LovinMyBags: Handbag Care

Handbag Care:

There are many leather "faux pas" out there and most of them cannot be ignored. Leather is not a consistent fabric - it is as unique as a persons skin. Tanning changes leather characteristics and creates even more differentiating qualities that must be addresses when taking about care. Car leather is different from furniture leather which is different from handbag leather and then there are many different types of handbag leathers used by the different Handbag Designer.

It was suggested on one site to rub saddle soap on unfinished leather....ok, for a saddle that's fine, but unfinished lamb or kid skin will totally disintegrate with that high a pH and soap content....

It must be understood that the pH of leather is very important in making sure that the leather remains strong. Soaps and detergents are very high on the pH scale, usually in the 9.0 - 10.5 range, compared to leather which is 4.5. When the alkaline products are absorbed by the leather pH damage occurs. This is recognizable by the change is consistency of the leather : it becomes spongy and loose and eventually the fibers loosen so much that the leather rips like paper - leather basically decomposes. Handbag leather is very delicate and this deterioration process can occur faster on handbags than on furniture or car leather.

We encountered a situation many years ago, when a very high end car Manufacturer had put perforated leather in their cars - with the application of certain cleaners with high soap content the seats started to rip. The perforations allowed the cleaner to be absorbed by the leather very quickly so the leather fibers softened and the leather ripped like paper towel. It was a disaster - if this can happen with very thick leather made for a car seat, just imagine the ramification on very thin handbag leather?

Handbag leather is available in a variety of skins and a variety of tanning processes and requires very special care to maintain its beauty. Yet, little knowledge exists regarding the care of leather after purchase. We have found that even the tanneries don't understand the concept of leather care after the tanning process is completed and the leather is in the market as a product.

As a Handbag and leather Designer with a background in Leather Restoration, I have made it my "calling" to help educate all owners of designer handbag regarding its care and restoration so that these handbags do not get neglected or thrown in the closet to collect dust!!

Let's get those beauties looking beautiful again and maintain their youthfulness with special handbag beauty products!!

Here are some products that are a must for beautiful bags. Lovin My Bags Handbag Beauty Care Products:

Luxury Leather Cleanser - Intensive cleansing that removes dye transfer and soiling
Daily Cleanser & Conditioner for every day gentle cleaning
Ultimate Moisturizer for bags with some sheen
Feel Soft Moisturizer for non-shiny bags
Pro-Treatment for all bags (protects from OIL and Liquids)
For Handles Only - Inhibits oil absorption in the handles keeping them from darkening.