Gucci - Runway - Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2015
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

The secret to extending the life of your pricey Gucci bag is to pamper and protect your purse with a thorough and regular cleaning. Not only will you rid your bag of germs lurking on its surface, but you’ll keep your brilliant bag free from a daily dose of surface dirt and grime. When you aren’t carrying your fabric, leather or straw Gucci, store it away for safe keeping in its breathable dust bag or in a white, cotton pillowcase.

Clean your suede bags with a suede or nylon brush. Using a small back-and-forth scrubbing motion, gently brush the surface of the suede nap to lift dirt from the suede. If you have dark scuff marks on your designer bag, use a suede eraser to clean any blemishes on the surface of the purse.

Wash your leather bag with lukewarm water and soap. Create suds by combining two drops of mild liquid detergent and 2 cups of water in a bowl. Dip the edge of a clean white cotton cloth into the suds. Rub the dampened cloth across the surface of the bag to clean. After the bag dries, squirt a dime-sized amount of leather conditioner into a cloth; rub the product on the bag to condition the leather after cleaning it.

Clean and disinfect your purses weekly. Microbiologist Chuck Gerba says that disease-causing microbes may rest and gather on the handles and bottom of your bags. Disinfect your leather Gucci bag once a week with anti-bacterial wipes, or clean your fabric purse with a terry cloth towel dampened with rubbing alcohol.

Rake the surface of your fabric or straw bags with a soft small-bristled brush to remove dirt. Dip the edge of a clean sponge into a mixture of 1 cup of lukewarm water and a drop of mild liquid soap. To avoid setting the stain, or damaging the fabric, blot the fabric with the dampened sponge to clean. Stuff your purse with acid-free tissue paper and let the bag air-dry overnight.

Remove scuff marks from your patent-leather Gucci bag with a terry-cloth towel or microfiber cloth. Move the cloth along the bag using small circular strokes to lift the dark marks off your light-colored purses. If the scuff marks remain, press and rub an alcohol-soaked cotton swab into the scuff marks. Wait 15 to 30 seconds for the alcohol to dry, and then rub the scuffed areas away with a white absorbent cloth.

Tip

Call Gucci’s toll-free number, (800) 234-8224, to inquire about getting your authentic Gucci handbag professionally cleaned and repaired. Spray your leather purse with a leather protectant before your first use. The clear leather spray makes the material resistant to spots.

Warning

Before cleaning your fabric or straw bag, patch test it by dampening a small area underneath the bag with a sponge. If the material doesn’t ripple and the color stays, proceed to spot clean with water and soap.

Do not use a wax polish to add shine to your leather Gucci purse. While wax will add shine to leather, it is too heavy and thick to use on a leather purse.