Often, owners of new leather and leatherette bags complain that the handbag begins to emit strange aromas, some of which resemble the smells emanating from rotten fish. This mystery is easily explained: a number of unscrupulous manufacturers use fish fat, which significantly reduces the cost of the finished product.
It can produce an equally pungent odor casein glue or materials used in processing and dyeing leather. The first thing to do to eliminate these odors is to hang the bag open on the balcony for ventilation. If the lining of the bag is not sewn, it must be turned outward. In the cold season, when glazed balconies or loggias are kept closed, the bag is left to air for the whole night, having first sprayed an air freshener on the balcony.
Odor absorbers
If ventilation does not help, and bad smell remained, you need to take advantage of any available ones. Their role can be played by an ordinary Rye bread: its slices are placed in the pockets of the bag and left to act for two to three days.
If the lining of the bag is made of black or brown fabric, you can add inexpensive soluble or ground water to the bottom of the bag. coffee, and put a few coffee beans in the pockets and internal compartments. Coffee not only absorbs foreign odors well, but also leaves its own pleasant aroma.
The smell emanating from leatherette can be eliminated if you first ventilate the bag well, and then place small cotton swabs or woolen scraps of fabric soaked in essential oil . Citrus esters best combat odors, simultaneously scenting the bag with their own aromas. If it is not possible to use essential oil, then put it in the pockets of the bag orange or lemon peels: the main thing is not to forget to throw them away in a timely manner, before they become moldy and become another source of unpleasant odor.
Smells of different origins
If the source of the odor is animals, the bag must be thoroughly wiped vodka or medical alcohol. As alternative option you can use saturated solution of potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide, taken in equal parts. But before using the solution on a light-colored bag, it is recommended to test it on an inconspicuous area, because the material may become stained.
Odors of unknown origin can be eliminated either by washing or using ammonia and soap solution. The bag is washed on a delicate cycle, without using a spin cycle. For maximum safety appearance product, it is turned inside out and placed in a special bag for washing. Granulated washing powder It is recommended to replace it with liquid or wash without powder at all, adding fabric softener to the water.
Bags that cannot be washed are wiped with a soap solution mixed with ammonia. Liquid soap is whipped into foam and ammonia is added in a 1:1 ratio. Wipe the bag inside and out with foam and dry thoroughly. If the product is made from genuine leather, then after drying it is rubbed glycerin or castor oil .
If you are dressed elegantly, you have good perfume And stylish shoes, then it’s unlikely that a leatherette bag that smells of fish, PVC and other chemicals will fit into your image. Such “fragrances” can not only spoil the opinion of you, but also cause various ailments, such as headaches, among others. Is it possible to somehow cope with the smell of a leatherette product, or will I have to give up my favorite accessory? Let's try to figure it out.
The odors of leatherette products can be either initial or acquired. The latter arise during use: you wore something strongly odorous, you spilled it, your pets contributed, in general, it’s your own fault. But the initial smell is the responsibility of the manufacturer.
Important! Of course, any thing has its own smell, including leatherette products. But bags made from high-quality raw materials do not smell much. A mild smell can be removed by simply airing it out or waiting for it to go away.
You can cope with both initial and acquired odors, and without much difficulty and at home.
Available means
Every home has salt, soda, bread, onions, vinegar, vodka, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, potassium permanganate, and activated carbon. All of these products can be used to remove odor.
Salt
Salt absorbs odors well. Take a larger amount of it and moisten it with a little water to make a non-liquid paste. Apply this paste to the surface and leave overnight. In the morning, simply shake off the salt from the product. If the smell has not completely gone away, you can repeat the procedure again.
Activated carbon can be used in the same way. Only in this case the bag needs to be wrapped in gauze, and there is no need to make a paste, just sprinkle the gauze with activated carbon powder. Of course, for bags light shades coal cannot be used.
Important! To remove odor, you need to use fine salt, as coarse salt can scratch the material.
Soda
Also a very simple and reliable method. Take some kind of tightly closing container that your bag can easily fit in. Place the product there and cover it with baking soda, sparingly. Close and leave for five to seven days. After this time, take out the bag, shake it off and hang it on the balcony to air for two days. After this procedure, the smell should completely disappear.
