Caring for Your Shoes and Bags

For most of us girls, our passion is collecting shoes and bags. We love having them in different designs and colors, anything that would match up any outfit, on any given occasion. Through the years, I've had a stock of shoes in my closet already, and so are my bags. Some of my shoes I have given away already to make way for my new pairs and the same goes with my bags. But how do you care for them, without ruining it's style and form and that they are not collecting dust in where you keep them? Let me share with you tips on how I keep mine, free from dust and retaining it's style and form......

Cleaning:

• Use a dry brush to sweep away residue, when removing dry stains on fabric shoes and bags.Gently dab a damp of fabric of the same color as the bag or shoe on the stain; sprinkle baking soda. Once dry, brush again. Repeat if necessary but don't use too much baking soda.
• Never dry clean bags and shoes with plastic beads on them. It melts plastic.
• Those that are made of suede, velvet, terry cloth, tweed can be cleaned with a dry old toothbrush. Do not remove stains while wet nor trim the fabrics for this will ruin the items more.
• For oily stains, immediately dab baking soda. Let it sit until the baking soda is absorbed. Pat the area dry with the fabric of the same color as the bag or shoe. Don't rub. If the stain is not removed, dab soda water and baking soda on it. Press a dry fabric cloth of the same color on the area until wetness is absorbed.
• Do not soak a pair of shoes or a bag to remove stain. There are bags that has adhesives that will dissolve with water. It will make your bags and shoes yellowish and rusty-looking.

Keeping Them:

• Store your shoes and bags that are made of delicate material in smooth fabric bags. beaded bags should be kept in cloth bags as well to prevent snagging.
  
• Shoes and bags should not be kept in tightly knotted and with metal seal plastics. This allows oxidation and metal may stain the fabric.
  
• Make use of shoe trees to keep the shape of your shoes, even those with straps.If you don't have a shoe tree you can use crumpled wrapping paper or brown paper. Do not use newspapers or colored papers as it might bleed into your shoe soles.
• Hang your bags on wooden pegs. It makes it easier for you to choose which one to use when you're about to dress. Or....
• Keep your shoes in a walk in closet, on a built in shoe rack. You can do away with the walk in closet, just maintain the shoe rack. =)