Tips & Tricks

FINISHED LEATHERS (do not darken with water)
Use warm water (1 cup) with a teaspoon of vinegar for wiping off dust and some dirt. Make sure the leather is finished (does not darken with water!) Most leather cleaners on the market are pH 10 while leather has a pH of 4.5. These cleaners may be OK for car leather, but not for handbags. They will alter the leather chemistry causing pH damage (recognizable by the spongy texture and cracking).

For ink stains: use a white eraser right away; caution: do not rub vigorously rather gently and softly. If the ink is not moving, then it has to be corrected professionally (sorry!)

Do NOT use alcohol to remove ink stains. 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; again be gentle with the rubbing.

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 your bag OUT of direct sunlight. Many leathers will fade when overexposed to sun and its UV rays!

To remove odor from handbags, spray bag with Lysol (linen scent is not too bad) and 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, while the Lysol kills neutralizes the odor. Leave for 24 hours.

UNFINISHED LEATHERS (darken with water)
Do NOT use hand creams or lotions on your leather. Even though these are great for your skin, they contain 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 baby wipes, or any other wipes on this type of leather

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.

For ink stains and other dirt, use a white eraser and rub the spot gently. 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, it needs 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 pre-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 pre-treatment is formulated as a rub on.

Do NOT use any over the counter leather cleaners on your unfinished leather bag as they will stain.

If you have any leather related questions, please feel free to contact us, we will gladly give you any advice we can to help you with your leather handbags! Contact us at UnusualThreads.com

Article Source: http://www.articleated.com

For more inofrmation on the care and cleaning of your fine designer leather handbags and purses, and the history of the major designers, visit us at UnusualThreads.com For fine Itlain leather luggage, duffel bags, totes, carryons, weekenders, torllys and garment bags, please visit RealItalianLuggage.com