Important! You can only sprinkle baking soda on a completely dry bag. If it is even the slightest bit damp, be sure to dry it thoroughly.
Bread crusts
Rye bread absorbs odors well. Place bread crusts inside your bag, including all pockets, and leave for several days. This method is good if the smell of leatherette is not too strong.
Onion
Paradoxically, the smell of onions can relieve you of the “aroma” of leatherette. Cut the onion at random - either into rings or small cubes, as you prefer. Place on a saucer or small plate.
Cover with something with holes to let the smell pass. A colander or sieve will do just fine. Place the bag on top, close and leave for a day. Then send her to get some air.
Vinegar and vodka
You can try to get rid of the smell with vinegar or vodka. To do this, vodka is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1, and vinegar - 1:5. Wet a cotton swab or disk and carefully and thoroughly wipe the surface of the product. Be careful if you have a light-colored bag.
Potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide and iodine
A solution of potassium permanganate copes even with very strong odors. Make a pale pink solution and wipe the bag with it, as in the previous recipe.
For greater effect, you can add peroxide to the potassium permanganate solution. To do this, take a glass of a weak solution of potassium permanganate (only two crystals are enough), add three teaspoons of three percent hydrogen peroxide to it, stir and wipe the product.
Dissolve 15 drops of iodine in a liter of water and wipe the product with the resulting solution.
Important! This method is definitely not suitable for light-colored bags. And on others, these solutions can leave stains. Therefore, first wet some inconspicuous area of the bag and wait until it dries. If there are no stains, you can use it.
Flavors
Fragrances will help you eliminate the slight odor both outside and inside the bag.
Sachet
You can use ready-made sachets, or you can make them yourself - it's not difficult at all. Sew small fabric bags.
It is preferable to use linen for these purposes, but gauze folded in several layers can also be used. Place a piece of cotton wool in a bag and add two to three drops of your favorite essential oil. Citrus scents are best suited to combat the smell of leatherette. Tie the bag tightly and the sachet is ready. Place it inside your bag.
Lemon
You can use lemon to eliminate unpleasant odors. Lemon juice diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3 is wiped similarly to the methods described above with vinegar and vodka.
Lemon peels can be placed in homemade sachets. You can also wipe the outside of the bag with lemon peels (the white part). By the way, this method is also applicable for light-colored bags.
Coffee
For bags with dark lining, you can try to eliminate the unpleasant odor with coffee. For these purposes you only need ground coffee. Pour it inside the product and leave it overnight, and shake it out thoroughly in the morning.
Washing and weathering
If the manufacturer has indicated that it can be washed, feel free to wash it only by strictly following all washing instructions. Just remember to turn the bag inside out and put it in a special bag; it is also better to use gel rather than powder.
If it is indicated that the product cannot be washed, but you definitely want to do it, use a soap solution with ammonia. For a liter of water, take a tablespoon of liquid soap, whisk until foam forms, add a tablespoon of ammonia, and mix. Wash the bag with the resulting solution and dry thoroughly.
If the smell is not very strong, then simple airing will help to cope with it. Hang your bag on the balcony for a few days. This method works especially well in cool and windy weather. But do not forget that leatherette does not tolerate severe frosts.
Important! When using the aromatization method, remember the compatibility of flavors. If the smell of the leatherette your bag is made from is too strong and chemical, mixing it with fragrances can make it even sickening.
Important nuances when removing odor
When removing the smell from a leatherette bag, follow the mandatory rules:
- study the manufacturer’s information regarding washing and cleaning the product;
- when choosing a method of combating odor, take into account its intensity;
- choose a method taking into account the color of your bag and its lining;
- Try the cleaner first on an inconspicuous area of the surface.
And, as always, it is better to prevent a problem than to fight it later. Therefore, buy only high-quality items, and when purchasing, not only check the quality of the product, but also... smell it. If the smell is very strong, decide for yourself - do you really need this particular bag?
A bag is a must-have element in any look modern woman. And it is very important that its owner likes this wardrobe detail and brings her only convenience. But what if your bag smells bad? There is no need to rush to get rid of your favorite item, as there are several proven methods on how to get rid of an unpleasant odor from a bag.
Ways to remove leather odor from a new bag
Many recently purchased bags, especially those made from leatherette, have a repulsive leather smell. You can get rid of it using products that you probably have in your home.
