Purses can get disgusting. Here are 10 ways to clean them

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You probably carry your purse with you everywhere you go. Which means there's a good chance you set your purse down on some pretty gross surfaces throughout the day. But how often do you take time to clean it?
Most purse owners don't realize how much bacteria accumulates on their purses throughout its lifetime. But if you really think about it, you might be tempted to just throw out your purse and buy a new, clean one. Before you rush off to the mall, check out a few ways to clean your purse and get it looking brand new.
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1. Blue Coral
Most people use Blue Coral spray on the upholstery in their cars, but it has other, lesser-known uses. You can spray Blue Coral on your purse, wallet and checkbook cover, and then scrub it off with a towel to remove stains and dirt. If you have a leather purse, though, this tip isn't for you. And if your purse has leather straps on it, try to avoid getting the spray on them, though it can be wiped off with a wet cloth if necessary.
2. Leather cleaner
If you do own a leather purse, you can use any brand name or generic leather cleaner to get rid of dirt and grime from the outside of your purse. If you use a store-bought leather cleaner, though, make sure you also buy the corresponding leather conditioner to help prevent the leather from cracking over time.
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3. Laundry detergent
In some cases, you can clean the inside of your purse with the same product that you use on the outside. If you have a leather purse, though, you'll want something gentler for the cloth on the inside. A few drops of laundry detergent on a damp cloth will quickly clean the dirt and stains out of the inside of your purse.
4. Liquid soap
If you don't want to use chemical-filled products on your leather purse, you can mix a little liquid soap with distilled water. When the soap and water turn to suds, dip in a sponge and wipe down the outside of your purse. Use a towel to gently dry the purse, buffing any remaining stains if necessary.
5. Vinegar
As with everything else, purse cleaning might require a bit of vinegar. If you have a cloth purse, pour 1/4 cup of vinegar in while you wash your purse on a cold, delicate cycle in the washing machine. Avoid washing your purse with other items, as this can result in the colors of your purse becoming faded.
6. Eraser
For the most part, erasers have one purpose, right? To remove mistakes made with pencil on paper. But you can also use an eraser to get rid of mistakes (more commonly known as "stains") on suede purses. Just use a suede brush to remove any excess dirt, and then erase over the stain with a white eraser until the stain is gone.
7. Cornstarch
Cornstarch can also clean a suede purse if you're dealing with an oily or greasy stain. Just sprinkle some cornstarch over the stain, pat it in, and let it set for about an hour. After you brush off the cornstarch, and the stain with it, use a suede brush to blend out the area with the rest of the purse.
8. Magic Eraser
If your purse is made of hard leather, a Magic Eraser is your best bet for a really good clean. To save on erasers, break one in half and dampen only one half of it. Wipe down the purse with the damp half first and then lightly wipe the same areas with the dry half.
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9. Methylated spirits
If you're brave enough to carry a white leather purse, you know better than anyone how quickly purses get dirty. One easy way to restore your white leather to its former glory is to dampen a cloth with methylated spirits and dab over the grimiest spots. After you've given a spot treatment to the most obvious stains, you can give the whole purse a quick wipe down. Then you just have to let it dry for about 30 minutes before conditioning it with white polish.
10. Bleach
If you want your white leather purse to really shine, though, you might have to try some bleach. Make sure your first step is to dilute the bleach with water. After that, you just have to dip a cloth into the solution and use it to spot treat any stains on your purse. When all of the stains are removed, rub over the cleaned surface with a dry, clean cloth.
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Purses are one of the largest accessories we carry, which means people tend to notice your purse. So why wouldn't you want it to always look like it's fresh from the store? And we all know someone whose purse could use a quick clean, so share this with your friends on Facebook as a not-so-subtle hint that it's time for a purse cleaning.
Resources https://www.hunker.com/13421668/how-to-clean-the-inside-of-a-louis-vuitton-bag, http://sliceofsouthernpie.com/2012/10/23/washing-vera-bradley/, and Banner Image Credit
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