My friend, do you have a fake suede bag? I bet it looks super cute, but can be tricky to keep clean. If you’re not careful, you can damage it for good. So you need to know how to take proper care of it. Well, here’s how I do it— parenting a fake suede bag ain’t for the faint of heart!
The first step is to thoroughly vacuum it. Make sure you get the crevices. You can also spruce it up with an upholstery brush. Just make sure you use one with soft, natural bristles.
Afterwards, you’re gonna wanna take a damp cloth with some mild soap. Some say you should use baby shampoo or a tiny bit of laundry detergent, but I just stick to my trusty, go-to Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. Whatever you choose, go light on the soap— you don’t want to damage that soft material. Gently swirl the cloth around your bag— but don’t scrub!
Once you’re done with that, odors can be a real problem with fake suede. The best way I’ve found to combat them is to get some distilled white vinegar and diluted it 1:1 with water. Then, dip your cloth into the solution and dab any areas with odors.
I’ve also found that sometimes all your fake suede needs is some sprucing up. Wanna know how to get it looking brand new? Sprinkle a bit of cornstarch into the bag and brush it down lightly with a soft bristled brush. It’ll bring back that soft, velvety look.
Know what else really works? Spot cleaning. Follow the same steps I mentioned above, but limit it to the specific area that needs cleaning. Depending on the color fabric, you may need to apply some dye to the area you’re treating. A little more complicated, but it gets the job done.
Now, after all that hard work, you’re gonna wanna make sure you take some preventive measure to keep your bag like new. Use some protective cleaner— I like to go with a good leather conditioner— and give all the areas a light rubdown. That’ll help seal in the cleanliness and prevent staining.
The last step? Spend as little time as possible around potential mess-making items— think grease, chocolate, oils, mascara, and the like. Over time, the less mess you make, the cleaner your bag will continue to stay.
And that’s how I keep my fake suede bag looking brand spanking new! Now, let’s talk about what to do if you get some tough stains on your bag. Depending on the stained item, I’ve found a few ways to get them out.
If it’s just some old-fashioned dirt, I’ve found a little rubbing alcohol mixed with laundry detergent goes a long way. Also, try to invest in some fabric protector. It’ll help your bag stay stain-free over time, depend on the brand you get.
On the other hand, if you somehow manage to get oil on your fake suede, try sprinkling some cornstarch and letting it soak it up. Make sure you don’t rub it in; that can do some damage.
Sometimes the pesky stains just won’t go away, no matter how hard you scrub. If this is the case, you may have to turn to a professional cleaner. It may be the pricier option, but it’ll save you from making any permanent damage to your faux leather bag.
To wrap things up, just remember that when it comes to maintaining a fake suede bag, the concept of less is more really holds true. Get some good fabric protector, spot clean as needed, and stay mindful of the places you’re carrying it— that’s all you really need to do. Think of it like a pet: with some love and care, your fake suede bag will stay looking fab for years to come.