posted on December 23, 2000 01:23:13 PM
I purchased a whiting & Davis mesh purse that is really really dirty. Is there any way to clean it up without hurting the enamel? I want it to look its best so I can list it.
posted on December 23, 2000 01:38:39 PM
This might be just me, but I think things are probably better left as they are. Seems everytime I try to clean or repair something to resell, it ends up hurting more than helping. Me, I would play up that the purse is lovingly used awaiting just the right person to give it new life (or something on that order). Sometimes the fun in buying something old is the challenge of making it new again.
Anyway, if you must clean the enamel, I've used a mild dish detergent and a soft cloth with relatively good results.
posted on December 23, 2000 02:36:49 PM
I think I will try to clean it a little. It has some damage anyway. I think it should still sell though. A lot of people are like me and think the beauties of the past should be saved, even if they do have a few blemishes.
posted on December 23, 2000 03:03:32 PM
Just be carefull when cleaning it or you could make it more of a mess then the dirty look, depending on the color of the Item I would try to avoid cleaning any light color enamel wipe it off maybe with a damp rag and some mild cleaner useing easy effort if you rub or scrud to much you will no doubt come out with light and dark areas and also some spots where the enamel started to come off.
Avoid useing any type of soap on this mesh Item as soap tends to draw dirt can and usually does leave stains where it not rinsed totally as this is mesh there will be areas you cant wipe off on the inside and edges of the mesh with out rinse under water and these areas in a few days will look dirtier then before you cleaned them.
Here is an exsample of how soap draws dirt, take a dirty spot on your carpet use soapy water and a brush to scrub that spot get it nice and wet it will look clean when your done but in two to four days this area will turn dark sometimes even black this dark spot will never totally come out of your carpet ever the black came from deep down in the carpet and from the pad or floor under it the wet soap you couldnt get out drew it right up to the surfice cause a worse stain then you started with.
Enamel is not as tough as it seems it to has pours that collect dirt over time water and soap seep into these pours and draw up this dirt in the enamel makeing a stain that comes from inside out.
posted on December 23, 2000 04:03:36 PM
dman, thank you so much. I never even thought about that. I guess I will just lightly brush it off with a very soft little brush I have and take the pics. If the poor little thing doesn't sell it will join the other injured souls in my personal treasure trunk.
posted on December 24, 2000 05:07:14 AM
This is going to sound weird, but it really works.
Buy a loaf of really squishy, very fresh white sandwich bread - the kind that is mostly air. Take the crusts off a couple slices and wad the doughy middle part into a ball. Use it as an eraser, drawing it over the surface of the item you want cleaned. You'll be amazed at the grime you can get off this way, and all you have to do is brush off the crumbs! (This was originally given to me as a means to clean off silk lampshades, BTW.)
posted on December 24, 2000 06:36:04 AM
The grunge on a mesh purse is mostly "hand grunge" ... dirt embedded in oil from the user's hands.
The proper cleaner is anything that can remove oils and dirt, but something that is not strong enough to damage the porcelain of the enamel. Use commercial tub and tile cleaner, sprayed thoroughly onto the mesh inside and out, let it soak a few minutes, then scrub gently with a soft brush (baby-soft brush!), repeated as needed until the grunge stops coming out, followed by a thorough rinse in distilled water, then blow it dry with a hair dryer.
If the oily grunge is REALLY obstinate, wet the thing down with a mild solvent, like lighter fluid, and let it soak for a while, THEN use more tile cleaner. Rinse in DI water and blow dry.
