Tips on Bag Cleaning and Maintenance

[so_pink]

i have a burberry pink nova check wallet.. and i think my credit card stained the white leather.. b/c its orange... the white leather gets dirty easily.. and i was wondering if anyone here knew how to get marks and dirt off of it!!
im also getting the spring/summer louis vuitton marshmellow pink vernis wallet.. (i have a thing for designer pink wallets).. and i know im going to be extremely paranoid with that.. yet i have no idea on how to clean that type of leather (patent leather)?? .. the LV site says to wipe with a damp cloth and to keep away from different fabrics and inks (magazines).. but how do i know which one to stay away from?? i once had a patent leather organizer and it ended up getting yellow/discolored stains (from where i do not know)..i ended up getting 3 more of the same organizer b/c each one ended up w/ un erasable marks...

i dont know if you guys are as anal as i am about my belongings..but any advice, tips, knowledge would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[chocsta]

For the Burberry white leather, you might want to try a leather shoe conditioner. Use a pair of old stockings, dab some conditioner onto it, and gently rub it into the leather. The stain might not totally come off, but it'll come off a bit.

I have a vernis wallet and I also thought it would be hard to care for at first, but its surprisingly resistant to stains and scratches. I've dropped it on a wet concrete sidewalk, put it in the same bag as my keys and change purse, tossed it around... it holds up pretty well.

 

[ingenue]

Judging from the number of posts on expensive bags and not having found a thread on bag maintenance, thought indeed i ought to start one.

Fabric bags-- i use scotchgard

Suede-- i bought the Bass waterproof spray

Hardware-- i use tiffany silverware cleaner

patent leather-- i honestly dont know!

and what to do with Pen Markings??? any suggestions>?

AND HOW DO YOU CLEAN YOUR BAG-- WHAT DO YOU USE TO CLEAN IT? AND WHICH BAG?

 

[pucci_mama]

Great thread!

I also want to know what you guys use to protect the leather on the bags, esp. Balenciaga bags?

 

[Jujube22]

Don't have suede bags (personal preference) but I leather...Before I take my leather bags out in public, I apply Apple Leather Care lotion and then weather proof with Apple weather gard. If I have an old leather bag that looks dirty, I use Apple Leather cleanser. Sorry I don't mean to sound like I'm trying to sell their products or anything but I first used this brand on my Balenciaga bag ( paper-thin leather ) and my bag is great, holding up well.

 

[pucci_mama]

hmm.. i wonder if i should put something on my silverado bag ..


Can the leather turn a different colour if you do it?

 

[Jujube22]

^Depends. I used a crappy leather lotion on my MJ bag (before I started using Apple brand) and it left dark splotches where I had not aplied it evenly. No one can really see the splotches but I know its there and it bothers me. But I haven't had any problem using the Apple brand on my Silverado so far. But if there is trusted brand that you are already using and like, then stick with it. I have had good experiences with mine so far.The only other comment I can really make regarding my beloved Silverado is that it gets scratched so easily. By the way, does anyone know how to care for brassware on bags like the Paddington?

 

[KayPink]

I use the same suede spray that I use for my UGGs for my suede bags. I put it on my brown suede Gucci bag with half-horsebit and it protected both the suede and the pigskin all through last winter, even in snow and rain! It still looks great. I've never put anything on my smooth leather bags, but I think I will now that I'm reading this thread and the Paddington thread.

 

[kare2711]

Not all leather bags can be protected, unfortunately.

 

[Queenie]

and what to do with Pen Markings??? any suggestions>?

I wanna know this too! I have a pen mark on my Chanel bag for ages. Until now, I still haven't gotta rid of it. Argh.

 

[angel]

i'll add the tip i added in another thread a bit ago-if your leather bag gets scratched, you can wipe your finger on your forehead, and use your own skin oil to buff out the scratch-just rub it and it'll disappear. its what i do for scratches on my Balenciaga and it works wonders.

 

[crepebacksatin]

i've heard that you shouldn't apply anything to good quality leather, at least early on in owning it. the argument, which came from my old leather guy in ny, was that everything that needs to be done to the leather to protect it is done by the tannery, leather worker, etc and that adding creams and whatnot to it doesn't help and may destroy the intended finish.

that said, i tend to abide by his advice and not apply anything to straight leather. suede and textiles i spray down with a scotch guard type thing. when any of my bags get a little too funky, or if the leather starts to look a bit dull, i bring them in to be professionally cleaned up. it's not terribly expensive to do, i don't do it frequently, and that way i am guaranteed a great job every time i don't trust myself to do it!

 

[pucci_mama]

yeah.. im a bit scared i will ruin the bag if i do it myself.

 

[HERCULE]

Regarding the Hermes bags BOX leather, the SA told me that they use the JOHN LOBB lotion

Here is the link http://www.johnlobbltd.co.uk

It's a really great brand so i think you can use them on your Chanel but i am not sure.

 

[hellooholly]

i've used hairspray on a cotton bud (gently rub the spot! it's slightly abrasive) to remove pen mark from my seafoam balenciaga..

and there's a leather cleaner that i've used on dirty oroton pink wallet.. if you follow the instructions (ie wipe over, don't rub in), it works really well to clean!

and i use Dubbin leather wax (it's a type, not a brand) to protect and moisturise bag and wallet leathers.. it works a treat, i don't use anything else on my designer stuff..

 

[kare2711]

Don't ask me how it happened but it did

How do you remove leather stains from other leather products? My leather bag has a brownish stain which is caused by my leather wallet. Possible to remove?

 

[waukon73]

I have a question.

I got an eyeliner mark on my jelly bag, is there any possible way to get that off?

 

[emma peel]

with the silverado (or anything else that's python/snake) one should not use any lotion whatsoever until several years have passed... apparently, as crepebacksatin said, leathers such as these come fully loaded (tanned, oiled etc.). applying lotion to snake unless it is very old/dry gets oils under the scales and then they flake off! when it begins to get dry, one should use an exotic leather creme.

 

[Kora]

A quick q. I have a light green balenciaga bag, and it's has a ink mark on it. how do I get it out? HELP

 

[fungthai]

the dior lady told me... "baby wipes" for the coated canvas bags.