How to clean a varnish bag at home: effective stain cleaning and product care products

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Author of the article

Svetlana Pavlikhina

Reading time: 5 minutes

A patent leather bag is an elegant and beautiful accessory that almost every woman has in her arsenal. But this thing is not protected from various contaminants.

Therefore, it is worth finding out in advance what and how to clean a varnish bag in order to return it to its original appearance and avoid irreparable consequences when the surface cracks and darkens.

Lacquer bags: what materials are they made from?

Artificial or genuine leather is used to make bags.
First, so that the material does not lose flexibility and softness, it is primed using a special solution, then a varnish of the selected shade is applied. The result is a smooth material with a beautiful mirror-like shine.

Lacquer bags can withstand various loads, including exposure to external conditions (snow, rain, scorching rays of the sun), stretching and bending. But they still need to be treated carefully and with care.

What to combine with?

First of all, it should look harmonious when paired with shoes. Patent models can be combined with leather or suede shoes. It doesn’t have to be shiny at all, otherwise the image will be overloaded with glamorous notes. A bag is enough to highlight your style.
Wardrobe items and other accessories should be simple, not glossy. It is better to give preference to matte things. You can wear a patent leather bag with a formal suit, a skirt with a blouse or skinny trousers.

How to care for an item

Such accessories require special care. There are a number of rules that must be followed.

Elimination of rough materials for wiping the surface

It is strictly forbidden to use brushes to wipe the varnish. Due to rough pile, scratches may appear on the surface and the original shine will disappear. Therefore, you should use a soft cloth or napkins.

Shoe polish: can you use it or not?

Cream intended for shoes should not be applied to the varnish, otherwise the item will fade and will not shine. In addition, it will become more susceptible to various types of contamination.

Are there special care products for varnished products?

Lacquer surfaces must be cared for using special products. They are available in the form of sprays and creams.

It is recommended to give preference to those containing petroleum jelly or glycerin. These components help prevent cracking and drying out.

Acids and alkalis: prohibition of contact with such substances

A patent leather bag must be protected from aggressive substances. Under the influence of alkalis and acids, the integrity of the top layer is compromised, which negatively affects its appearance.

How and with what to remove scuffs on a leather bag: instructions, tips

If you find abrasions on a leather bag, use one of the restoration methods so that the product regains its original appearance.

Shoe cream. Choose the color of the product correctly if your bag is not painted black or white. If you choose the wrong cream, you can remove it with a damp cloth. This product is only suitable for matte skin. An ordinary marker will also help you quickly remove abrasions from the skin.
Glue . This product will help you remove a worn place or scratch. Use a cream that does not contain acetone as it can damage the surface of the leather. Rubber and shoe glue are suitable for such purposes. Wrap some cotton wool around a match, soak it in glue, apply the match to the torn area, place a melted piece of flap on top of it, and press for a couple of minutes. When the glue dries, treat the area with shoe polish.
Manicure polish. Using varnish, remove those abrasions that are not very noticeable. If the damage is deep and affects painted skin, paint the area with a varnish of a suitable tone or a marker, and cover it with a clear varnish on top. Repeat the procedure several times as this repair is short-lived.
Beeswax. Heat the wax, carefully apply it to the worn area, and rub it with a soft material, for example, flannel. For a colored bag, use paint in the same color as the leather of the item.

Handy tools for cleaning varnish

Available means, such as pharmaceuticals and food, will help remove dirt from the bag, allowing you to carefully clean the varnish surface.

Availability and low cost

The cost of home remedies is minimal. They are always at hand, so you don’t have to spend money on purchasing expensive cleaning compounds to clean the accessory from stains and other contaminants.

Many home remedies cost pennies, which means you don't have to spend money on expensive cleaners that can take care of the surface of your handbags.

List of components

The following components will be useful for cleaning a varnish bag:

liquid soap;
potato;
Castor oil;
soda;
lemon juice;
glycerin or petroleum jelly;
ammonia;
milk.

Features and secrets

Lacquered bags, fashionable in 2015, can transform your look beyond recognition. But in order to choose a patent leather bag, you need to know some of the subtleties of production. A special varnish is applied to natural or artificial leather to add shine. The surface can be matte, transparent, colored or decorated with sparkles and rhinestones - it depends on the type of varnish.

Bags made in this way do not tolerate low temperatures, so it is better to take them with you in the warm season.

Many women wonder how to identify a real patent leather bag. You need to evaluate the edge of the leather. Its surface should be soft, delicate and velvety - this distinguishes real leather from artificial leather.

You can determine the quality by the front side. If it is smooth, without dents, seals or damage, then it is a high quality product. Check that the varnish is applied in a thin layer and there should be no bubbles.

If all these criteria are taken into account when choosing a bag, the accessory will last for more than one season and will not become unusable immediately after purchase.

How to prepare an item for cleaning

One of the important stages of cleaning is preparing the bag for the procedure. It is performed using a certain technology.

Removing fresh stains and dust

First of all, you need to remove dust and fresh dirt from the surface. A damp cloth is used for this purpose. With its help, it is possible to clean dirt even on seams and joints.

The main thing is not to press on the stains, otherwise there is a risk of scratches.

Proper drying of the product

At the next stage, the accessory is thoroughly wiped with a dry soft cloth and left to dry completely on a flat surface. Only after this can you perform the remaining manipulations.

If there are any divorces left

After preliminary cleaning, stains often remain. There is no reason to worry about this: they can be removed using cleaning products.

Salamander Kombi-Color

Suitable for all types and colors of patent leather. Country of origin: Germany. The main active ingredient is silicone.

