How to Clean a Purse

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

For many, carrying a purse is an all day every day necessity. It can be really convenient to have your money, writing utensils, makeup, and more readily available at all times. Unfortunately, with all of that use, it sure can be tough to keep it clean. Whether the exterior is fading, pesky stains won’t come out, or the inside is a crumby mess, your purse has probably seen better days. By taking careful steps to remove unwanted stains, organize, and preserve, your purse can become clean and stay clean.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Organizing Your Purse

1
Try to throw away any trash in your purse once per day. One of the most important steps to take towards keeping a clean, organized purse is frequently checking for and discarding things like half-eaten snacks, gum wrappers, and expired coupons. It’s easy to let scraps of trash build up in your purse, but try to throw them away more regularly.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Christel Ferguson
Professional Organizer
Expert Interview. 17 December 2018.}
2
Vacuum out crumbs and dirt. Even after you’ve gone through your purse and thrown out any trash, the inside lining of your purse may be dirty. Use a small, gentle vacuum to suck out the particles of food and dirt that may have collected in the bottom.

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3
Compartmentalize items into separate pouches. By keeping potentially messy items in separate pouches, you can easily find items and also avoid stains.^{[2]
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- You could have a pouch for snacks, writing utensils, makeup, and more.
4
Minimize the contents of your purse to essentials. Try not to keep items in your purse that you only need from time to time. If you don’t use it nearly every day, it doesn’t belong in your purse. If you must have it, try to have the smallest, lightest bottle or container of it.
- For instance, you don’t need a full-sized bottle of perfume in your purse.
5
Have designated locations for money and receipts. As soon as you leave a store or restaurant, don’t just throw your change and receipts loosely into your purse. Having specific locations within your purse to keep these items is essential to staying organized.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning a Leather Purse

1
Take your purse to a cleaning professional. If you don’t want to fuss with figuring out what the best products to use are for your specific stain, this is the safest route. Because they have experience, professional cleaners are often the best option, especially if you have a significantly challenging stain, such as one from ink. Once your purse is cleaned, make sure that you let it dry naturally in an area where it has good ventilation.^{[3]
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2
Remove generic stains with a damp washcloth. You can dip the tip of the washcloth in water and dab any coffee stains, mascara, and dirt right off. For the harder stains, take a sponge and use the rough side to scrape it off.
- Dish detergent can also be used to remove dirt stains.
- Scuff marks can be removed with leather cleaner.^{[4]
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- Oil stains can be removed with baby powder or cornstarch.
- Trickier stains might require the careful use of a brush instead of a cloth.^{[5]
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3
Routinely use a conditioning treatment on your purse. Condition your purse with leather conditioner once every couple of months to keep it from cracking and drying out.
4
Wash your purse in the washing machine. Contrary to popular belief, putting your leather purse in the washer with a little bit of oil soap and then putting it in the dryer for ten minutes usually does the trick. This is great for a general cleaning, but other methods should be used for stain removal and other issues.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning a Canvas Purse

1
Remove light stains with a sponge and soap. Less challenging stains, such as dirt stains, are best removed by lightly dabbing a soft, slightly damp sponge on the stained area.
2
Avoid rubbing or scrubbing. This strategy can make the any stains bigger or deeper than they already are. Keep in mind that different types of stains require different solutions. ^{[7]
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- Oil is a more stubborn stain, but can be removed from canvas with talcum powder, cornstarch, or enzyme cleaner. ^{[8]
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- Ink is another tricky stain. Try removing it from your canvas purse by applying a mixture of toothpaste, detergent, and baking soda with a toothbrush.
- After cleaning or removing a stain, it is vital that you let your purse dry somewhere with good ventilation. Consider hanging it on a clothes line.
3
Do not submerge your canvas purse in water. Attempting to clean your purse by submerging it can cause any stains to bleed and can ruin its shape. Spot clean dirty areas and stains in order to get the best result.^{[9]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I clean a Baggalini purse?

Community Answer

Dip it in vinegar. It kills bacteria and makes it shiny. The bag will soak it up and it will not smell bad.
Question

How do you make your Coach purse water and dirt resistant?

Community Answer

Use "Neverwet"; you can find it on Amazon. It will waterproof just about anything. Check the label on the back to see if your purse material is included.

Warnings

Remember that time is of the essence. However, the newer the stain, the easier to remove.

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Remember that different products remove stains on different materials.

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Be careful when using home remedies.

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