Jolie my beloved, what do you recommend for cleaning the outside of hardshell luggage?
From afar, via text, comes this very good question that has a very simple and straightforward answer!
Before I A the actual Q, though, there is A Thing I'd like to say about luggage: Please stop putting it on your bed, or your hotel bed, or the guest bed at the home you're staying in, or on any other sort of bed you may come across in your literal travels!
You guys, luggage is so, so filthy. I'm not especially germaphobic, which surprises people, but I am highly aware of the things in this world that are really gross and your luggage is absolutely one of those things so when I see a suitcase or overnight bag tossed onto a bed I want to die. Thank you for indulging me, now let's get on with things.
The great news here is that cleaning hardshell luggage is eaaaasy. You're going to need two, maybe three things:
A Magic Eraser
Disinfecting wipes -OR-
A disinfecting all-purpose cleaner+a microfiber cloth
Part 1: Scuff Removal
The first thing to do is to address scuffs and other marks on the luggage. A Magic Eraser should do the trick, BUT it’s important to test it first to make sure it won’t damage the finish — test it on a small spot, maybe near the wheels where, if there is damage, it won’t be seen. If it doesn't dull or otherwise damage the finish, go to town; depending on how many scuffs etc. there are you may need to re-wet the eraser sponge as you work.
Interlude: Magic Eraser Sidebar
To use a Magic Eraser or any other melamine foam eraser sponge, you must wet it first. Saturate the sponge with water, then wring it out very well so that it is just barely damp. (At least one of you is hollering, "DAMP, NOT WET!" and I love you for it!) You may need to re-wet and wring out the sponge as you work, and that's okay. Also, Magic Erasers disintegrate as you use them, much like a pencil eraser, so you should expect that. Sometimes that throws people off!
Part 2: Cleaning & Disinfecting Hardshell Luggage
Once you've performed your scuff remediation, it's time to clean and disinfect the luggage. You'll need a disinfectant that is safe to use on hard, non-porous surfaces — which is pretty much all of them, btw, but I want you to get in the habit of reading usage instructions to make sure whatever cleaning product you’re using is safe and intended for use on the thing you need to clean. Some good options are disinfecting wipes, like Clorox Wipes or Lysol Wipes; a disinfectant all-purpose cleaner (these are the ones in trigger spray bottles); or a disinfectant spray, like OG Lysol.
I'd recommend one of the first two options over the disinfecting spray because they both clean, i.e. remove dirt, and disinfect, i.e. remove germs.
So! Go over the entire suitcase with a premoistened wipe, or apply antibacterial all-purpose cleaner to a microfiber cloth, to wipe away residue from the Magic Eraser and to remove the grime+germs the luggage picked up along the way. Pay particular attention to the handles! I'm sure we all remember the term "high-touch surfaces" from the crash course in germ management we all got in 2020 — the handles are the high-touch surfaces of luggage, so you'll def want to give those a good going over to eliminate germs, bacteria, grime, etc.
Part 3: Scratch Repair
Fortuitously, as I was writing this, our LW texted back to say that the Magic Eraser helped with some of the scuffs but that the hardshell luggage was still pretty banged up.
So yeah, a Magic Eraser will take out surface-level scuffs, but deep scratches and other damage to the paint will require a specialty product to repair. If, after using a Magic Eraser and giving the hardshell luggage a good cleaning, there are still significant scratches, scuffs, or other damage, you can try using a scratch repair product designed for use on cars.
I've had good luck with Meguiar's Scratch-X, and I would also point you to this very good comparative review of car scratch removers. Overall, the testing team at Motor1 recommends Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound as the best overall scratch remover and Chemical Guys VSS Scratch & Swirl Remover as the best product for removing deep scratches. I've used plenty of Meguiar's and Chemical Guys products and they're all good, so go with Goddess and buy whichever product calls to you.