Most people are mainly concerned with keeping the exterior of the purse in top shape, since this is the part that will be visible, paying little attention to the inside. Keep in mind that with the variety of objects carried in your purse such as lipstick, mascara and pens, the interior of your purse is actually more exposed to potential blemishes. Since it is an enclosed space, and much of the dirt that gets in won’t come out unless you do something about it, the interior of your purse will also accumulate dust and dirt over time.

In this article you will find tips on how you can keep the interior of your purse looking great and how to properly clean it when needed.

How to Keep the Lining of Your Purse Clean

Similar to the exterior of your purse, the best way to keep the interior of your purse clean and looking new is to use preventative measures. The most likely items that can dirty, or even damage, the interior of your purse are makeup, pens, food and drinks. Here are some tips on how to avoid a disaster with these common items:

• Keep cosmetics in a makeup bag  – With so many different cosmetic items that are typically carried in a purse, the inside of your purse is exposed to one of those items breaking open every time you set your purse down or bump into something. Keeping cosmetics in a makeup bag will contain a potential disaster from ruining the inside of your purse.

• Pens and markers can leak – Pens and markers will begin to leak if they are exposed to a high enough temperature, which can easily be reached inside your purse. If you must carry it in your purse, try putting them inside some sort of protective casing, or putting them in one of the smaller pockets to minimize the potential damage that can occur.
• Keep food and drinks out of your purse – We all know how tempting it can be to put your lunch leftovers in your purse, but this is a horrible idea for two reasons. First, the aroma from your food will stick to the interior of your purse which, depending on what you ate, may not be the ideal way you’d like your purse to smell. Second, if this food or drink ends up spilling, you will have a disaster on your hands which can be very difficult to clean, or worse, permanently damage the purse.

How to Clean the Interior of Your Purse

Following the tips above will help you minimize the amount of times you need to clean the interior of your purse, but to really keep it in pristine condition, you will eventually have to give your purse lining a good clean. Here are some quick steps on how to properly do this:

• Take everything out, turn it upside down and shake it – Over time there will be small debris that gets lost in your purse and will eventually build up. by turning it upside down and shaking the purse you should get rid of most of this debris. This should always be done before thoroughly cleaning the inside of your purse.
• Find an appropriate cleaning solution – Choose a fabric cleaner that will safely clean the fabric that your purse lining is made of and soak a sponge in this solution. You can either buy one at a store or simply use a small amount of laundry detergent mixed with warm water.

• Clean the lining of your purse – This step depends on how to lining of your purse is constructed:
  • Option 1 – If you can turn your purse lining inside out, do so and place a dry hand towel under the lining. Begin scrubbing the lining gently, allowing the towel to absorb any moisture that seeps through. After giving it a thorough clean, let it dry completely. Point a fan at it helps with the drying process.
  • Option 2 – If your purse lining can not be turned inside out, follow a similar step to option 1 except make sure to squeeze out as much water as possible from the sponge before you begin scrubbing. When you are finished giving the lining a good scrub, stuff some small dry towels into the purse for at least one hour to absorb all the moisture. Just in case, leave the handbag open overnight to make sure it dries completely.

If you do get a stain on your favourite purse, don’t stress it, we have some advice for how to remove the stain. This of course depends heavily on the type of material that your purse is made of and the extent of damage caused by the stain. In some cases a home remedy may not do the job and you will have to take it to a professional purse care specialist.

Below are some tips on how to remove stains from your leather, canvas or suede purse. Before using any of these methods on your stained purse make sure to try it on an inconspicuous area of your purse to ensure that it doesn’t damage the material itself.

Leather Purse Stain Removal Tips

There are several home remedies available for cleaning light stains on your leather purse, each one depending on the type of stain that you are dealing with:

• Food or blood stains – To remove dark stains from your leather purse, such as food and blood stains, start by making a paste consisting of one part lemon juice one part cream of tartar. Rub this paste into the stain gently and let it sit for 10-20 minutes, after which you will need to remove the paste with a damp rag. Once this is complete you will need to dry the area of your purse that you just washed with a soft cloth and make sure to remove all moisture.

• Ink stains – For small ink stains on leather it is recommended to use isopropyl alcohol. Using a cotton swab or cotton ball, lightly dab the area that is stained and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Finally dry the area with soft towel or cloth.

• Oil and grease stains – Oil and grease stains are the toughest ones to remove from your purse so extra precaution must be taken to avoid making the problem worst. Start off by using a dry cloth to blot any remaining oil away before it spreads to other parts of the purse. Once you have removed excess oil, sprinkle a bit of cornstarch on the remaining stain and let it sit over night. The cornstarch will absorb the oil stain and should be wiped off the following morning with a dry cloth.

