Caring for your shoes, bags & accessories
All things we love deserve a bit of TLC (tender loving care!) including our shoes, handbags, hats and watches!
Here are some tips and tricks in how to make sure your shoes and bags love you as much as you love them.
Use a water protector
How to clean smooth leather
How to look after suede or nubuck
How to clean patent shoes or bags
How to keep leather supple
Looking after long boots
Use dustbags for bags
How to look after your bags
How to clean satin bags
How to clean PU shoes and bags
How to store shoes
What is specchio
How to look after jewellery
How to look after swimwear
How to look after hats
How to look after watches
Spray new shoes and handbags with a water protector. This will protect them against dirt and moisture. We recommend Collonil's Waterstop, applied 2-3 times from a distance of about 20cm before use. Just give them a nice light spray, without wetting, and allowing it to dry in between.
As the waterproofing efficiency wears off with use, you should keep up the waterproofing on a regular basis.
Collonil's Waterstop is a great product for smooth leather, suede, nubuck, and high tech materials and textiles (such as silk and satin).
How to clean smooth leather
Remove dirt by cleanng with a leather cleaner made specifically for smooth leathers. We recommend Collonil's Shampoo which cleans all materials.
Once dry, reapply Collonil's Waterstop
Be very aware of cleaning stains as certain leathers like vachetta will absorb the goods you are using to get rid of stains and create a whole new stain.
Always test on an inconspicuous part of the goods before tackling a large stain. Only use products designed for the material of your goods.
How to look after suede or nubuck
Waterproof your suede or nubuck with a water protector such as Collonil's Waterstop, following the directions on the can.
Always test on an inconspicuous part of the goods before tackling a large stain. Only use products designed for the material of your goods.
Suede erasers or cleaning blocks can used to remove deeply embedded dirt.
After cleaning, use a suede brush. These brushes normally have two sides - one is a rubbery side and the other side has fine copper bristles, and they are designed to be used with a light touch, in order to restore the natural.
How to clean patent shoes and bags
Patent is a treated leather with a high gloss finish. Never store patent touching patent. In shoes, ensure the shoes are either kept in their box separated from each other with packaging.
Worth trying on patent is eucalyptus oil. Always test on an inconspicuous part of the goods before tackling a large mark.
Put some eucalyptus oil on a soft lint free cloth and gently rub over the scuff until it disappears.
Keep leather goods supple
Leather is a natural product, and to keep it supple it is advisable to use a leather care product from time to time. Consider a product like Leather Dew for all non-suede leathers. LeatherDew is a special blend of oils and waxes to clean, soften and protect leather.
Use a shaper in your long boots
If you have long boots where the length of the boot flops down, consider stuffing the boots with a Booty Shaper or the like to ensure the stand upright. This will protect the leather from creasing.
Store bags in their dustbags
Keep your handbags in their protective dustbags when not in use. If you do not have a dustbag, ensure that patent is not sitting next to patent, as colour may rub off.
Keep your bag away from storage in direct sunlight, and do not allow it to come in contact with alcohol or solvents.
Look after your bag when in use
- Protect your bags from objects and surfaces that may scratch or mark the finish
- Try not to overstuff your product as this may cause stretching, ripping of the lining or deformations in the material
- Avoid contact with liquids and grease
- Be aware that handcream and sunscreen can leave marks on satin bags
- Consider keeping makeup in a separate small makeup bag
- Clean your makeup before putting it in your bag
- Don't put pens on the inside of your bag without caps on
- Don't store uncapped pencils in your bag
How to clean satin bags
Always protect your satin bags before use. We recommend Collonil's Waterstop, applied 2-3 times from a distance of about 20cm before use. Just give them a nice light spray, without wetting, and allowing it to dry in between.
Be aware of keeping the trim, or decoration of the bag free from a protector. The best way to do this is to use cling wrap or masking tape over the detailing before spraying.
Stained delicate fabrics might be best taken to a specialist drycleaner. Also consider Collonil's Shampoo which cleans all materials.
It is best on a satin/silk bag to not spot clean, but to all over clean in order to avoid water marks.
