How am I supposed to clean this?

[polo_tottie]

I have a really cute canvas back. It's a very pale duck egg blue with pink flowers on it -
It's basically this but with cream rather than brown leather.
http://cambridgetab.c...oads/2010/04/ck61.jpg
very cath kidston style. However, it's really getting a bit grimy now and could do with a wash.
Herein lies the problem:
the label says:
do not wash
do not bleach
do not tumbledry
do not iron
do not dryclean
DO NOT WET

so.... what the hell AM I supposed to do to it to clean it up?
cheers in advance.

[mollykins]

oh um I was going to say dry clean it. What kind of grimyness is it?

[eash]

That is a good question. How about a cleansing wipe or something similar?

[LoftyLottie]

Personally, I would give the canvas bit a wash with a soft brush and some clean water with a tiny amount of detergent.

You don't want to walk about with a grubby bag - so no alternative really.

[polo_tottie]

@mollykins it's just generally grubby - no smears or stains or anything but it's just got darker from all the dust and dirt it's picked up from everyday use.

@ eash & Lottie thanks! i might give the face wipes a go - then at least i can clean around the flowers - I'm guessing the reason why the label is so adamant that i shouldn't get it wet is because the dye of the flowers will run or something. I know it's just a cheapo bag, but I love it and they don't do it anymore :(

[rowanwitch]

once youve cleaned it as best you can give it a good spray with the stuff you use to protect canvas shoes only in lots of light coats so the fabric doesn't get wet. should mean it will brush clean afterwards. If this works add a spray of polyeurathane varnish which should seal the surface of the flowers and make it even harder wearing

[polo_tottie]

ooh! brilliant! thanks so much! i'll use that on some of my canvas shoes too! I didn't know such a thing existed! :D