Avoid having to unpack and repack your luggage during travels by repairing luggage damages yourself.
It is common for luggage to get damaged during travels. You may be able to get a refund or repair service for damaged luggage from your travel company or airline, but this often involves filling out time-consuming forms. Spare yourself the inconvenience and avoid having to unpack and repack your luggage in the middle of your travel because your luggage has minor damages by performing common on-the-spot, do-it-yourself luggage repair tasks.
Instructions
Luggage Repair Supplies
1. Stock up the major luggage repair parts you are likely to need before you set off on your trip. Purchase replacement parts including luggage wheels, handles, fasteners, screws and bolts from flea markets or luggage repair stores especially if you notice some weak points on your luggage or you have used your luggage for a long time.
2. Bring along the necessary tools to attach the luggage repair parts such as a tool kit with screw drivers and pliers.
3. Pack matching patches and a sewing kit in case you need to sew or patch bursts in your luggage.
4. Carry spare buttons for replacing lost luggage buttons during travels. Purchase replacement buttons from your local luggage repair service center or from a clothes shop near you.
5. Purchase wax for dealing with luggage zippers that are stuck at the seams, which is a common problem on travels. Wax sticks or candles are known to alleviate the problem of stuck zippers when applied to stuck zippers.
Luggage Repairs
6. Glue down torn vinyl or fabric luggage parts with vinyl cement (for vinyl luggage) or fabric glue (for fabric luggage). Apply vinyl or fabric glue on the surfaces that need bonding using a cardboard spreader and press the parts together. Patch underneath the tear with matching vinyl or fabric if the tear is large. Paste loose luggage linings back with fabric glue and allow the glue to dry.
7. Repair torn leather luggage with rubber cement or vinyl acetate adhesives. Apply vinyl acetate on a matching leather patch and the luggage surface that needs repair using a bristle brush. Press the two parts together when the surface becomes tacky and the adhesives color starts to clear to cover gaping leather holes. Use a metal or cardboard spreader to apply a thin layer of rubber cement to both surfaces that need bonding if you are using rubber cement. Join the two parts together when the cement is almost dry.
8. Tap the inside of dented luggage metals with a piece of wood or hammer to correct metal dents. Avoid pounding too hard for the metal to pop out to prevent further damaging the luggage .
9. Replace broken luggage handles. Open your luggage and find where the handle is screwed in or bolted in. Remove the bolts or screws using a screw driver and take out damaged handles. Bolt in recessed replacement handles or screw in retractable replacement handles, depending on the handle model on your luggage. Ensure you tighten the bolts or screws after installing new luggage handles.
10. Polish scuffed leather on your luggage with the appropriate leather polish just like you would polish your shoes. If your luggage is dirty, first clean your luggage with a damp cloth.
Tags: your luggage, luggage repair, during travels, fabric glue, luggage with, parts together, rubber cement
