Interview
For a leather accessory
Your leather bag or wallet is as robust as it is fragile. We therefore recommend regular care and maintenance to keep them looking their best for years to come.
Here are 3 steps to restore your leather to its former glory:
Step 1: Cleaning
When caring for your leather, it's essential to start with the cleaning stage, choosing the rightproduct for the material:
For smooth leather: using a soft, slightly damp cloth, apply Marseille soap or cleansing milk to the surface in circular movements.
For oily leather: clean the surface with soapy water.
For suede or nubuck: dust the surface with a soft brush.
Step 2: Feeding
Nourishing leather is essential to preserve its beauty. Over time, the material develops a natural patina, giving it its distinctive character.
Whatever the type of leather, it's important to nourish it with shoe polish or special leather moisturizer... or not. The moisturizing cream in your bathroom is just as effective.
Note: to nourish patent leather, apply a drop of edible oil to the surface and dry immediately.
For a canvas accessory
To clean a canvas bag, hand-wash rather than machine-wash, which is more aggressive.
To wash by hand, follow the steps below:
1. Remove dust from your bag by shaking and/or wiping with a dry cloth.
2. If there are any stains, scrub the surface with a brush or soft cloth, Marseille soap and lukewarm water, then rinse with clean water.
3. Air-dry your bag on a flat surface. It is not advisable to hang it up with pins, as it may become deformed.
For machine washing, follow these recommendations:
- Opt for a "hand wash" program.
- Before putting the bag in the washing machine, remove the straps and accessories.
- Protect your bag with a net or pillowcase.
- Use a small amount of detergent and a short cycle.
- Do not tumble dry your accessory, as this may damage it. Let it air dry.
For a nylon accessory
Nylon is a water-resistant material. However, be careful not to use water that is too hot, as this may leave marks on the surface. As with canvas, it's best to clean your nylon bag by hand. To do this, use a "homemade" product to pre-wash your accessory; for example, mix a cup of cold water with 30 mL of washing-up liquid. Then follow the steps below:
1. Rub the stains into the nylon surface using your "homemade" product and a toothbrush. Use circular motions to work the stains into a lather.
2. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
3. Gently pat nylon dry.
Please note: if your nylon bag has leather handles, you must wash it by hand. Handles shouldnot be immersed in water; to clean them, rub them gently with a cotton pad soaked in cleansing milk or shoe polish.
For machine washing, follow the instructions below:
- Use a "cold wash" program.
- Use very little detergent (about half the amount normally used for a washing machine).
- Program a normal cycle in the same way as for a garment machine.
- To remove a grease stain: if it's a new stain, apply talcum powder or flour to absorb it. If it's an older stain, apply slightly damp Marseille soap, leave for an hour, then rub, rinse and dry.
For a synthetic (or imitation leather) accessory
Synthetic bags require little maintenance. To clean your accessory, simply wipe with a damp cloth and a little pH-neutral soap, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth. Never rub your synthetic bag, as this may damage it.