Wow, I did not think so many people did not clean them, well I mean disinfect, not clean for prettyness. Non of you guyshave a problem? Maybe the chance of carrying over semething from last year is not that high? Anyway, thanks for your responces. I still like to disinfect them anyway so not to take a chance and have something happen after all my hard work. I just hate using bleach because I always ruin some kind of clothing no matter how careful I am, plus I live on a lake and I try not to use stuff that can harm the wildlife. But it is not like the amount a bleach I use could hurt anything. I was thinking maybe an organic fungicide might work but I guess not. I also have this stuff called Physan 20 which is suppose to be an awesome disinfectant for plants and tools but I see no mention of being used on veggie plants so I was afraid to use it on my cages/stakes. For some reason, the hydrogen peroxide link does not seen to go to where I think it is suppose to go? Thanks! Christy

When I graduated from high school in '65, my mother's friend gave me a clutch type wallet as a graduation gift, and somehow, very quickly, that evolved into my purse, and I have just carried a wallet like that ever since. I carry the same one for years...until it literally falls apart. Right now, the zipper on the zippered coin compartment is broken, so when I am out and I get change, I carry it in my pocket, or put it in the console of my truck. My truck is my purse. I keep receipts in my wallet and about once a month, take them out and put them away. I save a lot of my change, and keep it in a jar in one of my cupboards. Once a month, I empty the jar and put it away. I try to make sure I save a little more each month than I did the previous one. I've tried carrying a purse a couple of times since I switched to the wallet and it seems so heavy and kills my shoulders. Hairbrush and anything I think I will need....I keep in my truck.

I found a thread on the Laundry Room forum about removing gasoline from fabric, which I think would be about the same as removing kerosene. One poster lists a step-by-step method they found on Ask.com which might be particularly helpful. Several say that if such things are put in the washer it can ruin the machine or make it always smell of gas. My own suggestion would be to take the purse to a dry cleaner and explain what happened. They may know how to get the kerosene smell out without affecting the fabric dye. Here is a link that might be useful: Laundry Room discussion

I would recommend washing as one would a pillow. would put it inside a pillow case and toss it into the machine on a gentle cycle. When the cycle is over, check how wet it is still. If still very full of water, set it on a spin cycle. Toss into the dryer on a low setting or just an air setting. Sometimes a pair of cloth gym shoes or a few tennis balls help keep it fluffy.