Product Care | Handbag Blog from HandbagHeaven.com

August 28th, 2010

Lost Your Purse?

Wait don’t tell me…You did it again, didn’t you? You were out enjoying your night on the town and left your purse somewhere.
So now what?
Here are some crucial steps to re-locating your purse and protecting your identity…

If you remember where you left it…

Go get it! Call ahead and ask a manager, bartender, server, someone to grab it for you before it gets grabbed!
If it’s after hours and they place is closed…Then call and leave a message with your name, phone number, description of the purse and tell them when you will be back to get it. If they have no answering system, then, if possible, leave them a note on or under the door or in their mail box.

If you don’t remember where you left it…

Re-trace your steps and call the last few bars/restaurants you visited and ask if they have seen it. Leave a name and phone number in case it turns up.
Cancel your credit cards. If you haven’t found your purse yet, the last thing you want is a $3,000 worth of charges from the person who took it…
Call your bank account and put a hold on your account. Explain that your purse was stolen or lost and that you want to freeze your account, or even change your account number.
File a police report. Letting the cops know your purse is missing will help with identify theft if this later becomes an issue.
If you had cash in your wallet…sorry Charlie. It’s probably gone if someone picked up your purse, as well as your phone, keys and any jewelry inside.
If your phone was in your purse, call your cell phone provider and discuss with them the options you have when replacing your phone and disabling the old one.

Other tips…

When you head out for a night on the town, try to avoid using a purse! Carry your cash and ID in a pocket, sock, bra or where ever you feel most comfortable.
Use a wristlet and keep the loop around your wrist. This makes it difficult to set down, leave and forget, especially when its attached to you.
Slim down your purse. Only keep the essentials inside. Leave credit cards, your camera, jewelry, bank account card, checks, etc. at home. That way, if you lose it, hopefully all you’re losing is your driver’s license and some cash.

Photo: hubpages.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Erin in Product Care | Permalink | No Comments »

June 24th, 2010

How To Clean Your Handbag

Savannah Cargo Bag

I don’t know about you, but when I wear a handbag, I really wear it. At first I feel fabulous sporting a brand new bag. I carry it with pride. But after a while, a few nights on the floor, a few parties and perhaps a run-in with the trunk of my car it starts to look dingy. Does anyone else have this problem? Well, I’m going to assume that you’re nodding your head, and tell you how to clean your handbags, whether you want to know or not. HA!

1. Most importantly, follow any care instructions that came with the purse.

2. Take everything out. Once the contents are out, shake the purse out to cleanse it of any dirt or debris. If you’re like me, the purse will have crumbs, pencil lead and a lot of other miscellaneous items. (because I’m kind of gross)

3. For fabric purses, have them dry cleaned or hand wash them in warm water with a gentle detergent.

4. For leather purses, use leather cleaner. ATTENTION: Most of Handbag Heaven’s bags are leatherette. Do not use leather cleaner on leatherette bags. That could damage the exterior of your handbags.

5. Wipe vinyl or plastic purses with a clean damp cloth.

6. Silk handbags? Dry cleaner’s trip, for sure.

For special tips on cleaning leatherette handbags from Handbag Heaven, see this blog. For future reference to keep your handbag clean, be sure pens are capped before storing them. Keep your makeup in a makeup bag and stash snacks in Ziploc baggies to avoid crumbage.

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Stephanie in Blogosphere, Product Care | Permalink | No Comments »

June 12th, 2010

Caring for Your Leather Handbag

Owning a leather handbag is just like owning a pet. It’s a responsibility, an investment and a commitment. And just like you should clean your fish tank but shouldn’t feed your dog chocolate, there are certain things you should and shouldn’t do when caring for your leather handbag.

