Care And Maintenance Tips For Handwoven Bags

Handwoven bags are beautiful to behold especially when paired with the right clothing and other beauty accessories. However, as unique as they are, they also need you to give them that special human touch. This will in turn help them maintain their pristine nature and last longer.

Handwoven bags as we know, are carefully crafted pieces from natural materials (fibers). They are skillfully crafted by experienced artisans. As such, they deserve extra care and attention to preserve them from wearing out.

In this article, I will share several care and maintenance tips for handwoven bags, totes, and clutches to keep them in good shape and give them an extended lifespan. From using the right cleaning methods to proper storage to protection, and avoiding mistakes, below are ways whereby you can care for and maintain handwoven bags.

Gentle Cleaning And Spot Treatment Of Handwoven Bags

When talking about tips to keep your handwoven bags clean, gentility is something you must keep paramount. Use a very mild soap and lukewarm water to spot-clean your handwoven bag.

Do not for any reason submerge your handwoven bag entirely in water. The reason is that it can affect or damage some delicate fibers of the bag.

Also, avoid rubbing (especially with excess force) because it can cause distortions in the weaves. You can use a damp cloth to gently wipe out any pills or blot hard stains but make sure you are gentle enough.

I know what you’re thinking right now: what if the stains are tough, right? For hard stains that won’t go easily, you can scrub gently using a soft bristle brush and a little amount of gentle pH-neutral soap.

To finish up your cleaning ensure that your bag is properly and completely air-dried before you start using it. In all you do, keep your bag away from direct sunlight or heat since it can cause wrapping or fading.

Protection and Storage Suggestions For Handwoven Bags

In case you don’t know, intense heat or direct sunlight can have a negative effect on your handwoven bag. As such, it is important to keep it stored in a cool, clean, and dry place away from heat.

Another bag-harmful habit you should stop is keeping handwoven tote bags inside air-tight containers or plastic bags. The reason is simple: air-tight containers (in case you don’t know) can trap moisture. Over the course of time, the moisture that has been trapped can lead to mildew and mold growth on the bags.

But what if your handwoven bag has a metal or leather trim? What should you do? Well, I’d advise that you buy a metal polish or leather conditioner (as the case may be) and use it for your bag. This practice will retain its pristine nature if it has a metal or leather trim.

Tips For Handling Wear and Tear For Handwoven Bags

As you make use of your handwoven bags over time you may begin to see some loose ends. When you notice any fraying threads or loose ends, get sharp scissors and carefully trim the edges of the affected area to prevent any further unraveling.
The woven fibers of your bag and not resistible to damage (wear and tear). As soon as you notice that your bag’s fibers are getting damaged or worn out, please take your bag to a professional repairer or specialist to fix it for you. Do not attempt to fix it yourself, unless you are an artisan and you have the skill set required.
Just like every material has its elastic limit, handwoven bags also have their limits. Do not put too much stuff in your bag than it can carry. Once you have a feeling of overweight from your bag, then it’s high time you reduce the load.
With a gentle touch, reshape and fluff your bag regularly to make sure that it doesn’t lose its original shape. You can do this by molding and pressing the fibers back into place periodically.
Do not expose your bags to high temperatures for an extended period of time. Except, of course, you want your bag to experience this coloration and fade over time.
Lastly, be prompt to address any issues that may arise with your bag as soon as you notice it. Delays in addressing issues may make the situation worse.
At all times, avoid straining the delicate waves of your handwoven bags by not overstuffing them. Know your bag’s weight and capacity and don’t overload it.
Water and rain are two things that can cause swelling of your bag’s fibers and lead to distortion. So, while using your bag, try to minimize its exposure to water or excessive humidity.
Another tip to make your Handwoven bag last long is to distribute weight evenly between the handles or the shoulder strap of your bag. This will prevent any scenario of uneven wear and tear from coming to life.
Lastly, on the usage and handling of handwoven bags, you can use bag inserts to protect the interior of your bag from scratches and spills. Also, you can use bag organizers to help maintain your bag’s original structure.

How to Properly Store Handwoven Bags During the Off-Season

During the off seasons take your time to thoroughly check your handwoven bags and clutches periodically for any signs of distortion, discoloration, or damage in the bag’s woven structure. Regularly reshape and fluff the bags gently to ensure that the bag still maintains its pristine condition.

Inspect to see the condition of your bag’s hardware especially things like metal accents buckles (if any), or clasps, and condition or clean them as supposed. Also, don’t forget to regularly check for fraying threats or loose ends and fix them appropriately.

Another thing you can do is to carry out a more detailed check by taking your handover bags out of storage to see if the interior and exterior are in order or if there is any debris, signs of pest damage, or mildew. If there is debris on the surface, ensure you brush gently to remove it all while making sure that the storage remains dry and cool.

Ensure that you closely monitor your handwoven bag, especially during weather changes, temperature fluctuations, and periods of high humidity. The reason is that these weather conditions and environmental factors have the ability to impact the delicate materials or fibers of your handwoven bags.

Finally, you want to take note of every noticeable change and the time of occurrence. You can note down your inspection dates and whatever changes, issues, or damages you notice on your handwoven bags or clutch bags. This will help you have a comprehensive record and how to care for them seasonally.

Now that you know how to care for and maintain your handwoven bags, visit our store to buy quality collections of handwoven totes and clutch bags.

Conclusion

If you have carefully read through this guide, I believe by now you should have a proper understanding of basic care and maintenance tips for handwoven bags. Proper care can make you enjoy your handwoven bags for years to come without any worry of damage. In addition, proper care shows that you appreciate the uniqueness and craftsmanship of handwoven bags. Should you have a bag with metal trim, you can try this multi-purpose metal polish for your handwoven bags.

Philip Makinde

Next 10 Handwoven Bag Inspiration To Try This Summer »

Previous « Style Guide: How To Incorporate Handwoven Bags Into Your Wardrobe

View Comments

Marques says:

June 5, 2024 at 6:19 pm

Thanks for the tips , I used to be worried about raffia or bamboo smell. There’s was a beach hat I had with this awful smell. I’ve been searching for a care tip like this. I will apply the same measures.