Our handbags aren't just arm candy, they've become a necessary extension of our lives. Without these trusty companions, where would we put our wallet, miscellaneous receipts, pens, phone, sunglasses, on-the-go makeup options, and hand sanitizer? Life without these accessories seems, well, unorganized. Thus, our heavy reliance on our purses means it's really only a matter of time until the wear and tear shows. We're here to put the kibosh on handbag damage. Just by being a little more careful, providing some product-enhanced TLC, and utilizing an old pillowcase for greater purposes (believe us on this one), your sidekick will look as new as the day you got it. Keep reading below for quick no-fail handbag care tips.

• Treat it. For leather and canvas bags, it's wise to treat them before taking them out into the wild (or just out of the dust bag). That way, the bag's surface is preconditioned to weather to storm, literally, in those situations where you may just be caught in a downpour sans umbrella. For leather iterations, try the Armor All leather protectant spray [1] ($7), and for canvas totes, opt for the Scotchgard fabric protector [2] ($5). Here's the snag though: be sure to test the protectant on a small piece of the fabric before getting spray-happy. Some of these protectants can actually change the color of the original leather or canvas, so it's good to make sure your bag isn't subject to a little makeover in the treatment process.
• Brush it. For suede bags, spring for a suede-friendly brush, like this brush-and-eraser combo [3] ($5). To "groom," all you have to do is brush gently to get stains out. Be wary of applying too much pressure; you might just take off some of the suede with all that strength.
• Spot treatment. Like we've said before, Shout is one of life's little miracles and we will continue to sing its praises here. This time, you can use on-the-go wipes [4] ($3) to take care of small stains on canvas bag iterations at the precise moment of damage. Take care not to use the wipe on any areas other than the affected one, otherwise you could spread the discoloration elsewhere.
• Show your leather some love. Everyone — and we'll include bags here — needs a pep talk. This "motivational speech" comes courtesy of one of our personal favorite bag lifesavers, Method Leather Love Wipes [5] ($14). They work like a charm and they're nontoxic and compostable — we love a win-win.
• Save your old pillowcases for the greater good. If you don't happen to have a dust bag on you (or your bag didn't come with one), a pillowcase will do the trick for keeping your off-duty bags fresh and protected. You want to steer clear of storing your accessories in plastics bags, especially if they're made of leather or suede, because it will dry out the hide.
• All things in moderation. We know it's easy to throw everything into our bags and hit the road, but it's good to take it easy on them. Translation: don't overfill your bag. By putting too much in, the bag can lose its original shape.

Other ways to keep your style in check:

• SOS solutions for nixing those white-shirt stains [6]
• Quick tips on how to clean your Summer sandals [7]
• Foolproof ways to reinvigorate your favorite jewelry [8]
• No-fail methods for keeping your swimsuit in tip-top shape [9]