Cleaning Coach Bags

White purse

Once you've made an investment in a Coach purse, you'll want to carry it for as long as possible, but cleaning Coach bags can be a challenge. There are many different types of Coach bags, so you may be wondering which cleaning products and methods are right for your particular bag.

Types of Material

Coach purses are made from different types of material. Leather, jacquard and even silks at times. One of the most important things is knowing how to clean each type of material you might find on a Coach handbag. Coach recommends specific products for cleaning its purses.

Cleaning Coach Purses
Type of Bag Cleaning Product 1 Cleaning Product 2
Classic Signature Coach Signature Fabric Cleaner ------
Mini Signature Coach Signature Fabric Cleaner ------
Graphic Signature Coach Signature Fabric Cleaner ------
Optic Signature Coach Signature Fabric Cleaner ------
Signature Stripe Coach Signature Fabric Cleaner ------
Soho Buck Leather Coach Leather Cleaner Coach Leather Moisturizer
Soho Vintage Leather Coach Leather Cleaner Coach Leather Moisturizer
Hamptons Buck Leather Coach Leather Cleaner Coach Leather Moisturizer
Legacy Buck Leather Coach Leather Cleaner Coach Leather Moisturizer
Polished Calf Leather Coach Leather Cleaner Coach Leather Moisturizer
English Bridle Leather Coach Leather Cleaner Coach Leather Moisturizer
Soho Retro Treated Leather Coach Leather Moisturizer ------

On their product care page, Coach offers detailed instructions on how to use each of their cleaning products. Just scroll down and select the type of material your product is made of and follow the directions.

Pre-treated

On some collections, Coach's material is pre-treated and mild soiling can often be removed with warm water. Simply use a soft washcloth, wet it thoroughly, and gently clean the material. You may want to contact Coach to be certain that your particular purse has been pre-treated for stain prevention.

In-Store Cleaning

Some Coach stores will offer to clean your purse for you while you browse their current collection. Many shoppers find that the purse is cleaned up so well that they no longer need to purchase a new one, although you can never have too many Coach bags!

Ask your local retailer if they have this service available. It may be free or they charge a small fee. If they do not offer the cleaning, contact the Coach company to find a store near you that might offer this service and get additional suggestions on cleaning. If the store will not clean the bag for you, ask to speak to the manager and find out if there is a repair store where you can send the bag and have it cleaned.

Having your handbag cleaned in-store, or using the Coach-specific cleaning products are the recommended methods of cleaning. However, if you do want to try cleaning your handbag at home, there are other methods Coach handbag owners have tried and found effective.

Cleaning With Other Products

Although Coach does not officially recommend the following solutions, many Coach owners swear by different cleaning methods for Coach products.

If you don't have immediate access to a Coach cleaner, and would like to make a start on removing a stain as quickly as possible, you can try alternative purse cleaning ideas such as the methods below.

Cleaning a Fabric Purse

Types of Coach bags that you can use the below method on include:

COACH, The Coach Originals Ergo Signature Jacquard Hobo Bag
  • Classic Signature
  • Mini Signature
  • Graphic Signature
  • Optic Signature
  • Signature Stripe

Directions

  1. Put a small amount of water and regular soap on a clean sponge.
  2. Find the soiled/stained area.
  3. Gently dab the area (being careful not to scrub it).
  4. Once you've sufficiently covered the area, remove excess water by wiping away gently with a clean damp cloth.
  5. Blot the area with a third clean white cloth.
  6. Allow the fabric to dry completely (give it at least an hour).

If you're trying to remove a particularly greasy stain, and the soap and water proves ineffective, you can try using a small amount of dish detergent, and repeat steps three to six.

Cleaning a Leather Purse

Types of Coach bags that you can use this method on include:

COACH, Willow Leather Bucket Bag
  • Soho Buck Leather
  • Soho Vintage Leather
  • Hamptons Buck Leather
  • Legacy Buck Leather
  • Polished Calf Leather
  • English Bridle Leather
  • Soho Retro Treated Leather

Directions

  1. Wipe the bag with a wet cloth (ensure it's not too wet - you don't want the bag to be soaked).
  2. Using your finger, or a Q-tip, put a small amount of gentle body wash onto the stain.
  3. Use gentle circular motions to rub it in (being careful not to rub too hard).
  4. Once the stain is removed, use a new damp cloth to remove any excess soap from your bag.
  5. Leave the bag to dry thoroughly.

Cleaning a Suede Leather Purse

It is worth noting that the Coach site does not have a specific branded cleaning product dedicated to cleaning a suede bag. However, there are alternative methods that you can try below.

COACH, Tabby Bead-Trim Suede & Leather Shoulder Bag

Types of Coach bags that you can use this method on include:

  • Hamptons Suede
  • Hamptons Mosaic
  • Soho Suede
  • Chelsea Nubuck

Directions

  1. Apply a small amount of vinegar to a clean cloth.

  2. Gently wipe the stained area with the cloth to eliminate the stain.

  3. Use a clean cloth to dab the moist part of the bag.

  4. Allow to air dry in a cool place (avoid direct sunlight or any particularly hot environments).

  5. Once dry, remove any remaining stains with a suede eraser (by gently rubbing the eraser over the stained area).

  6. If any part of the cleaned area now looks flat, you can lightly apply a small metal brush to the surface in a circular motion to get it looking as good as new.

Additional Cleaning Methods

Additional (non-Coach approved) products that customers have used to clean their handbag include:

  • Baby wipes
  • Laundry stain remover, applied using a soft toothbrush, and then rinse thoroughly
  • Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (for soda stains and ink pen stains)

Cleaning Hardware

The metal detailing on your handbag can encounter a lot of wear and tear over time. Luckily, there are ways to clean and look after the metal parts too.

  • You can use a soft polishing cloth to get rid of any dirt. This will also buff any small scratches that have accumulated.
  • Dip an old (soft-bristled) toothbrush into cleaning detergent (one that is safe for metals), and clean the metal area using small circular motions.
  • Ensure that you dry the metal area with a cotton ball or Q-tip. You can go back over the area with the polishing cloth for extra shine.

Cleaning the Lining

If the bag allows you to, pull the lining up outside of the bag so that you have full access to it.

All non-leather lining can be cleaned using a mild dish-washing soap (on a sponge or a damp cloth). Gently scrub in circular motions until the stain is removed, rinse with a damp cloth, and allow to air-dry thoroughly.

Dry Cleaning

It is probably best not to have your purse dry cleaned, unless the store specializes in cleaning Coach bags and offers a guarantee against the colors running. Often, the chemicals used by dry cleaners can ruin your Coach purse and you're left with no recourse and a bag that looks worse than it did before.

Keep Your Bag Beautiful

Once your bag is clean and looking almost new again, you'll want to protect it. Material is best protected with products such as Scotch Guard, which can prevent staining. Leather is best protected with Coach's leather moisturizers, which will leave your leather conditioned and looking healthy.

Since Coach handbags are a big investment for most people, whether you paid full retail or bought at an outlet store, you'll want to keep yours clean and use it as long as possible.

Trending on LoveToKnow
Cleaning Coach Bags