Posts Tagged ‘ leather care ’

Protect Your Expensive Leathers

Oct 1st, 2008 | By Style Snob | Category: Conscious Fashion
Rating 4.33 out of 5


handlewcare4 Protect Your Expensive Leathers When you purchase a new leather handbag, you expect it to last. Whether, you paid $100 or $1000, good leather will make your bag worthy of passing down to your kin.  But rain, dirt, perfume and natural oils can spot and tarnish the look of your Balenciaga or Chanel.  Have no fear, because we have found an amazing leather conditioner and protectant to keep your expensive leathers luscious and beautiful.

Apple Garde Leather Conditioner is awesome.  I have used it for most of my leather handbags and wallets, and it leaves no marks or stains after it has dried.  Even the vachetta of Louis Vuitton’s leathers can be treated.  It helps you clean, condition, and preserve your investments by removing surface dirt and leaves the leather water resistant.  What I do is use a soft cloth with a tiny amount of the conditioner and gently rub and buff my entire bag, inside and out.  I then let it out to dry completely and buff again with a dry clean cloth.  I have even used this on lambskin wallets with fabulous results.  Tiny scuffs rubbed away and the leather is getting softer and smooshier with each month of use.

Afterwards, try Apple Garde’s Rain and Stain Repellent as extra insurance.  Spray onto dry leather, holding the can about 9 inches from the handbag, and spray in a sweeping motion.  Then let dry for 30 minutes.  I usually let it hang overnight over my door.  Initially, your light leathers may darken and have spots due to the spray, but once it dries, all the spots and discoloration disappears.  When I sprayed my pink Chanel the first time, I literally  had a heart attack.  But in half an hour, the color returned to normal and my bag is now able to resist stains from my jeans.

Find out more details at Apple Polishes. The products will last you forever also.  I have used these two products on over 15 handbags at least twice, and I still have more conditioner and repellant to go. Here are additional tips to keep your leather handbags and accessories beautiful for years to come.


Let them breathe. Leather needs air, so do not store them in plastic bags or in airtight containers.  Store them in dustbags in a dry area with regulated temperature.  Use a conditioner if you are in very dry environments.

Avoid too much moisture.  Moisture without proper ventilation will lead to (eeps) mildew.  Keep your beauties in dry areas of the closet.

Bring them in for repair as needed. Hermes has a lifetime policy where your leather goods can be brought in anytime for repair, touch ups, or even hardware replacements.  Other vendors will also help you with repairs, and even local shoe repairmen can help with minor fixes.

Store appropriately. Instead of throwing your unused bags on the floor of your closet, store them properly.  Being squashed by other bags or items will lead to misshapen bags, stretched leather, dents, and scratches that may be unsalvageable.  Put them in their dustbags, stuff them with tissue paper to retain shape, and have them stand in a position where they do not slump over and slouch, causing unnecessary and ugly folds in the future.

Your handbags and leather goods are precious, not to mention very expensive.  Take care of them, and you will have a wonderful collection to be admired for generations to come.

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