Is it possible to wash a leather bag in the washing machine?
A leather bag is an essential accessory for any woman. It can serve its owner for a long time, making her look more stylish and attractive. But not everyone knows how to care for such an expensive thing. Some even risk washing a leather bag in a washing machine, and as a result, irreversibly damage its appearance. How to properly wash a leather handbag in the washing machine and is it worth doing?
It’s risky to “trust” a bag to a machine
To answer this question, you need to look at the bag's care label. Most often, manufacturers prohibit the use of a washing machine for cleaning. If you put such an item in the washing machine, you will not be happy with the end result.
On the other hand, some manufacturers still allow this care option, but with reservations. In particular, the use of conventional washing powders is prohibited. The presence of abrasive elements in the composition of the product will lead to the formation of creases on a bag made of genuine leather or abrasion of the leatherette. You should not use powder when washing suede handbags, but sports accessories can easily survive processing in a washing machine. However, when washing them you need to strictly follow the recommendations:
set the water temperature no higher than 30 C;
choose modes for delicate materials;
set the speed to minimum.
Despite the fact that the manufacturer may not prohibit washing in a machine, it is not worth risking expensive things. High speeds will cause a genuine leather bag to lose its shape. Prolonged exposure to moisture can negatively affect the structure of the material.
Classic cleaning option
If you need to wash your leather bag, use hand wash only to minimize exposure to water. It is best not to even wash the item, but to wipe it with a dry or damp sponge dipped in liquid soap. You can walk it inside and outside, but do not rub too hard, otherwise the seams of the lining will come apart.
Attention! When cleaning a leather bag, do not use strong mechanical force so as not to spoil the material.
If you need to clean lining fabric, an alcohol solution works great. It will help get rid of old stains and unpleasant odors. Take the required amount of product and wipe the dirty areas on your genuine leather bag with it. Don't worry that the liquid will damage the fabric, because it is absolutely harmless. After treatment, the alcohol will quickly evaporate from the surface, leaving no trace.
Once you have wiped the inside of the bag, you can move on to the outside. Here we need another solution - ammonia, laundry soap and warm water. This product will help get rid of even old stains on the surface of the bag. But don’t be too zealous, because the composition is quite aggressive.
If the bag is made of suede
Suede items look impressive, but at the same time require extremely delicate handling. For example, after prolonged exposure to sunlight, the bag fades and whitish spots appear on the surface. A thing can also be ruined by accidentally getting dirt, which is difficult to wipe off from a capricious material.
You cannot wash a suede handbag in a washing machine.
To get rid of dirt, wipe these areas with a soft cloth. For the best effect, the product must be steamed, having first removed all things from it.If you don't have a steamer, hold the leather bag over boiling water for 5-10 minutes.
Hot steam will straighten the fibers, making it easier to remove dirt. After steam treatment, you need to wipe the bag again with a soft material. To prevent the item from losing its appearance and to clean it better, you should use special products for suede. You can buy them at any store.
Leather sportswear
The only exception to washing can be sports items, which are not as difficult to care for as a suede or handbag. They are quite easy to handle in the washing machine. Although in this case you should set the program for delicate material, otherwise the bag will lose its shape.
As an example, the following washing machine settings:
Gentle mode for 30 minutes, temperature 30 C, 1000 rpm;
Manual mode for 45 minutes, temperature 30-40 C, 400 rpm;
Quick wash for 30 minutes, temperature 30 C, 400 rpm;
Colored laundry for 40 minutes, temperature 30 C, minimum speed.
If you strictly follow all the recommendations for washing a leather sports bag, you will be able to maintain its original appearance. Use only cool water, because the skin does not tolerate high temperatures. And try not to use high speeds so that the bag does not become deformed.
A leather bag is an essential accessory for any woman. It can serve its owner for a long time, making her look more stylish and attractive. But not everyone knows how to care for such an expensive thing. Some even risk washing a leather bag in a washing machine, and as a result, irreversibly damage its appearance. How to properly wash a leather handbag in the washing machine and is it worth doing?
Add a comment