How to Clean Patent Leather Purses

If your patent bags have lost their brilliant shine, here are 8 easy ways to make your patent leather purses look like new again.

Things You’ll Need to Clean Patent Leather Purses

• Vinegar
• Water
• Rubbing alcohol
• Mineral oil
• Liquid detergent
• Acetone-free polish remover
• Petroleum jelly
• Glass cleaner

8 Steps to Clean a Patent Leather Purse

Step 1 – Spring clean your patent purse with a soapy mixture

Clean your patent leather bag with warm water and liquid soap. Mix 1 one part soap with 4 four parts lukewarm water.

Apply the soapy mixture to the patent leather bag with an old rag T-shirt or diaper. Pat the patent bag dry with a clean towel.

Step 2 – Get rid of pesky pen marks

Remove tough scuff and pen marks with rubbing alcohol.  First, rub the marks with a terry towel or microfiber cloth. If the stain persists, dab the marks with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.

Press firmly on the purse to saturate the pen-stained leather. Wait 5 five minutes. Wipe the solution clean with a clean cloth to remove the stain completely.

Step 3 – Restore shine with vinegar and water

Shine your patent handbag the bag with water and vinegar.

Restore gloss by mixing 1 or 2 tablespoons of tbsp. white vinegar with a ½ 1/2 cup of cold water. Rinse the patent bag with water to rid your purse of any vinegar residue.

Step 4 – Banish black scuffs with polish remover

Get rid of black scuffs with acetone-free nail polish remover. Using a cotton ball soaked with polish remover, gently dab the scuffed area to remove the black mark.

Wipe the bag with a rag dipped in cold water to remove any polish remover residue. Let bag dry in a well-ventilated area for 24 hours.

Step 5 – Keep bags clean with mild liquid detergent and water

To remove surface dirt, clean your patent leather purse with a mixture of water and liquid detergent.

Mix 2 tablespoons of detergent with 1 cup of cold water. Soak the edge of a white cloth in the soapy water to clean. Pat purse dry using a clean cloth.

Step 6 -Clean dirty patent leather with a vinegar and water mixture

To restore shine to a patent leather handbag, mix 2 to 4 tablespoons of vinegar with a ½ cup of warm water.

Use a clean white rag or old white t-shirt to eliminate any small traces of vinegar residue on the purse.

Step 7 -Spray your patent leather bag with glass cleaner for additional shine

Spray the cleaner on a white towel and rub it gently. Rub the patent bag lightly to clean.

Dry your patent handbag in a well-ventilated and cool area for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 8- Moisturize your bag with petroleum jelly or mineral oil

Apply a small drop of the greasy product to a clean white cloth. Polish the patent bag using a circular motion.

More Patent Leather Purse Cleaning Tricks and Tips

• If cosmetics spill on your patent handbag, wipe them off with a clean damp cloth.
• Real Simple Magazine says, “To prevent dye transfer in the future, store patent leather away from colored plastic or cotton bags.”
• Do not apply heat from a blow dryer to dry your patent leather handbag quickly.
• To maintain the shape of your leather bags, stuff them with a tissue or plastic bags. Then, to keep them from sticking together when you store them, place each in a flannel bag or a pillowcase.
• For fresh stains, Who What Wear recommends that you, apply a bit of Scotch tape directly to the stain. Since patent leather is resistant to a number of common substances, peeling the tape off will, in many cases, remove the mark completely.
• Avoid using wax products, which can cause patent leather to crack and peel.

Our Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to clean your patent leather purses, you can pull that grungy bag out of the closet and clean it up. If you follow our steps, use the right products, and follow the product instructions, you can get your patent leather handbag looking like new.