Regular use of the colorless cream provides a triple effect:

Instructions for use:

squeeze a little cream onto the cloth;
polish the surface to a shine.

Recipes for removing complex stains

There are many folk remedies that allow you to cope with the task. It is worth considering the safest and most effective among them.

Water, liquid soap and ammonia

A mixture of liquid soap, ammonia and water will help get rid of black streaks and other complex contaminants.

All components are mixed in equal proportions. The fabric is impregnated with the resulting solution, the product is processed and then rubbed with glycerin.

Cleaning with lemon

Lemon juice will help remove ink and a number of other contaminants absorbed into the surface. Use half the fruit to wipe the problem areas, then all that remains is to dry the varnish properly.

Egg white with milk

A mixture of protein and milk will thoroughly clean a white handbag. These ingredients are mixed together. The resulting composition is used to wipe the surface of the product. After this, the item is dried.

Bulb onions

To remove stains and give the material a characteristic shine, an ordinary onion is useful.

It is cut in half and the item is wiped.

Soda and ammonia

With this product you can even remove superglue from your bag.
The solution is prepared using 0.5 liters of water, 1 tbsp. soda and the same amount of ammonia. The liquid is stirred until the powder is completely dissolved. Then the problem areas are wiped with the product.

Potato

Raw potatoes will help to carefully clean the bag. They need to wipe the surface generously and then polish it with a dry cloth.

How and with what to remove ink from a leather bag: instructions, tips

Before removing ink stains, we advise you to test an area of leather so as not to spoil the product:

If the ink stains have not yet dried, use laundry soap or an aggressive product. Make a solution of increased concentration: mix the drug with the required amount of ordinary water. Treat the dirty area with the product so that it penetrates the skin. Then rinse off the mixture with water and dry the bag with a piece of cloth.
You can also remove fresh ink using table salt. Add salt to the soap solution, apply the mixture to the skin, rub and leave for a couple of hours. Clean the area with clean water and wipe dry.

Saving your bag from ink

Alcohol removes ink from skin well. Wet a cloth with it, wipe the surface where the ink is present, and cover the skin with glycerin on top. Do not use this method on fair skin.
Spray hairspray onto the stained area, hold for a few minutes, and rinse off the hairspray. Repeat the procedure if the stains do not come off the first time.
Wet a cloth with milk and place it on the dirty area for 60 minutes. Pat skin dry.

Quick odor removal

You often have to carry shoes and food containers in your bag. Because of this, the accessory acquires an unpleasant odor. Simple but effective means will help eliminate it.

Sachets of coffee or flavored tea

A small amount of dry tea or coffee should be poured into a paper or fabric bag and placed in the pocket of the bag. After a day, the original sachet can be thrown away.

Rice and vinegar

Rinse a glass of rice well in 1 liter of water. Then the water is poured into another container. A cotton pad is soaked in this liquid and the item is wiped from the outside and inside. After this, the product should be rinsed in vinegar and wiped with a soft cloth.

Essential oils

Aromatic oils are used to eliminate unpleasant odors. Just a few drops can solve this problem.

How to restore shine

The products you have in your medicine cabinet and kitchen will help you return your handbag to its original shine.

Glycerin and Vaseline

With their help, an invisible film is created on the surface. This creates protection against damage and makes the tarnished varnish shine.

Olive oil

You need to moisten a cloth in the oil and wipe the product with it. After half an hour, the surface is treated with a clean cloth.

Chicken yolk, turpentine, vegetable oil

One yolk should be mixed with 1 tsp. butter and 3 tbsp. turpentine. The resulting solution is applied to the bag and immediately removed with a soft cloth.

How and with what to remove scratches on a leather bag: instructions, tips

There are a huge number of methods that allow you to remove scratches from a leather bag. We offer you the most common and effective ones.

Using baking soda:

Empty the bag of all items so that it is as flat as possible. Place the product on the table on top of a towel so that the scratches face up.
Wet the soft material and squeeze it out so that no drops drip off. Place the cloth over the scratches and gently press the material in a circular motion. Rub for 10 seconds, then examine the surface of the skin to see if a positive result appears.
If the scratches are not gone, sprinkle soda (1\4 tsp) on the damp material, place it on the damaged area, and gently rub the cloth so as not to damage the surface. Rub in for about 10 seconds.
Rinse the material, squeeze it out, wipe the skin, thereby removing the soda. Then dry the bag thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth. Polish the area until it is shiny.

Using olive oil:

Small scratches can be easily removed with olive oil. Apply it to the damage, rub the soft material in a circular motion around the scratches. Wait about 1 hour, during which time the oil will be absorbed.
If you do not get a positive result, repeat the procedure. To help the oil absorb better, cover the scratches with a slightly damp piece of cotton and iron with a slightly heated iron. This method will allow you to make the scratches only slightly noticeable or disappear altogether.

Bring bags into perfect condition
Using polymer dye:

Professionals, as a rule, use special tools for such procedures. On sale you can also easily find a water-soluble polymer - “liquid skin”. This product will reliably hide scratches, even small tears.

Inspect the scratch area and remove any protruding areas of skin.
Treat the surface a little with a manicure buff.
Wipe the area with alcohol.
Apply “liquid skin” in a thin layer. Press with a sponge to create a raised effect. Wait 15 minutes, polish the skin with a soft material. If necessary, reapply the product.

Product care rules

To preserve the appearance of your favorite handbag, you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

avoid close contact of the accessory with other objects;
avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays;
store the item in a canvas bag in a dark, dry place;
when storing in a bag, fill it with cloth or paper;
Do not hang it on the back of a chair.

If you cannot remove the stains yourself, it is better to contact a dry cleaner..