Alright, let me tell you about this old Belmont purse I ended up working on the other day. Wasn’t really planning it, you know, just sort of happened.
So, I was helping clear out some boxes from my aunt’s attic. Mostly junk, old papers, that kind of stuff. But tucked away in a corner, inside a dusty shoebox, was this purse. Looked like leather, kinda small, definitely seen better days. Had this little metal clasp thing. I asked my aunt, she barely remembered it, said it might’ve been my grandmother’s. Had “Belmont” faintly stamped on the inside flap.
Getting Started
First thing, I took it outside and gave it a good shake and brushing off. Cobwebs, dust, you name it. The leather felt really stiff and dry, almost brittle in spots. The metal clasp was dull, kinda greenish in places. Looked pretty neglected, honestly.
I thought, okay, let’s see if I can clean this up a bit without wrecking it. Didn’t want to use anything harsh.
The Cleaning Process
Here’s what I did, step-by-step:
- Wipe Down: I got a soft cloth, like an old t-shirt scrap, dampened it just a tiny bit with plain water. Wiped down the outside leather gently. Didn’t scrub, just tried to lift the surface grime. Did the same for the inside lining, which was some kind of fabric.
- Leather Care: The leather looked thirsty. I remembered I had some leather conditioner I used for my old work boots. Important bit: I tested it on a really small, hidden spot inside the flap first. Waited a bit, seemed okay, no weird discoloration. So, I took another clean, soft cloth, put a tiny dab of conditioner on it, and worked it into the leather in small circles. Really massaged it in, especially where it looked driest. Didn’t use too much, just enough to give it a drink.
- Metal Polishing (Simple): For the clasp, I just used a dry part of the cloth and rubbed it firmly. Didn’t have proper metal polish, but just rubbing got rid of some tarnish and brought back a little shine. Good enough for me.
- Airing Out: After conditioning, I left the purse open on a table indoors, away from sunlight, just to air out and let the conditioner soak in properly for a day.
How It Turned Out
Honestly, it looks way better. Not brand new, obviously, it still looks old, but it’s clean now. The leather feels much softer and has a nice subtle sheen instead of that dull, dusty look. The dryness is gone. The clasp looks cleaner too.
It’s not something I’d probably use every day, it’s pretty small and old-fashioned. But it was satisfying bringing it back to life a little. Cleaned up nicely. Now it sits on a shelf, a nice little memory piece from grandma’s time. Glad I found it and took the time.