How to clean PU shoes and bags
Wipe the surface clean with a damp (not wet) cloth. Never use household cleaners on PU as they are often abrasive and can cause colour loss and remove the surface on PU or PVC.
For conspicuous marks always remember to patch test on a non-visible part of the bag:
spray hairspray on the mark and then wipe off with a soft cloth. Some inks can be removed using a white eraser straight away. Chux magic eraser can also work well on dark colours
lipstick: vegetable oil may work well
How to store shoes in shoe boxes
You should top to tail your shoes in their box, separate each from the other with the tissue paper provided by the manufacturer. Ensure the heels are facing out.
If the manufacturer provided plastic for the shoes, sheath them in these, but only if you still have the silica gel that absorbs moisture to put inside. If you do not have the silica gel, you may find that your shoes sweat in the bag and become damaged.
Material bags are best for storage in a box.
If there are still plastic sticks inside the shoes, remove these from the shoes gently and dispose of. If left in the boxes these can scratch your shoes.
Most fashion shoes these days come with extra heel tips. Ensure your shoes do not sit on these in the box as they may damage the finish.
What specchio is, and how to look after it
Specchio (SPECK-ee-oh) is the Italian word for mirror. In shoes this refers to a mirror like finish to leather that is both reflective and metallic. It is truly a gorgeous finish, and like all delicate materials, needs special attention.
Store your specchio finished shoes in their box, separated by the tissue paper provided by the manufacturer. Always top to tail your shoes in the box, heels facing out. If the manufacturer provided plastic for the shoes, sheath them in these, but only if you still have the silica gel that absorbs moisture to put inside.
Material bags are best for storage in a box.
How to look after jewellery
- Wipe jewellery gently with a damp cloth that is soft and clean
- Dry with a soft, clean, absorbent
- Do not use hot water, a steamer or an ultrasonic cleaner
- Do not soak in water
- Do not expose to cleaning agents or any other chemicals
- Do not expose to extreme heat
- Do not expose to perfume or hairspray
- Leave the piece of jewellery on a towel for an extended period of time to ensure it is completely dry
How to look after swimwear
- Hand wash swimwear within a couple of hours of wearing them. Use non-harsh detergents, and cold water
- Do not tumble dry your swimwear. Dry them on the line in the shade, not in full sun
- Do not keep your bathers scrunched up in a wet towel
- Sun tan oils can damage swimwear, as do self-tanners. Try and keep this type of product off your swimwear
- Chlorine and salt water can fade materials. Rinse bathers as soon as possible after entering such environments
- Use the beach showers at the beach to rinse the salt off, if at the beach
- Whirlpools and hot tubs are not friends of your bathers !
- Sitting on rough surfaces - like the aggregate surrounding a pool room - will result in snags and damage to your bathers. Be attentive!
- Leave the piece of jewellery on a towel for an extended period of time to ensure it is completely dry
How to look after Hats
- Make sure you have clean hands when you touch your hat
- Always use two hands to pick up the hat by its brim either front and back or side and side
- Never pick up the hat by its crown
- Store your hat in a cool dry place, out of direct sunlight
- Preferably put your hats in hard hat box to keep dust etc off the hat
- Store in hat boxes with lots of acid free white tissue paper to buffer it - if the hat has a solid crown, store crown side down
How to look after Watches
- Always put your watch on last.
- Do not spray perfume directly on your watch.
- Do not spray perfume on your wrist in the place where your watch sits
- Do not spray hairspray while wearing your watch
- Wipe over with a soft cloth after each use
- Store in the GUESS watch box provided
- Non water proof straps should not be submerged in water.
- If you have a rubber or soft plastic strap you can shorten it by cutting off the excess from the long end of the strap with a sharp pair of scissors
- Do not expose straps to gases or chemicals (eg perfume/fragrance, detergents, insecticides etc)
- Stains from dye, paints and oily substances may be difficult to remove - avoid!
- Due to the composition of various materials used in watch straps, straps may harden or discolour after extensive use
- Water resustance is not permanent. Over the course of time, the gaskets of the case may become worn and redue the water resistance of the watch
- Watches with no water resistant markings are splashproof and are not suitable for swimming
- Always rinse a watch that is water resistant with fresh water after exposure to salt water and wipe to dry immediately
