Buying designer leather bags may be a good investment if you want a fashionable, functional bag that lasts decades. However, proper care is required to prevent damage to your purse.
One common issue leather bag owners deal with is worn purse corners. Leaving your designer bag with scuffed or ripped corners may compromise the functionality of your purse.
Regular cleaning and fixing any damage as soon as you find it is the best way to increase the lifespan of your purse. But before fixing your worn-out purse corner, thoroughly clean your purse first. For this process, you may need the following:
Cleaning Your Purse
There are two ways you can clean your purse; you can either use leather lotion or a solution comprising warm water and dish soap.
Remove All the Debris From the Inside
Before applying anything to your purse, empty the insides of the bag and all the pockets. Hold your purse upside down and start shaking to remove the remaining dust and debris inside.
After thoroughly shaking, turn the lining inside out and use a lint roller to get any stubborn debris stuck inside the bag.
Once you’ve successfully removed the dirt and debris from the inside of your purse, you can now start cleaning the outer surface.
Cleaning the Outer Surface
- Pour the leather lotion or dish soap solution onto a clean towel.
- Rub the towel with the leather lotion or solution onto the surface of the purse, and make sure to rub it in a circular motion.
- Repeat the first two steps until you have covered your whole purse.
- If you use the dish soap cleaning solution, you may need a second clean, damp cloth to wipe the soap off the leather.
Of course, having purse-cleaning experts do the work for you is still significantly better. Look no further than Love Your Purse for your purse cleaning needs in Toronto & GTA.
We are proud to have the largest and busiest purse, shoes and hat cleaning facility in Canada. From Coach, Prada, and Luis Vuitton to Chanel, Kate Spade, and everything in between, we specialize in cleaning all kinds of handbags and purses.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Repair Worn Purse Corners
Before proceeding with the repair, it is essential to clean the purse first to remove any dirt and debris from the corners. Once you clean bother the inside and outside of the purse, allow it to dry completely.
You can now start with the repair process for the purse corners.
Method 1: Using Leather Acrylic Paint
You’ll need to have the following tools for this method:
- Leather acrylic paint
- Small paintbrush
- Clean paper towel
Follow these steps:
- Make sure your bag is fully dry and clean. You can start by applying a thin amount of leather acrylic paint to your paintbrush.
- Once your paintbrush has been covered with appropriate leather acrylic paint, dab it onto the bottom corners of your purse.
- Only apply a thin amount of leather acrylic, as it’s easier to build your way up than wiping it back down.
- Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the coverage.
- Dab any excess leather acrylic with a clean paper towel.
- Leave your purse to dry for at least one hour.
Method 2: Using Leather Glue
This method requires the following tools:
- Fine sandpaper
- Leathercraft tool
- Leather glue
- Soft cloth
- Leather conditioner
Follow these steps:
- Buff out the surfaces that have scratches or blemishes, then sand the area with fine sandpaper.
- Use leather glue to coat the leather edges, let the glue dry overnight.
- Use fine sandpaper to buff the corners.
- Put a thin coat of leather conditioner on the corners and let the conditioner dry overnight.
- Buff the edges using a soft cloth.
Method 3: Leather Pads
For this method, you’ll need the following:
- Leather padding
- Fabric glue
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
Follow these steps accordingly:
- Determine the size of the area where the leather on your bag is peeling. After that, cut a piece of leather padding slightly bigger than the area that was measured.
- Put fabric glue on the back of the leather padding, then apply it to the part where the leather is peeling. To keep the padding in place, make sure you press down firmly.
- You can use a needle and thread to sew around the edges of the padding to prevent it from getting loose. By sewing the loose edges, it will keep everything in place better.
- After attaching the leather padding, let it dry for a few hours. When it’s completely dried, you should be able to use your bag normally again.
This DIY guide may help you repair your purse corner temporarily. However, we still highly recommend that you bring your purse in for repairs at Love Your Leather.
We offer the highest-quality designer purse repair in Toronto & GTA. Whether your valuable bag requires hardware or zipper replacement, colour or dye-transfer restoration, or anything in between; our designer purse repair experts can get it done better than anyone!
Condition Your Leather Purse
Use a leather conditioner after cleaning your bag to prevent it from drying out and cracking. Leather conditioner may also make your purse more stain-resistant.
You may purchase a commercial leather conditioner or create your own at home using 1 part vinegar and two parts linseed oil. Apply on leather, let set for about 15 minutes, then buff with a soft cloth until the leather shines.
Your leather purse will retain its polished finish and functionality if you consistently clean and condition it properly.
Caring For Your Leather Shouldn’t Stop There
Poor storage can cause leather handbags to accumulate dust, creases, discoloration, and even mould. The best course of action is to store leather bags properly rather than constantly eliminating creases and mould.
When it comes to leather bags, additional care should be exercised, even though many people use storage alternatives that are typical for other types of bags. Due to its porous nature, leather needs specific care to last long without showing signs of wear and tear.
If your leather purse has lost shape, you can stuff it with bubble wrap or parchment paper (don’t use newspaper, as it would smudge) to hold and restore its shape.
Keep your leather bag dry by storing it in its box with silica gel packets and the dust bag. If you want to keep your leather bag mould-free, air it out once every two weeks.
At Love Your Purse, we value sustainability, so we encourage our customers to bring their worn-out purses to us, and we will restore them to their original condition.
Purses are sadly not immune to wear and tear over time. If your leather purse desperately needs repair, don’t throw it away! Instead, contact our purse repair experts from Love Your Purse. We handle all sorts of leather purse repairs, including damaged trims, handles/lining, scratches, exposed piping, redyeing and more.