After  posting this photo of some of my favorite blush suede shoes on Instagram a few weeks ago, I got floods of questions asking how I protect them from scuffs and stains.  I shared a quick glimpse into how I do it on InstagramStories, but since those only last a day and I got tons of follow up questions, I figured it would be so much more useful to share it with you here for reference and include handbag care as well.

Handbags are probably one of the biggest investment accessories (if not the biggest!) in your closet.  And whether it was a $200 or $2,000 investment, it definitely deserves to be protected and maintained.  We carry bags with us everywhere and between running around and kids if you have them, they take a pretty brutal beating at times.  Taking good care of them at home will keep them looking better and lasting so much longer!

I put an “Innies” pillow in each of my bags to help maintain its shape and keep it from sagging overtime.  I used to just hold onto the stuffing that came with the bag (or just not stuff them at all), but that got really messy and obnoxious.  These quilted satin forms come in mini, medium, and large sizes.  I keep the mini in my clutches and fold it “hotdog style” (haha!), as well as in my LV crossbody folded “hamburger style.”

In both the Michael Kors and Prada totes shown here, I have the medium insert which is definitely the most versatile size!  Both of these bags have a middle compartment, so I just fold the pillow and stuff it flat down both sides of that compartment.  In my larger totes like my Longchamp, I use the large insert which can be rolled to fill the bag.

For crossbody bags, I always store them with the strap rolled and either inside the bag or in the dust bag with the bag itself.  This keeps the leather on the strap from getting creased in the spots where it would have been folded.  Also, dust bags are crucial for storing bags!  The lifetime of a bag dramatically increases when you store it in a bag because it’s protected from the sun and dust at all times.  Higher quality bags typically come with them, but you can also purchase them HERE.

These little HandbagRescue wipes are what I use when I get a spot or stain on one of my bags.  For some reason I am the queen of spilling food on myself (oops!) and it never fails to end up on my bag, too…haha!  These wipes have natural oils in them to clean and condition the leather, and are safe on suede as well!  After using a bag for a week or so, before I switch it out for another I will give it a quick wipe down with one of these before putting it back in it’s dust bag.

Handbag Care

My Favorite Bags

Second to handbags, shoes are probably my next biggest closet investment and thing that shows the most wear and tear!  During the Spring and Summer months, light suede shoes are my go-to.  Daniel commented last night that I must have a current “thing” for them because my shoe rack is FULL of new ones.  Haha!  It’s all I buy right now!

They are definitely also the most difficult to keep clean and nice.  But, with this method I can keep them looking nice for about two full seasons!  When I first get them, before wearing them even one time, I spray them with Scotchgard.  This comes in an aerosol can for about $5.00 at Target, and is a game changer for anything suede or canvas, including kids tennis shoes!!  (Note: In my InstagramStory I said that I thought it was on the laundry detergent aisle, but it is actually with the carpet cleaners!)

Spray them lightly all over and let them dry before applying two more coats.  The key here is extremely light layers and letting them dry for about 15 minutes in between each one.  After the last coat, I typically won’t wear them until the following day, just to make sure they are 100% dry.  And don’t worry if you see a color change when they are wet, the will dry just like they were before you sprayed them!  But they say that if you are concerned, just stay an inconspicuous test area to be sure.

And I can’t take credit for this method at all, so shout out to my mom who has done this with our shoes since we were little kids!  It’s my favorite trick to date!  Thanks Mom 😉.

What are some of your favorite methods for protecting your shoe and handbag investments?

Shoes + Care

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