Around the House
How Do I Clean A Coach Bag
Coach bags are made of fine materials. And, like their owners, they are in need of self care to look and feel their best! Here are some easy steps you can take to keep your leather Coach bag, purse or wallet looking its best for years to come.
Step 1: Empty the contents of your bag. This is a great time to do a little reorganizing. Ridding your purse of “excess baggage” is satisfying on several levels. The folks at HGTV recommend shaking your purse upside down to get rid of the dirt and debris that is hiding at the bottom. Feeling really ambitious? Grab the crevice tool of your vacuum and remove those nasty bits of “whatever” is still lurking at the bottom of your bag.
Step 2: Choose the cleaning based on the type of material your Coach bag is made from. There are 4 categories that Coach bags fall into: Coach Leathers; Sport Calf; Fabrics and Woven Material; and Specialty Leathers. Each type of material has its own preferred method of cleaning. Coach leathers, sports calf and woven materials have straight forward cleaning methods. However, specialty materials, such as those made from exotic animal skins, often have specific cleaning dos and don'ts. If your bag falls into the specialty materials category, be certain to bring it to a qualified professional cleaner. If you are unsure, stop by a Coach retailer for guidance.
Step 3: Clean your bag with a soft cloth dampened with a cleaning solution. Microfiber towels are our go-to because they are lint free and durable. Coach makes its own leather cleaning solution specifically for Coach bags. If you would like to make your own, HGTV recommends mixing warm water with some dish soap. Regardless of whether you are using a homemade or store bought cleaning solution, there are two steps to best results.
First, always test the cleaning solution in a hidden area of your bag (such as the bottom). Even when using Coach brand products, it is better safe than sorry. Clean a small section and allow it to dry. Look for any adverse reactions, such as color loss or material distortion.
Second, use the least amount of cleaning product possible. Ring out the towel of excess cleaning solution before applying to your bag. You do not want to wet the material more than necessary.
Clean using a circular motion, making sure you overlap your clean areas as you go.
If the cleaning solution you are using is too soapy, wipe away the excess soap by dipping a towel in clear water; wring out well so the towel is damp. Use the same circular method with the damp cloth as with the cleaning solution cloth.
Allow your bag to air dry before moving on to the next step.
Step 4: Apply leather conditioner, which will keep your bag soft and subtle, while protecting it from cracking and drying. Use clean, dry towels when conditioning leather. Add a small amount of conditioner to a microfiber towel, as microfiber is naturally lint free.
Work a small section of the bag at time by gently massaging the conditioner into the leather in a small circle. Continue in this manner with overlapping circles, to ensure that every inch is covered with conditioner. Allow the conditioner to sit for about 15 minutes.
With a clean, dry towel, buff the bag to remove excess conditioner and to bring out a natural shine to your purse.
Pro Tips:
Additional Resources:
Coach Product Care Guide
HGTV: How to Clean a Leather Purse
Step 1: Empty the contents of your bag. This is a great time to do a little reorganizing. Ridding your purse of “excess baggage” is satisfying on several levels. The folks at HGTV recommend shaking your purse upside down to get rid of the dirt and debris that is hiding at the bottom. Feeling really ambitious? Grab the crevice tool of your vacuum and remove those nasty bits of “whatever” is still lurking at the bottom of your bag.
Step 2: Choose the cleaning based on the type of material your Coach bag is made from. There are 4 categories that Coach bags fall into: Coach Leathers; Sport Calf; Fabrics and Woven Material; and Specialty Leathers. Each type of material has its own preferred method of cleaning. Coach leathers, sports calf and woven materials have straight forward cleaning methods. However, specialty materials, such as those made from exotic animal skins, often have specific cleaning dos and don'ts. If your bag falls into the specialty materials category, be certain to bring it to a qualified professional cleaner. If you are unsure, stop by a Coach retailer for guidance.
Step 3: Clean your bag with a soft cloth dampened with a cleaning solution. Microfiber towels are our go-to because they are lint free and durable. Coach makes its own leather cleaning solution specifically for Coach bags. If you would like to make your own, HGTV recommends mixing warm water with some dish soap. Regardless of whether you are using a homemade or store bought cleaning solution, there are two steps to best results.
First, always test the cleaning solution in a hidden area of your bag (such as the bottom). Even when using Coach brand products, it is better safe than sorry. Clean a small section and allow it to dry. Look for any adverse reactions, such as color loss or material distortion.
Second, use the least amount of cleaning product possible. Ring out the towel of excess cleaning solution before applying to your bag. You do not want to wet the material more than necessary.
Clean using a circular motion, making sure you overlap your clean areas as you go.
If the cleaning solution you are using is too soapy, wipe away the excess soap by dipping a towel in clear water; wring out well so the towel is damp. Use the same circular method with the damp cloth as with the cleaning solution cloth.
Allow your bag to air dry before moving on to the next step.
Step 4: Apply leather conditioner, which will keep your bag soft and subtle, while protecting it from cracking and drying. Use clean, dry towels when conditioning leather. Add a small amount of conditioner to a microfiber towel, as microfiber is naturally lint free.
Work a small section of the bag at time by gently massaging the conditioner into the leather in a small circle. Continue in this manner with overlapping circles, to ensure that every inch is covered with conditioner. Allow the conditioner to sit for about 15 minutes.
With a clean, dry towel, buff the bag to remove excess conditioner and to bring out a natural shine to your purse.
Pro Tips:
- Do not use these instructions if you have a “specialty” Coach leather, such as Haircalf, Suede, Exotics, Shearling, and Original Natural Leather. These delicate materials are best handled by a professional cleaner. Many of these fabrics should not even come in contact with water. Only use a dry, clean cloth to brush away soil and debris from your bag.
- Coach will clean and condition your Coach product for you! You can contact your local Coach store to make an appointment.
- When in doubt, do not try to clean the bag yourself. With 50 years of cleaning experience, we have seen many customers ruin items that they thought could be cleaned. Prudence goes a long way when dealing with expensive, delicate items.
Additional Resources:
Coach Product Care Guide
HGTV: How to Clean a Leather Purse