Method No. 1
Ventilate your bag well. Then soak cotton pads in any essential oil you like. These discs should be placed in the pockets of your bag.
Method No. 2
For this method you will need potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide. Dissolve a couple of potassium permanganate crystals in a glass of water. Then add 3 tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the resulting solution and stir. Then wipe your bag with this product.
It is very important to strictly follow the recipe, since excess potassium permanganate or peroxide in the solution can ruin the item.
Method No. 3
You can get rid of odor in a leather bag using citrus zest. You just need to thoroughly wipe the item with them.
Method No. 4
One more effective means is baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on the dry bag and wait at least half an hour. Then shake off the powder and wipe the surface with a damp cloth or sponge.
Methods for eliminating other odors
If your bag gets dirty and because of this it has an unpleasant odor, then there is no need to despair, because there are several effective advice, who will tell you how to get rid of unpleasant odor from your bag.
Cleaning with coffee
Coffee beans absorb all aromas very well. Moreover, the smell of coffee invigorates the body and gives it tone. To get rid of an unpleasant odor, the cheapest ground coffee is suitable. They need to sprinkle the inside of the bag. But please note that this method is only suitable for bags with a dark lining. Light-colored bags can be cleaned by wiping them with a mixture of glycerin and coffee grounds in a 1:1 ratio.
Wash
If the smell is caused by food, then most likely this method will help get rid of it completely. If the material of the bag allows, then it can be washed in washing machine, but if this cannot be done, then you need to use hand wash. For accessories containing a lot decorative elements, you can wash only the lining. This will help fix the problem without damaging the item.
If the bag is very expensive and made of very delicate materials, then it is better to contact a good dry cleaner, where specialists will select correct mode washing and suitable cleaning products.
Using Vinegar
A fairly effective way to clean a bag from an unpleasant odor is to use a vinegar solution. To do this, take 9% vinegar and mix it with water in a ratio of 1:3. Wipe the surface of the bag well with this solution.
Leather items have their own characteristic smell. They acquire it during the tanning of animal skins. Some people even like this smell because it is associated with buying a new expensive thing. But the majority still wants to “air out” the new thing as soon as possible. What to do if the leather odor is so strong that the item cannot be used for its intended purpose?
Water procedures
To begin with, you just need to wipe leather item with a damp cloth. Soak a rag or sponge in warm water, to which you can add a few drops of ammonia. Wipe with this solution leather accessory. Do not wet the skin too much - moisture is harmful to it. After this, wipe the product dry and hang it on the balcony to air out. Do not dry leather items with a hairdryer, especially with a hot stream of air - the coating may shrink or crack. Also, you should not leave leather items for a long time in direct sunlight - its structure will deteriorate.
After wiping with water, the item can be wrapped in newsprint. This paper is very soft and porous, so it perfectly absorbs foreign odors. If you struggle with odor leather jacket, you need to wrap it completely in a large newspaper roll. The same goes for briefcases, belts, wallets and gloves. If you have leather shoes, then the paper must be placed inside. By the way, if your leather shoes are narrow enough for you, first moisten the inside of the shoes with alcohol, and only then stuff them with paper. This method will get rid of the unpleasant odor and slightly widen the narrow opening of the shoe.
Vinegar
Vinegar does a great job of removing any kind of odors. If you wipe a leather product with it, vinegar will get rid of not only the smell of the leather itself, but also of foreign odors - the smell of smoke, dust, burning.
Dilute high-percentage vinegar with three parts water and soak a sponge in it. After this, try applying vinegar to the invisible side of the product - internal seams, back side. Apply a sponge soaked in vinegar to the skin. And only after you are convinced that the vinegar has not changed the color of the leather, you can treat the entire product in this way. If the skin has changed color, there is reason to wonder if it is natural?
Soda
You probably know that baking soda adsorbs unpleasant odors. This is why a simple bowl of baking soda can get rid of. But we need baking soda to remove fragrances from our skin. Here are a couple of effective ways.
- Dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in a glass of water and wipe the leather surface with this mixture. Do not rub too hard so that small grains of soda do not scratch the product. After this, you need to thoroughly wipe the item with a clean damp cloth so that there are no white streaks or smudges left. This method is suitable for small leather items.