Canvas Purse Stain Removal Tips

Most stains that you would find on a canvas purse can simply be removed with liquid detergent and a soft brush, as long as the stain isn’t too deep of course. For more complex stains such as ink and oil stains more complex methods are required:

• Ink Stains – For light ink stains you can make a mixture from equal parts of baking soda and toothpaste. Using a damp toothbrush, rub the mixture gently onto the stain. You should notice right away if this is working and if it is continue applying the mixture until the stain is fully gone and let the area air dry.

• Oil and grease stains – Similar to removing oil stains from a leather purse, cornstarch is an effective way to absorb any remaining oil that may spread to other parts of the purse. Let the cornstarch remain on the stain for several hours before removing it with a soft brush. Once all of the cornstarch has been removed you can gently scrub a mild soap into the stain and let it air dry.

Suede Purse Stain Removal Tips

Suede purses, like many other suede products, look very elegant but unfortunately come with the downside of being highly absorbent and easily damaged by water and stains. Depending on the intensity of the stain, there are several methods that can be used to remove a stain from your suede purse. Here are some tips for removing stains from your suede purse:

• Most light stains and dirt on suede purses can be removed by gently rubbing the stain with a suede brush or a white pencil eraser. This lifts the suede and slowly gets rid of any dry pieces from the stain.
• For tougher stains you can use steam to moisten the stain and then brush it off with a suede brush.

Regardless of what type of stain it is, the key with suede is to be very careful and delicate as suede can be ruined very easily.

If you want to keep your favourite purse looking it’s best, be sure to follow these simple tips to avoid all the common mistakes that most people make when handling their handbag.

Tip 1: Protect the outer material of your purse

Your purse will be exposed to many damaging factors throughout it’s lifetime such as inclement weather, dust in the air, food spills and many more. To minimize the chances of these external forces damaging the elegant look of your purses exterior, protect it by using some sort of leather or suede protecting product.

These usually come in the form of sprays or polish and must be applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions for best results. Be sure to get an application that is suitable for your purses material and before applying it to the entire purse, try it on a small patch to make sure it doesn’t damage the material in any way.

Tip 2: Be cautious of where you place your purse

High end purses are usually made out of delicate materials that must be taken care of properly. When you are in a situation that you need to put down your purse, for example eating lunch at a restaurant, make sure that where you place your purse is free of anything that can potentially harm it. The best place to rest your purse would be on a vacant seat or hanging from your chair or coat hanger. Do not make the mistake of placing it on the ground as this is a sure way to attract harmful debris to the exterior of your purse.

Tip 3: Store your purse properly

Chances are you have more than one purse to choose from and as such you will often have to store your favourite handbag to be used mainly for special occasions. Here are some recommendations for storing your purse safely:

• Avoid simply tossing it into your closet as this can ruin the shape of your purse. Make sure you store it in an upright position.

• Use a purse insert, some tissue paper or small pieces of clothing to help your purse keep it’s original shape.

• Insert your purse into a dust bag or cotton pillow case to ensure that it will not be in direct contact with any dirt or dust in your closet which can build up quickly.

• If you want to avoid moisture build up on your purse while it is being stored make sure to never store it in a plastic or vinyl bag. Making this mistake can cause trapped moisture to accumulate on your purse which can eventually become a big problem, especially if mould begins to grow on it.

• For long term storage, unclip any buckles that your purse has and remove the straps to make sure that they don’t get damaged or leave any unwanted marks.

Tip 4: Do not handle your purse with dirty hands

Properly handling your purse means avoiding any dirt or grime that can build up on it. An often overlooked way that purses get damaged is through the dirt and oils that may be present on your hands before touching your purse. Make sure that your hands are clean and free of any creams or oils before touching your purse to prevent any unwanted stains.

Tip 5: Remove stains as soon as they appear

It is almost impossible to protect your purse from stains forever. If your purse has stains that are too tough for you to handle, take it to a purse cleaning expert, but if it is something you can clean on your own do so at your own risk. Here are some common stains that are found on purses and some quick fixes to the problem:

• Ink stains – if you have a fresh ink stain, the best method to get rid of it is by lightly rubbing the spot with a white eraser. Do not put too much pressure or you can risk rubbing the stain deeper into the material. If this does not work take your purse to a professional.

• Food stains – food stains can be removed by applying crushed white chalk to the affected area, letting it sit overnight and brushing it off with a clean cloth the following morning.

• Oil stains – rubbing cornstarch into the stained area should absorb most of the oil, as long as it is done shortly after the stain appears. After it has been rubbed into the stain, brush it off immediately to get rid of all the oil and cornstarch.

Tip 6: Protect the inside of your purse

Most people are worried about caring for the exterior of the purse since this is the part that is most visible. Keep in mind that the inside of your purse should also be taken care of to keep it in it’s best form. The most recommended practice by purse care professionals is to use protective shields inside of your purse to reduce the risk of spills or tears to your purse lining. For example, using a pouch or case to carry all your makeup, pens or other liquids will help keep the inside of your purse intact from spills and rips.