Handbag Tip: How to Clean a Velvet Bag

Velvet is such a luxurious fabric, but there is a reason why so many bags aren’t made of this material. It’s incredibly stubborn to deal with when it comes to maintenance. Cleaning a velvet handbag is really quite simple and shouldn’t deter you from purchasing a gorgeous velvet purse.  Like the super stunning Ralph Lauren Velvet Mini Ricky in Taupe – currently on the top of my wishlist! To me a velvet purse is perfect around the holiday season.

The trick to cleaning a velvet bag is really quite easy and won’t require you to take a trip to the dry cleaners. More importantly, no chemicals needed!

What you Need:

Dry TowelSteamer – please test your steamer prior to steaming! It would be an awful accident if it shot hot water at your bag!Soft BrushVacuum and thin nozzle attachment

Once velvet gets wet, it leaves a mineral deposit that should be removed as soon as possible. So say you find yourself outside in the midst of a rainstorm without an umbrella and your bag gets drenched, take a water absorbent towel (dry cloth) to it as soon as possible and blot it dry, soaking up as much of the liquid as possible.

If it’s been a day or two and you noticed that your bag has water marks, do not fear. There is a way to clean your velvet handbag!

All you need is a steamer and a dry cloth. From a distance, lightly steam the spot, immediately followed by the dry cloth and finished with a soft brush. Never place the steamer directly on the spot as that can damage the material.

Another option is using a vacuum, thin nozzle, and towel if the surface area of the bag is big enough. Trust me, this works like magic! Use this technique after steaming or immediately after coming in from the rain. Simply place the towel over the thin nozzle attachment (you don’t want it to pull too much at the material) and lightly press the water mark. This will pull the water right up. Follow this technique up with the soft brush and your bag is good as new!

If you have any other tips or questions about how to clean your velvet bag, send me an email [email protected]