How to Restore and Refurbish Perlina Handbags
Perlina bags are a moderately priced bag line almost exclusively made with leather, although sometimes embossed with reptile skin. Although preowned bags are sometimes listed as "vintage," they are generally from the 1980s or later. However, restoring bags even of this recent make can be difficult because of scratches and scuffs, odors, stains and unpolished hardware. Most refurbishing is possible to do on your own but there are some instances when professional care may be needed. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 2 cloth rags
- 2 microfiber or sheepskin rags
- Fabric refresher
- Fabric stain remover
- Leather cleaner
- Mink or orange oil spray
- Shoe polish
- Toothpick
- Old toothbrush
- Brass cleaner
Instructions
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Clean the exterior and interior with a damp cloth rag and then dry by wiping it down with a clean dry rag. Perlina bags tend to have a lot of pockets, so be sure to clean those as well. Deodorize the interior with a fabric refresher like Febreze.
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Remove stains in the lining with a stain remover like Shout. Exterior stains on a vintage bag may be there to stay, so keep that in mind when purchasing a bag. You may be able to make the stain to a leather bag less noticeable by applying a specialized leather cleaner and following up with an oil conditioning treatment.
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Condition a leather bag by spraying it with a mink oil or orange oil spray and buffing it with a microfiber or sheepskin cloth to give the bag shine and make scratches and scuffs less noticeable.
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For cracks and deep scratches, apply a small amount of shoe polish that matches the color of your bag onto a toothpick and spread a thin layer over the imperfection.
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Polish hardware by gently rubbing with a toothbrush saturated in brass cleaner. Wipe clean with a second microfiber cloth.
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Tips & Warnings
If your bag needs new handles or hardware, bring it to a professional restorer or try contacting the manufacturer directly to get a replacement.
