I made up a new method for handles. I'm not going thru all the work of trying to clean handles anymore. Plus I only have one good hand right now. I wiped the handles with a baby wipe, then took some brown tarrago shoe cream and added a few drops of water and a few drops or orange paint until the color was right and put 2 coats on. They're thin coats so it dries fast and doesn't look plastic.The handles look good! The best handles I've ever seen in fact on these bags.