- If it is a jacket, and even one with a lot of seams and zippers, it is not recommended to wipe it with a soda solution, because it will then take a long time to clean it from white stains. To eliminate the smell of a leather jacket, place the item in a pillowcase or large bag. Put a handful in there baking soda and tie the top hole tightly. Shake the resulting bag and leave it for a while. Dry soda will absorb foreign odors. To clean the product from soda, you need to wipe it with a dry cloth or use a vacuum cleaner. At the same time, put a narrow attachment on the vacuum cleaner tube.
If after the soda procedure the smell has become less aggressive, but has not completely disappeared, you can repeat the cleansing session.
Coffee
If your product Brown, it can be rubbed with ground coffee beans. A light-colored product cannot be wiped; in this case, you need to put the coffee in a fabric bag and place it inside. Coffee will not only get rid of the unpleasant leather odor, but will also give the item a subtle coffee aroma.
Ammonia and soap
This is another effective way to deal with leather odor. Add a tablespoon of ammonia and a little liquid soap to a glass of water. You can also dissolve dry soap, grated, in water. Soak a rag in this solution and wipe every corner of the leather with it, not forgetting the inside of the product. After this, you need to lubricate the skin with fatty castor oil. If it is not there, you can use any other oil or glycerin. Also, instead of soap and ammonia, you can wipe the skin with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide. This usually gets rid of most of the offensive odor.
Eliminate odor inside the product
It happens that the outside of the skin wears off and practically no longer smells, but inside there is an unpleasant and intrusive smell of new leather. This usually happens in briefcases and leather bags. To get rid of the internal leather smell, you need to place a linen bag with table salt inside. Salt is a good adsorbent that will absorb unpleasant aroma. Before filling the bag with salt, you need to dry it well in a frying pan, since dry salt absorbs odors much better. Instead of salt, you can use activated carbon tablets and dry mustard. But be careful if the leather product has bright hues. If the pouch breaks, the charcoal may stain the inside of your bag or briefcase.
In the fight against odor leather goods Do not use acetone, gasoline or thinner. This will corrode the leather structure and ruin the item. If you cannot cope with the smell on your own or are afraid for the quality of the leather covering, it is better to seek the help of professionals. Take the product to a dry cleaner, they will help you get rid of leather odor effectively and safely.
Leather products can emphasize the status and good taste of their owner. And you can always get rid of such a nuisance as skin odor without much effort.
High-quality and expensive leather bags have a special smell - their delicate, slightly tart aroma natural material cannot be confused with any other. But it happens that a new bag made of leather or leatherette smells too specific. Also, if you use the accessory carelessly, you may encounter such a problem. How to get rid of the smell inside a bag? We talk about effective ways and means.
A leather bag smells bad: how to remove the smell from a new bag
A new leather product may have a bad smell. The main reason is a violation of manufacturing technologies. If the manufacturer uses fish oil or animal urea to tan the raw material, rather than more expensive minerals, the leather will have an unpleasant odor.
Also, amber appears due to improper storage of the bag. Damp warehouses or premises next to which there were products with a strong aroma ( household chemicals, animal feed, spices), not in the best possible way affect the condition of leather bags. Excess moisture causes mold and a putrid odor.
To effectively deal with an unpleasant odor in your bag, you need to determine its cause, and then follow our instructions.
Causes of unpleasant odor in your bag
The main reasons include:
- Contamination – the product needs to be cleaned or washed;
- Something strongly odorous was carried in the bag - it needs to be ventilated;
- The handbag is made from low-quality raw materials - odor absorbers and fragrances should be used.
There is more than one way to combat bad odors inside a bag, and most of the products needed to clean it can be easily made at home from available ingredients.
To keep your bag looking neat and fresh, it should be properly cared for and stored correctly. we wrote about this in our materials.
How to get rid of fungus on a leather bag?
The accessory must be cleaned and ventilated well. The easiest way to remove a too strong aroma from a handbag is by regular airing. Effective way– hang the product on the balcony for 3-4 days. Usually this time is enough to get rid of foreign or strong odors.
How to remove the smell of leatherette from a leatherette bag
A good leatherette should not smell sharp or unpleasant. But if the handbag turns out to be “smelly”, do this:
- Wipe it with a damp cloth inside and out, dry it and leave it on the balcony for ventilation;
- Place sorbents in all compartments, and, having packed the product in a plastic bag, leave it so that they absorb the smell;
- Use fragrances to eliminate odors.
