Do NOT use hand creams or lotions on your leather. Even though these
are great for your skin, they contain mineral oils and waxes that are
not compatible with leather. You may get a darkening effect that you
desire, but it will attract dirt and soil. Oils except for sulfanated
oils will cause leather to rot over time.
Do NOT use lanoline leather
creams/conditioners -
the lanolin oil rots leather and makes restoration virtually impossible.
Do not use Saddle Soap
under any circumstance!! Too harsh for handbag leathers - pH over 10
which causes pH damage to leather over time.
Do NOT use baby wipes, or any other wipes on this type of leather
as it may stain.
If you get oil on your handbag, put corn starch on it immediately.
Rub it in to absorb the oil. Use a light source to create heat for faster
absorption of the oil into the cornstarch. Brush off with a soft toothbrush
or cloth.
For ink stains and other dirt, use a white eraser and erase the
spot (do not use too much pressure - and check to see if the color is
coming off). Usually if you get the ink right away you can remove all
of it. Ink migrates into the leather fibers so once it is set, you need
professional care.
For water stains, there is really no at home solutions unfortunately.
However it can be fixed by a professional leather technician. Use a
protection-treatment on your handbag as soon as you get it. There are
a few available: 3M based products can work if you are looking for a
spray on option (this option wears off fairly quickly and must be reapplied
regularly); Lovin My Bags
Pro-treatment
is formulated as a rub on and protect from OIL and Water.
Do NOT use any leather cleaners
created for car leather or furniture leather on your unfinished
leather bags as they may stain and usually are soap based making them
too high on the pH scale.
FINISHED HANDBAG LEATHERS (do not with water)
For ink stains: use a white eraser right away.
Do NOT use alcohol to remove ink stains. As you can see from the
photo it does not work.
Do NOT use saddle soap.
It is very alkaline (pH over 10) and will attach the leather finish
and affect the pH of the leather. Good for saddles which are much harder
and thicker than handbag leather.
For other spot soiling use the white eraser, it is effective in
removing many different types of dirt
For oil stains, use corn starch. Rub in; let corn starch absorb
the oil. Use a light bulb to create some heat, this will facilitate
the absorption of the oil into the cornstarch. Brush off with a soft
tooth brush. Repeat until all oil has been removed.
Keep OUT of direct sunlight .
To remove odor from handbags, place a container of baking soda inside
the bag. The larger the surface area the better. Heat will help release
the odor, so the baking soda can absorb it. You may have to change out
the baking soda a couple of times. Lovin my Bags odor out bag candies
are guaranteed to remove smoke odors!
Lovin My Bags is a handbag restoration company founded by Barbara Crouthamel. They make and sell their own top of the line handbag beauty care products as well as specialize in restoring designer bags such as Balenciaga, Bottega Venetta, Chanel, and many more! For more information or to purchase bag restoration products, go to www.LovinMyBags.com