Do apply a protective spray before using the bag
Do wash your hands before cleaning your bag so that the leather doesn’t absorb the oils in your skin
Don’t use water. Water may leave stains and cause the bag to mildew
Do test the cleaner on a small area before cleaning the entire bag. This allows you to see how the cleaner affects the leather before applying it to the entire surface
Do clean the entire bag. Apply the cleaner with a white cloth in a circular motion. Then wipe with a damp cloth
Don’t use a cloth that is too damp because the leather will soak up the excess water
Don’t apply a leather conditioner to suede or patent bags
Do keep cosmetics, pens and other leak-prone items in a separate pouch or bag to ensure they don’t damage the leather
Do treat stains immediately after they occur. For organic stains, try applying crushed white chalk to the area and allow it to sit over night before wiping away with a cloth
Don’t let water soak into the leather. If your bag does get wet, use a towel to absorb as much of the water as possible and then allow it air dry
Don’t use a blow dryer or other heat source to dry the bag
Do store your leather bag in a cool, dark and dry location. Too much moisture in the air can cause the leather to mildew and too much light may cause the leather to fade
Don’t store your bag in plastic because the chemicals may harm the leather. Opt for a natural material instead. Pillowcases are a great, breathable storage option
Do use a leather cleaner on your bag twice a year to keep it looking its best

Photo: Pursepage.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Beth in Function and Fashion, Product Care | Permalink | No Comments »

June 11th, 2010

How To Organize Your Handbag

Mary Poppins has been an idol of mine since I was a little girl. Think about it: the woman could sing and fly. Not to mention, she was practically perfect in every way. I always dreamed that one day I would grow up to be just like her.

Flash forward 15 years: I still can’t fly, or even really sing (I blame my dad’s side of the family for that genetic flaw) but I can pull obscure item after item out of my purse. However, I can’t really count this as a victory. While Mary Poppins pulled lamps out of her bag to amuse the Banks children, I find myself pulling my hair out because I can’t find what I’m looking for.

Luckily for me, there is a cure for MPBS (Mary Poppins bag syndrome). All you need is a spoonful or sugar. Oh, and these 10 steps…

Clean slate. Start by dumping the contents of your bag out onto a flat surface.
Garbage day. Sift through all of your belongings and throw away the wrappers, receipts, and other trash you no longer need.
Take it to the bank. Collect all of the loose change you find either in a jar or a coinpurse.
Drop the dead weight. Go through your wallet and remove any coupons, receipts, old cards and excess change you don’t need to carry around with you.
Receipt with you or in the bag? Use an envelope or ziplock bag to store receipts that you do need to keep.
Bare necessities. Separate the remaining items into two piles: one for things you use on a daily basis, and one for things you only use on occasion.
Just in case. Make sure that fragile items, such as cameras and sunglasses, are stored in a case to prevent any damage.
Downsize the makeup. Rather than bringing an entire makeup counter with you, limit your cosmetics to items you actually need. Also, consider downsizing to travel containers to save space.
It’s in the bag. Group your items and find them a home. Side pockets are perfect for items you need quick access to, like cell phones and keys. And brightly covered bags, such as the 5-Piece Cosmetic Bag Set, are a great option for cosmetics because they’re easy to spot.
Scheduled maintenance. Take five minutes each week to weed out any unnecessary items that worked their way into your bag and you’ll never face MPBS again!

Now that you’re free from the clutter, what’s the strangest thing you found while cleaning out your bag?

Photos: Examiner.com
Dukecityfix.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

By Beth in Celebrities, Function and Fashion, Musings, Product Care | Permalink | No Comments »

April 29th, 2010

Handbag Repairs: List of Available Purse Fixes

damaged ripped handbag strap So your beloved handbag is broken, and you’re faced with the eternal (alright, maybe not eternal but super hard and big) quandary: Do you throw your handbag away like that pair of favorite socks that are so awesome but have so many holes that their actual function is null and void…

OR do you get it repaired thus breathing life back into this dear friend wrought with battle wounds. (By “battle wounds” I mean something along that lines of shutting your car door on the handle thus ripping the strap into oblivion as you turned to leave. That hasn’t happen to you, you say? Lies.)

