Gum In My Bag And Some Tips

I always keep a pack of gum in my bag. No big deal, it keeps my breath fresh and I like chewing gums.

What I don’t like are the catastrophic accidents caused by the teeny tiny chewy thing. It’s very traumatizing to have your beautiful long hair cut because a gum is stuck near the root on top of your head. Thank God that neighbor’s kid grew up to be a pretty model and is jet-setting the world right this minute as she’s now safe from that gum-chewing (ex) friend of hers.

Anyway, I guess I paid my karma because just this morning I found a gum stuck beneath one of my gorgeous Anuschka, as I was waiting in line for my morning paper. Didn’t know how it got there, but it was enough to make me sweat for 2 blocks.

Yep, the Anuschka Kelly Tote.

I wanted to pull the gum out but was way too scared to ruin the leather. Besides it wasn’t a pretty sight anyway. So I handled the bag carefully, ran home, and called Trish. She calmed me down and told me to get some ice into a plastic bag. And she told me to rub the plastic bag over the gum so it hardens. When it did, I pulled the gum out carefully and yes it was easier to do so. Trish told me just to wipe the spot with wet cloth. It worked. Thank God it didn’t leave any stain. Darn gum.

While we’re at it, I guess it’s just appropriate to share some tips on cleaning your leather bag.

1. Never ever leave your leather bags out where can be reached by direct sunlight. Trust me, the sun rays will change the color of the bag.

2. Always use cloth to cover your leather bags, or any porous covers. Putting them inside plastic bags or non-porous materials isn’t a great idea as it will encourage mildew and bacteria growth. And they will ruin the bags for sure.

3. Wipe the leather bag with a fresh damp cloth and dry it up with a dry towel before storing. This will get rid of the dirt that probably contain those bag-ruining bacterias.

4. Trish’s simple tip worked for me and there are plenty of stain-removing tips online, but take it from me, the more stain you get on your leather bag, the more risk you’re taking if you decide to attempt removing them yourself. Get professional help.

Oh and um… maybe you don’t really need to take a bag when you’re getting the morning paper anyway. You never know what danger the streets have in store for your beautiful leather bag.

May 27 2008 01:18 pm | Favorite Handbags and Tips