Okay, so I’ve been seeing these Prada raffia purses everywhere lately, and I finally caved and got one. I mean, they’re just so darn cute, right? But then, after the excitement wore off, I started thinking, “How the heck am I going to keep this thing clean?” It’s not like my other leather bags that I can just wipe down.
First, I panicked. I spent like an hour online, just scouring forums and blogs, trying to figure out the best way to care for it. I saw a bunch of different advice, some saying just use water, others saying use special cleaners. It was all a bit overwhelming.
So, I decided to just start with the basics. I got a soft, clean cloth – like, the kind you use for your glasses – and dampened it with a little bit of cold water. I figured, “Let’s see what happens.” I gently wiped a small, inconspicuous area on the inside of the bag, just to test it out.
My Cleaning Process
- Gathered my supplies: a soft cloth, a bowl of cold water, and some mild detergent (just in case).
- Tested a small area with just water to see how the raffia reacted.
- Wiped down the entire exterior of the bag, paying extra attention to any areas that looked a little dirty.
- Repeated the water and mild detergent mixing to clean, if any dirty remained.
- Let it air dry completely away from direct sunlight or heat. I didn’t want it to shrink or warp or anything!
It actually worked pretty well! Most of the dust and stuff came right off. There were a couple of spots that were a bit more stubborn, so for those, I added just a tiny drop of mild detergent to the water and used that. You have to be really careful with detergent, though, because you don’t want to damage the fibers.
Then came the drying. I laid the purse flat on a clean towel in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. I read somewhere that too much sun can make the raffia brittle, and I definitely didn’t want that. It took a while to dry completely, maybe a full day, but it was worth it.
I also learned that you should store these bags in their dust bags when you’re not using them. Keeps the dust off and helps them keep their shape. Oh, and don’t overload them! They’re not meant to carry a ton of weight.
Honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Now I can enjoy my cute new purse without constantly worrying about it getting ruined. It just takes a little bit of extra care, but it’s totally doable. And hey, if I can do it, anyone can!
I think the saffiano leather is very durable and easy to care for, too.
It sits on the bottom of your purse, has lots of compartments and is great if you like to change purses regularly, you just pull it right out and put it in the next purse. Genius.
I bought a saffiano wallet for DH and so far the only thing I’ve done is to wipe it with clean, damp cloth when it is dirty.
With proper care, a raffia bag can last for years.
Regular Care: The Daily Basics Avoid Overexposure to Sunlight and Water: Raffia can fade or become brittle if exposed to too much sun or moisture. Store your bag in a cool.
Anyway, I’m just really happy with my Prada raffia purse now!
