according to some who have tried numerous methods to fix the problem.

Canvas

Examples: Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas (leather-trimmed canvas) and Fendi Canvas B Shoulder Bag (patent-trimmed canvas).

Stains due to color transfer from clothing, paper bags and magazines can be easily treated with a damp white cloth or sponge and plain white soap. For food and drink stains and other stubborn stains and marks, try Coach Signature Fabric Cleaner, which also works on other brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci duffel bags. The official Coach site offers a quote of $10 for this cleaner. Apply a few drops to a white cloth and blot stains in gentle circular motions. Wipe excess with a clean, white damp cloth. Some store clerks and bag owners also swear by canvas baby wipes.

Fabric

Examples: Coach Carly Signature (fabric with leather trim), Coach Bleecker Signature Large Flap (fabric with leather trim), and Gucci Babouska Fabric Tote.

Just like with canvas, you can use Coach Signature Fabric Cleaner, which works with other brands of cloth bags, too. The official Coach site offers a quote of $10 for this cleaner. Apply a few drops to a white cloth and blot stains in gentle circular motions. Wipe excess with a clean, white damp cloth.

A cheaper method that some have used with great success is toothpaste, particularly Darlie’s brand. Apply toothpaste to a damp white cloth and rub the stains in a circular motion. Carefully remove excess toothpaste from the darkened patch and allow it to dry. It works, surprisingly!

Above all…

Always be safe: Remember to patch test the inside or an inconspicuous area of ​​your bag first before applying any treatment all over. Do not use detergent to treat stained bags, as it can further damage the finish. Also, avoid contact of your bags with newspapers, magazines, colored paper bags, and dark colored cloths during cleaning, as color can transfer from these items to your bags in the process.