The unpleasant smell will disappear.
If the cause of the smell is not a violation of the manufacturing technology of the material or bag, but simple contamination, then regular washing or dry cleaning is necessary. Disguise amber eau de toilette or perfume will not have any effect.
How to remove unpleasant odor from a bag: practical tips
We have compiled our own rating of the most effective means combating unpleasant odors. Before using any of the recipes, check whether it will spoil your favorite product. To do this, apply detergent to an inconspicuous area of the bag.
Remove odor from Chinese bags using onions?
Onions tend to absorb foreign odors. Finely chop the onion, place it in a plate, and cover it with gauze. Turn the bag over, unzip it, and cover the plate with it. Leave it like this for several hours or overnight. If there is a strong foreign odor, the structure can be removed in a bag or film.
Wash
Most The best way To combat the unpleasant odor inside your handbag, wash it. If water procedures will not damage the accessory, then rinse it in a weak soap solution. It's better to use soft baby soap or liquid powder.
Before drying, the product should be thoroughly blotted with a soft towel and dried on fresh air. However, it is forbidden to leave it in the sun or near heat sources. Another option is dry cleaning.
Solutions for eliminating unpleasant odors inside bags
A leather bag cannot be washed. In this case, special neutralizing solutions will help:
- Alcohol solution - mix vodka with clean water in a one to one ratio, you can use alcohol, and then wipe the product. Use very carefully on light-colored bags;
- Based on iodine - add 15 drops of iodine to 1 liter of water. Check on an inconspicuous area of the bag, then treat the entire accessory. Iodine is an excellent disinfectant and antiseptic; it will help cope with odor.
- Potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide - 3-4 granules of potassium permanganate are diluted in a liter of water and the bag is treated inside and out. If the smell does not go away, add 3 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide to the solution and repeat the procedure. Water with manganese and peroxide penetrates deeply into the pores of the skin and washes out foreign odors from them;
- Vinegar or lemon juice - one part table vinegar or lemon juice and five parts water. Removes any odors well. Can be repeated several times. Use carefully on light-colored bags. As an option, use lemon peel; wipe the bag with the white (back) side of the peel. This will remove the smell and give the bag a light citrus scent.
Before processing any bag, be sure to check the effect of the solution on an inconspicuous fragment of it. To do this, soak a cloth in the solution, wring it out well and wipe a small, inconspicuous area of the material.
Absorbents of unpleasant odors for bags
Various bulk substances - aroma absorbers - work well. Their use is absolutely safe. You shouldn’t sprinkle them on the accessory; just put them in a fabric bag and place them in a bag, and the bag in plastic bag.
Salt and soda
Prepare a paste of fine salt by mixing it with a small amount water. Then apply the resulting grounds to the lining of the bag. The salt will dry overnight and in the morning you can simply shake it off your purse. Along with the salt crystals, the unpleasant odor will also disappear.
If you use soda, it is recommended to sprinkle it on the bag - outside, inside, all pockets and compartments. Place in a plastic bag or tightly closed container and leave for a week. During this time, the soda will absorb moisture and odor. After this, shake the bag well and ventilate it.
Bread crusts
Dark rye bread, like a sponge, absorbs unpleasant odors. The dried crusts should be placed in the pockets of your bag. This is a great way to combat the chemical smell that comes with Chinese leatherette bags.
Activated carbon and silica gel
More “professional” sorbents for bags are black tablets of activated carbon and small bags of white granules, which manufacturers often put in shoe boxes. Place them in the pockets of the accessory and they will begin to absorb foreign odors. If necessary, replace the sorbents and repeat the procedure.
Fragrances for bags
The simplest and effective method, put a miniature sachet in your bag - a bag filled with fragrant herbs, spices, citrus peel or cotton wool dipped in essential oil.
Another way is to saturate your handbag with coffee aroma. You need to pour ground beans or instant drink granules inside the product and leave it closed for several days so that the coffee aroma is absorbed into the fabric. You can also leave a small bag of coffee beans in your bag.
If you decide to use perfume to scent your bag, you should not pour it into the bag. Spray a regular handkerchief and place it in the inside pocket of your bag. It would be enough.