I, as usual, I’m here to help. Following is a list of the types of repair jobs most repair shops can perform. Use this to determine whether it’s time to resuscitate or put it to rest.

cleaning
stain removal
leather reconditioning
deodorizing
zipper replacement or installation
adjusting or replacing the strap
lining replacement, reshaping
gluing torn parts
mending stitches
handle replacement or reconstruction
gold and nickel plating for parts
parts replacement for buckles
magnets replacement
elastic replacement
corner covering

Photo: Replicapot.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Bridget in Product Care | Permalink | 1 Comment »

April 12th, 2010

Handbag Storage: How to Maintain Your Purse’s Condition

When storing handbags that aren’t in use, make sure you keep them in the upright position; stacking is a huge no-no, as this will distort your bag’s shape over time.

To ensure your handbags retain their original shape, stuff them with tissue paper or newspaper while in storage.

Contrary to common behavior, hanging a bag on a hook or hanger will stretch out it’s handles. Again, store sitting upright.

Store purses, clutches and wallets in dust bags or pillowcases to prevent dust, fading and color transfer.

Take handbags out of storage at least once a year to allow them to “breathe.” Doing this will help avoid mildew or the development of funny smells.

What do you do to keep your handbags in top top shape? Do you have any suggestions to add?

Photo credit: Fabulouslybroke.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

By Bridget in Product Care | Permalink | 1 Comment »

February 24th, 2009

Cleaning Your New Handbag

Since most of the handbags on HandbagHeaven.com are made from leatherette, we thought it important to provide a quick handbag cleaning lesson to our dear customers.

First and foremost, thou must empty thy handbag, because thou dost not know what thou may find. Why is this important? Items left inside (pens and other fluids) can leak through to the outside of your bag. Avoid a messy situation by cleaning out the inside often and checking for any leak-throughs.
Grab a cloth or paper towel and dampen it slightly.
For leatherette bags, blot the outside of your handbag. If your handbag is patent leatherette, you can wipe it down with that damp cloth to get rid of dirt and restore its shine. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners that are made for real leather. These may damage the outside of your handbag, and then—well, you’d be sad forever and ever.
Grab a dry cloth and blot that bag dry. (Leaving any water residue may leave water spots.)

And… Voila, you’re done! Remember, keeping your handbag nice and clean is a wise economical decision as it will only prolong its use.

Popularity: 1% [?]

By Alessandra in Product Care | Permalink | No Comments »

- White isn't just for after Labor Day anymore, go ahead and get a white handbag now! http://bit.ly/hFfLqz SE 4 hours ago
- Wild. Glamor. The Zebra Sparkle Wallet has it all! http://bit.ly/b04MdU SE 7 hours ago
- The Abigail boasts six slots for credit cards or an ID, a middle divider, and two larger open top pockets. AMAZING! http://bit.ly/hL1qiq SE 8 hours ago
- Feminine details galore! http://bit.ly/h0qacb SE 10 hours ago
- Need a handy wallet to match your new fab bag? See all of our many styles here: http://bit.ly/ebcTsa SE 14 hours ago
- Our Classic Secret Agent Bag will lend itself useful to your super sexy spy status, or maybe some casual shopping... http://bit.ly/79GpMH SE 2011/02/17
<a href="../../blog.html" title="Handbag Blog"><img src="../../albums/zz322/bridgetaffordablestyle/blog buttons/ihearthhblog.jpg" border="0" alt="Handbag Blog"></a>

<a href="../../blog.html" title="Handbag Blog"><img src="../../albums/zz322/bridgetaffordablestyle/blog buttons/blogreader.jpg" border="0" alt="Handbag Blog"></a>
Follow fets321 on Hellocotton

- Handbags Center on Get your Golden Globe On
- jjarrel on To Clutch or Not to Clutch
- melissa mcmahan on Handbag Repairs: List of Available Purse Fixes
- Jayson Jones on 8 Fashion Trends to Watch for 2011
- Elliott Collett on Ashley Tisdale’s Tiny Silver Clutch
Fashion Crowd
Handbag Glossary
- Handbag Glossary