We all know how valuable a purse can be to it’s owner, especially an expensive designer purse. We also know that purses are constantly exposed to the environment and thus have a high chance of getting unwanted stains on them.

If you do get a stain on your favourite purse, don’t stress it, we have some advice for how to remove the stain. This of course depends heavily on the type of material that your purse is made of and the extent of damage caused by the stain. In some cases a home remedy may not do the job and you will have to take it to a professional purse care specialist.

Below are some tips on how to remove stains from your leather, canvas or suede purse. Before using any of these methods on your stained purse make sure to try it on an inconspicuous area of your purse to ensure that it doesn’t damage the material itself.

Leather Purse Stain Removal Tips

There are several home remedies available for cleaning light stains on your leather purse, each one depending on the type of stain that you are dealing with:

• Food or blood stains – To remove dark stains from your leather purse, such as food and blood stains, start by making a paste consisting of one part lemon juice one part cream of tartar. Rub this paste into the stain gently and let it sit for 10-20 minutes, after which you will need to remove the paste with a damp rag. Once this is complete you will need to dry the area of your purse that you just washed with a soft cloth and make sure to remove all moisture.

• Ink stains – For small ink stains on leather it is recommended to use isopropyl alcohol. Using a cotton swab or cotton ball, lightly dab the area that is stained and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Finally dry the area with soft towel or cloth.

• Oil and grease stains – Oil and grease stains are the toughest ones to remove from your purse so extra precaution must be taken to avoid making the problem worst. Start off by using a dry cloth to blot any remaining oil away before it spreads to other parts of the purse. Once you have removed excess oil, sprinkle a bit of cornstarch on the remaining stain and let it sit over night. The cornstarch will absorb the oil stain and should be wiped off the following morning with a dry cloth.

Canvas Purse Stain Removal Tips

Most stains that you would find on a canvas purse can simply be removed with liquid detergent and a soft brush, as long as the stain isn’t too deep of course. For more complex stains such as ink and oil stains more complex methods are required:

• Ink Stains – For light ink stains you can make a mixture from equal parts of baking soda and toothpaste. Using a damp toothbrush, rub the mixture gently onto the stain. You should notice right away if this is working and if it is continue applying the mixture until the stain is fully gone and let the area air dry.

• Oil and grease stains – Similar to removing oil stains from a leather purse, cornstarch is an effective way to absorb any remaining oil that may spread to other parts of the purse. Let the cornstarch remain on the stain for several hours before removing it with a soft brush. Once all of the cornstarch has been removed you can gently scrub a mild soap into the stain and let it air dry.

Suede Purse Stain Removal Tips

Suede purses, like many other suede products, look very elegant but unfortunately come with the downside of being highly absorbent and easily damaged by water and stains. Depending on the intensity of the stain, there are several methods that can be used to remove a stain from your suede purse. Here are some tips for removing stains from your suede purse:

• Most light stains and dirt on suede purses can be removed by gently rubbing the stain with a suede brush or a white pencil eraser. This lifts the suede and slowly gets rid of any dry pieces from the stain.
• For tougher stains you can use steam to moisten the stain and then brush it off with a suede brush.

Regardless of what type of stain it is, the key with suede is to be very careful and delicate as suede can be ruined very easily.