Luggage repair is often needed after any kind of traveling, whether it has been a short break or a long backpacking trip. A lot of damage happens to luggage through general wear and tear as you carry it around, but in addition to that thousands of items of luggage are damaged every year by airports, which also requires fixing. The guide will take you through some of the most common problems that need fixing and what you can do about it. You can also look online or in a local business directory to find a good company near you that offers luggage repair services.

Most common problems caused by damaged luggage can easily be fixed with a few basic items. The most common problem is having a tear in the vinyl or fabric of a bag or suitcase. To fix a tear you should purchase vinyl cement, which is available at many clothing repair shops at a fairly low price, and stick the torn part back down. For a larger tear you can buy vinyl cement and a vinyl patch, and affix the patch beneath the tear in the fabric. The same thing goes for torn or damaged leather, except where possible you will want to find a piece of matching leather, to keep a consistent look of the luggage. Where necessary you should use fabric glue instead of vinyl cement -- it depends on what type of fabric is torn.

Another common problem that requires luggage repair is a dent in a metal suitcase, and again this problem can be easily resolved. To fix a dent you should knock the dent from the inside with a hard block of wood until it pops back into shape. One other type of luggage damage that frequently arises is a broken handle on a bag or suitcase. The trick for fixing broken handle is simply to buy and fit a replacement part. Replacement handles can quite easily be tracked down at high street stores or online, at websites like eBay or Google Product Search. They can be quite tricky to fix. You first need to locate the area on the inside of the bag where the handle is fixed, and completely remove it, before installing the replacement handle. This can involve cutting and reapplying parts of fabric, so be sure that you have the right equipment before you go ahead and do it.

Another problem that frequently arises is getting a broken zipper. Obviously this can be a nightmare when you are traveling and your bag will not stay closed. While it is fairly easy to buy a replacement zipper and install it using stitching or fabric glue, on a suitcase it can be difficult to do well without any previous experience, so it is often worthwhile to put your suitcase in for luggage repair instead of trying to fix it yourself.

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