Having handled thousands of vintage Chanel bags over 21 years, we’ve come across many 30 year-old bags that are excellent-pristine, and some that show their age. It is possible to have your bag looking excellent even 30 years from today with proper Chanel bag maintenance — here I’ll discuss some key tips on how to maintain longevity and excellent condition of your Chanel bag.

This is likely an unexpected tip, but the truth is that no matter how well your bag is cared for, if you carry your bag every single day or more frequently, it will wear over time. The most pristine vintage bags we find come from closets where the owner has more than 50 handbags. While you certainly don’t have to have 50, the more diverse your collection and the more you alternate means less wear for each bag, and naturally, this is a great strategy we see many of our clients employ. Granted, we don’t advise that you lock her away never to be seen again, but alternating between 4 or 5 everyday bags will put less stress and wear on any one bag. Chanel bag maintenance includes less frequent use, and alternating helps. 

Larger Chanel totes and other large bags will wear more easily than smaller bags. This is a fact - maintenance is more difficult. The larger your bag, the more likely it will bump into walls, other surfaces, or even the dirty car behind you in the parking lot. Be aware of the size of your bag and where it touches. Larger bags also have a greater tendency to crease, so be careful how and where you place your bag. The same applies of course to smaller bags, but it’s good just to be aware of larger bags and their corners and edges.

Also during use, accidents happen. If you spill something on your bag, swiftly blot it with dry paper towels; for dirt or stains, use baby wipes or facial wipes (non-alcohol wipes).

Bag inserts are also popular to prevent wear and tear on the interior of the bag.

One uncommon tip I give my clients is to condition the corners of your bags before you wear them out, to prevent scuffing – not after. Try to scratch the back of your dry hand with your fingernail. Do you see a white scratch? That’s essentially a light “scuff.” Now, moisturize your hand with lotion, and try again. No white scratch, right? Corners of your bags are most prone to scuffing as they rub against various surfaces- tables, countertops, walls. If they’re moisturized (conditioned), these scuffs will be minimal.

Each of these tips can be its own article, but here are some quick tips on proper bag storage, which is essential to the longevity of the bag and Chanel bag maintenance:

• Store the chain inside the bag, looped all the away around and through for flaps. Any chains sitting on top will create press marks
• For classic flaps, store upright, with light interior stuffing and very light stuffing to support the gap in between the interior and exterior flap (for double flaps)
• For 2.55 reissue flaps and larger tote bags, store on its back
• Store in a cool, ventilated area, away from the sunlight, in a dust bag or other breathable fabric bag.
• If you live in a humid area, use acid-free tissue paper to line the interior pockets to prevent pockets from sticking to each other
• Condition your bag regularly if you live in a dry climate. Overly dry leather can result in dye fading or cracking.
  
  

This article was initially shared with PurseBop in September 2022.