How to Care for Your Everyday Bag (5 Minutes a Month)

A bag that gets used every day picks up three things: dust, skin oils and the odd splash. None of them ruins a bag on its own — it is leaving them there for months that does. Five minutes at the start of each month is genuinely all the maintenance a well-made bag needs.

Start by emptying it completely and turning it upside down over a bin. Wipe the lining with a dry microfibre cloth, then run the same cloth over the outside. For vegan leather, a barely damp cloth followed by a dry one lifts marks that dry wiping leaves behind — never use alcohol wipes or household cleaners, which strip the top coat and leave dull patches.

Rhinestone and sequin bags want the opposite: keep them dry. Dust the surface with a soft, dry brush — a clean blush brush is perfect — and avoid spraying perfume or hairspray while wearing the bag, because alcohol loosens the adhesive under the stones. If a stone does come away, keep it; a dot of clear jewellery glue puts it back invisibly.

Storage matters more than most people expect. Stuff the bag lightly with tissue or a scarf so it keeps its shape, tuck the strap inside rather than letting it fold sharply, and store it in a dust bag with a little airflow. Plastic boxes trap humidity, and humidity is what makes linings smell.

Finally, rotate. Even the best-made bag will wear at the corners if it works seven days a week. Two bags in rotation last more than twice as long as one — which is the most economical argument for a second bag we can offer you.

• #bag care
• #vegan leather
• #maintenance