So your DIY queen has taken it upon herself to give you the top 5 tips on how to take care of your luxurious fashion accessories - all in the comfort of your home and on a budget. We all love shopping right? We buy a brand new leather tote, strut around town in that new Michael Kors Navy Jet Set Tote or maybe a Michael Kors Mustard Hamilton Lock Tote. But then we come home and throw that bag at the back of our cupboard or then leave it out to collect dust. And then there are those mishaps, which we here at Secret Stash have seen a ton of. From misshapen bags, spilled coffee, scuffed suede, to pen marks and chhaaliya inside the bags (yes seriously it happens) we’ve seen it all! A good handbag is a fashion investment. Make yours last longer by learning how to take care of your fashion accessories. You’ll keep your hobos, clutches, and totes looking great for years.

So let’s get right to it. Here are our top 5 tips on how to take care of those handbags that you have purchased with your hard earned money (or your husband’s 😉).

Tip Number 1:  STUFF STUFF AWAY

Please stuff your bags with crunched newspaper, butter paper, soft plastic bags, or bubble wrap. We can’t stress how important this step is. It ensures that your bag does not lose its shape. If you keep your bags stuffed, the leather or suede won’t get wrinkled or lose its original shape. This Kate Spade Mint Green Laser-Cut Tote is a prime example of the kind of bag that needs to be kept stuffed in order for it to not lose its shape. And who wants a lopsided, wrinkled bag that reminds us of an age-old mango lying in the fridge for days!

Tip Number 2:  WIPE AWAY THOSE STAINS

You can use hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover to wipe away those stains on leather goods. This includes dust marks, spots, stains, pen marks and water stains. Dip a cotton swab or tissue in hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover and lightly blot the stain. Don’t rub, or you could make the mark spread or possibly scrub off the colour of the leather. Blot gently till the stain is gone. Wipe with a clean, damp cloth and dry with a towel. Please always do a spot check first as this may not always work on every item. There is always a risk of fading out the colour of the leather so tread carefully. The Michael Kors Grey Selma Satchel is the kind of bag where hand sanitizer can easily be used to remove marks and stains.

Tip Number 3:  RE-FLUFF THAT SUEDE

So we all know that heart sinking feeling when our suede sinks or scruffs. Even the best of them like our Saint Laurent 'Betty' beauty can depreciate over time if they are not well taken care of. So if you have a suede bag or shoe, then here’s a little killer tip from us here at Secret Stash. Use an eraser! Yes, we’re talking about one of those pencil erasers. They can do miracles at re-fluffing that suede and getting rid of scuff marks. Gently erase away any scuffs or marks and then use your fingers to dust away any leftover particles. Brush the suede with a regular brush or your fingers and enjoy your new re-plumped scuff free suede accessory. Again, please always do a spot check first.

Tip Number 4:  MOISTURISE THAT SKIN

You would be surprised to hear this but even leather needs its fair share of skincare. It’s very important for leather to be moisturized in order for it to keep its smoothness and luster. So here’s our quick DIY tip for you to keep your leather goods as good as new. Take a light dollop of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) which has no added colours or flavorings, and massage your leather bag with this. Once done, take a clean cloth and wipe away any excess product and leave the product to air-dry overnight. I promise you, you will be amazed at the results. It’s like giving your leather goods a thousand dollar facial.

Tip Number 5:  BANISH THAT TARNISH

Here’s a quick tip to get rid of that nasty tarnish on that beautiful gold or silver toned hardware on your bags and shoes. We all know the feeling right, when all we want to do is banish that tarnish. So here goes tip number 5. Hello again, pencil eraser. You’ll be surprised how well this can get rid of tarnish. Granted, it doesn’t always work, especially if the tarnish is very extreme or if they’re actually scratches as opposed to tarnish, but when it does work, it works WONDERS! So erase away that tarnish and renew that age-old hardware.

Hope these tips are helpful our dear shopaholics! 

Lots of love,

Secret Stash in-house DIY Queen

Mesha Sayeed

Have questions or comments? Leave a message in the comments section below and we will get back to you!