Mia Cotone Handbag Care Tips

"You've made a significant investment in your handbag collection so it makes sense that you would want to protect it." 

Storing your handbag in a dust cover takes up the least amount of space.  It can then be stored on any shelf, closet, drawer, under your bed or on the floor of your closet.  It will be clean, ready to go and easy to locate especially when using a Mia Cotone dust cover.

Care Prior to Storing Your Handbag

1. Empty all pockets and shake gently to remove dust and debris.
2. Clean interior bag by gently pulling interior inside out and using a lint roller. If you can't pull out the lining of your handbag, you can use the fabric brush attachment on your vacuum.
3. Clean exterior leather with alcohol free baby wipes.
4. Loosely stuff your handbag with bubble wrap (tissue paper is known to attract moths) when not in use.  This will help prevent the bag from losing its shape.  Be careful not to overstuff the bag because it could cause stretching.
5. If your handbag has chain handles, stuff inside bag during storage which will prevent unsightly creases and the possibility of scratching the handbag.
6. For long term storage, undo strap buckles so that impressions are not created. Then if you wish to change the strap length, the unbuckling of the straps before storage will stop areas becoming impressed and unattractive.
7. Store your handbag in a Mia Cotone Handbag Dust Cover.
8. Ideally, handbags would be stored in cubbies built into your closet, but you can also store them in baskets or bins made of plastic coated wire. Stand them upright or lay them down.

Important Tips

• Leather is a natural material and needs to breathe. Never store your handbag in plastic bags or airtight plastic containers because it encourages the growth of mildew and bacteria and can dry out leather. Also, any plastic/vinyl products that lay against the leather could possibly damage the finish and cause irreversable damage.
• Keep your zippers working smoothly by running a piece of natural beeswax (found in hardware stores) over a zipper's open teeth.
• Handle your bag, especially lighter bags with clean hands.
• Avoid handling your bag after applying beauty products, face foundations or hand creams.
• Be careful when visiting your hairdressers with your bag, as hair products can easily splash onto handbags left on the floor at your feet. Clippings of chemically treated hair can land on the bag and leave marks.
• Don't use your bag as a rest to place paper and write notes. Pointed pens can leave impression tool marks through paper rested on firm leathers.
• If you have to store your bag in your desk or filing cabinet at work, check the drawer first for rough splinters or sharp edges that could damage and scratch your bag. Consider keeping a Mia Cotone dust cover in the drawer to cover your bag.
• Reconsider taking your handbag into the supermarket. Trolleys can scratch your bag and mark it permanently, as can spillages from foodstuffs.
• If you carry fluids, make sure the top is screwed tightly to prevent a leak. Fluids can leave permanent marks.
• Remember, using a dust cover is your first line of defense for protecting the integrity of your handbag.