How To Revive a Vintage Handbag At Home

The pre-owned and vintage handbag market has exploded in recent years– driven largely by the fact that we’ve all become much more conscious of the life and quality of luxury items and the impact that waste is having on the planet.

Buying a preowned item and using it for another nine months can actually reduce its water and carbon footprint by 20 to 30 percent. And of course, the satisfaction that comes from doing what’s right for the environment.

You’ll never see brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel mark down their products nor Hermes stop limiting their sales to only exclusive clientele - so buying preloved is the canny and sustainable loophole.

As the UK’s original handbag restorer since 2013 and the only fully circular service where you can buy, sell and restore designer handbags, we know a thing about vintage finds and bringing them back to life.

Professional restoration can perform miracles and add hundreds and even thousands of pounds to the value of your bag. From removing stubborn stains, repairing scuffs and tears or replacing broken zips, split piping, worn edges and damaged hardware, improving colourloss, reinforcing shape and stretched straps; our dedicated team of artisans combine the finest craftsmanship, technology and innovative techniques to achieve the seemingly impossible. 

If you’ve snapped up a vintage treasure on the preowned market and want to spruce it up at home, here’s our definitive 5-step guide: 

Cleaning your bag for the first time can seem a little daunting. First and foremost, it’s essential you have the right tools and products. We see so many customers bring in bags that probably only initially needed a small £50 fix – but because they have used the wrong products or pressure when cleaning, they now require significantly more work. Make sure you choose products that are specially designed for gently cleaning the specific material of your leather, suede/Nubuck or fabric handbag. Abrasive chemicals and luxury materials are disastrous bedfellows!

We sell a great range of our own patented Care Kits, which include the specialist Cleaner and Protection for Leather, Fabric and Suedes. These have everything you need to give you the best possible cleaning result and keep your handbag looking its best, including the right cloths, sponges and brushes.

2. Create a foam and massage into the bag, inside and outside

Start with one panel of your handbag and apply your leather, suede or fabric cleaner onto the cloth provided. Work up a foam and massage this into each panel of your bag in turn, using a circular motion. Be sure to use an even covering of the leather cleaner to the panel to avoid water marks – it’s all about even distribution which is why applying the cleaning solution to the cloth will work best.

Work round the bag concentrating on one panel at a time and then, after removing any loose dust or debris, you can do the same with the lining of the bag. Repeat this process, until the cloth you are using no longer shows any further dirt coming off the surface of the leather, suede or fabric. Leave to dry naturally at room temperature so as not to dry the leather too quickly.

Once the cleaning process is complete and the bag is fully dry, add a protection cream to the provided sponge. As before, apply this in a circular motion to each panel of the bag. You should pay particular attention to handles, corners and frequently used areas. The protection cream not only feeds and nourishes the leather but, once absorbed, creates a liquid repellent barrier on the surface. 

This means that, should an accident occur such as a spilled drink, hand sanitiser or uncapped pen mishap, you can quickly wipe this away as it delays the absorption period. Allow 5 minutes for the protection cream to dry. If you have a light-coloured bag or if it’s a particularly absorbent leather, you may want to repeat the protection process a couple of times to really look after those easily stained leathers. Protecting your bag takes no more than 15 minutes and could save you a fortune on restoration treatment in the future and it will also keep the value in your bag so you get the most longevity.

The Handbag Clinic protection cream is also scented with a rich leather smell so it will help to reduce any unwanted odours too. On fabrics, a fabric freshening spray will help but do not saturate the fabric or you may risk warping the bag or damaging any leather or metalwork.

Once all coats have been applied, buff off with a lint-free cloth. This ensures there is no product residue remaining on the surface of the leather and ensures a tight seal under the surface. The best way to keep your items looking their best is to keep them protected against any eventuality. This process should be repeated every 3 months, or more if your bag is used more frequently. In the event your item is suede or fabric, the protection comes in the form of a spray, which can be applied across the bag and again needs to be left to dry.

Using helpful tools and tricks to avoid signs of wear will also keep your bag looking new for as long as possible. When your bag is not in use it should be stuffed to keep your it looking structured and avoid losing shape – you can use soft tissue or – better still - a handbag pillow.

Keep your bag in its dust bag when it’s not in use too to prevent dye contamination or damage from sunlight or other garments. The bag should always be stored in cool, dry environment such as a wardrobe. High temperatures can make waxed edges or handles tacky to the touch which will, in time, affect their appearance and will require professional help to remedy. They should never be stored anywhere that contains moisture as this leads to bad odours, mildew or water staining.

As a final word on handbag care, it’s important to understand the difference between cleaning and restoration and to know when to leave it to the experts!

Discover our full range of handbag cleaning and repair services. 

Need our help? Get a free restoration quote today.

And, if you’re also a lover of vintage shoes, we can help with those too. Have a look at our Shoe Services.