After years of research and development Lovin My Bags has finally come up with the answer to the darkening handles of Louis Vuitton handbags. Lovin My Bags has the amazing non-darkening leather care kit for LV's vachetta leather - everything from cleaning to conditioning to protecting the handles and the leather overall from staining. Prevention is the key.
This Vachetta Collection protects all Louis Vuitton bags from oils and water stains without darkening - a must for all new bags. This Collection is also recommend for all bags that use the Vachetta type leathers.
Check out the Vachetta Collection at Lovin My Bags
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Special Care for Balenciaga bags
We love Balenciaga bags - but the latest ones are to be cared for like one cares for a baby. The leather color can easily be removed with a damp cloth - therefore cleaners are to be used with caution. Rubbing is not tolerated on these new finishes unlike the earlier version that could tolerate even the strongest of chemicals.
When cleaning your new Balenciaga, check your cloth for color rub off - if you see color at all STOP cleaning. Best to send your bag to Lovin My Bags before the damage gets too severe.
Solution: Beauty & Shine Protect from Lovin My Bags can help to seal the finish and make the cleaning process less stressful - it will protect the leather from oil and water stains and allow for easy removal of dye transfer from jeans. Its the best!
For Handles Only is another important product to purchase and is the key to keeping Balenciaga and all leather handles from darkening and from pH damage due to hand sweat or hand lotions etc.
When cleaning your new Balenciaga, check your cloth for color rub off - if you see color at all STOP cleaning. Best to send your bag to Lovin My Bags before the damage gets too severe.
Solution: Beauty & Shine Protect from Lovin My Bags can help to seal the finish and make the cleaning process less stressful - it will protect the leather from oil and water stains and allow for easy removal of dye transfer from jeans. Its the best!
For Handles Only is another important product to purchase and is the key to keeping Balenciaga and all leather handles from darkening and from pH damage due to hand sweat or hand lotions etc.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
What to Expect from Handbag Leather Restoration
Handbag leather restoration or refurbishing offers new life for some handbags - an acceptable improvement for some and an aesthetic improvement for others.
Because of all the chemical processes used, restoration is a challenge for the simple reason that it is not able to replicate the tanning process - but only to remedy the leather wear and tear.
Handbags that come in for restoration, refurbishing or cleaning, for that matter, have other issues as well. Some are pH damaged due to the wrong cleaners used, some are permanently stained, some have wear on the corners where the color is rubbed off, some it is the handles that have absorbed too much hand oils and are now dark and pH damaged - and some bags have all of the above.
Handbag restoration services should offer conditioning of the leather, restoring of the color and top coat.
Done correctly the bag should look like new - But for this, color matching perfection is required, knowledge of leather types and the effect of color on each leather is of utmost importance. Also, an understanding of metamerism is crucial when color matching under artificial lighting.
When a bag is restored it is not going to be like the original leather - some restoration companies are better at simulating the finish than others as it has a lot to do with the leather finish which they use to do the restoration.
Questions to ask before dropping your bag off for restoration:
1. Is the refinishing used a water based or solvent based finish?
For designer bags that are aniline and semi-aniline dyed you want a solvent based finish to be used. Water based finish will cause the bag to feel like plastic because of the film forming qualities of the finish.
2. Do you take into consideration metamerism ( what light are you matching to?) To have a great restoration requires perfect color matching. Using the right light source - usually daylight - is very important - as the bag will be used mostly outdoors.
3. Do you do base and print refinishing ( this is important for bags that have the antique look etc) Color matching is one aspect - seeing the variety of color in leather is a gift. Many leather colors are base and print -
4. Can you do a spot repair ( not requiring the entire bag to be refinished) This means that most of the bag is original and will maintain the value.
Some claim to be the best - but beware - leather restoration is not easy when done correctly - shop around and ask the questions.
For more about handbag repair and restoration contact Lovin My Bags
Leather is not a living, breathing fabric like some like to claim...it is dead animal skin - sorry for being so blunt - but that is what it is!!
This skin is turned into leather with a series of chemical processes, all of which will determine the softness, the color and the type of leather it will become. ( Aniline, Semi-Aniline or Finished)
Because of all the chemical processes used, restoration is a challenge for the simple reason that it is not able to replicate the tanning process - but only to remedy the leather wear and tear.
Handbags that come in for restoration, refurbishing or cleaning, for that matter, have other issues as well. Some are pH damaged due to the wrong cleaners used, some are permanently stained, some have wear on the corners where the color is rubbed off, some it is the handles that have absorbed too much hand oils and are now dark and pH damaged - and some bags have all of the above.
Handbag restoration services should offer conditioning of the leather, restoring of the color and top coat.
Done correctly the bag should look like new - But for this, color matching perfection is required, knowledge of leather types and the effect of color on each leather is of utmost importance. Also, an understanding of metamerism is crucial when color matching under artificial lighting.
When a bag is restored it is not going to be like the original leather - some restoration companies are better at simulating the finish than others as it has a lot to do with the leather finish which they use to do the restoration.
Questions to ask before dropping your bag off for restoration:
1. Is the refinishing used a water based or solvent based finish?
For designer bags that are aniline and semi-aniline dyed you want a solvent based finish to be used. Water based finish will cause the bag to feel like plastic because of the film forming qualities of the finish.
2. Do you take into consideration metamerism ( what light are you matching to?) To have a great restoration requires perfect color matching. Using the right light source - usually daylight - is very important - as the bag will be used mostly outdoors.
3. Do you do base and print refinishing ( this is important for bags that have the antique look etc) Color matching is one aspect - seeing the variety of color in leather is a gift. Many leather colors are base and print -
4. Can you do a spot repair ( not requiring the entire bag to be refinished) This means that most of the bag is original and will maintain the value.
Some claim to be the best - but beware - leather restoration is not easy when done correctly - shop around and ask the questions.
For more about handbag repair and restoration contact Lovin My Bags
Leather Tips and Tricks from the leather restoration experts.
UNFINISHED HANDBAG LEATHERS (darkens with water - many tanned leather and designer leathers fall into this category)
1.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.
2.Do NOT use lanoline leather creams/conditioners - the lanolin oil will cause the leather to rot over time and makes restoration virtually impossible.
3.Do not use Saddle Soap under any circumstance!! It is much too harsh for handbag leathers - pH over 10 which causes pH damage to leather over time.
4.Do NOT use baby wipes, or any other wipes on this type of leather as they may stain and can remove the finish ( color). Lovin My Bags cleansers removes dye transfer from jeans - good to have on hand.
5.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. Protect leather with Lovin My Bags protection products.
6.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.
7.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 protection products that are formulated as lotions and protect the leather from OIL and Water stains.
8.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 darken with water )
1.For ink stains: use a white eraser right away.
2.Do NOT use alcohol to remove ink stains. As you can see from the photo it does not work.
3.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.
4.For other spot soiling use the white eraser, it is effective in removing many different types of dirt
5.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.
6.Keep OUT of direct sunlight as this can cause the finish to fade - not all finished bags are susceptible to fading - reds and green are more likely to fade than any other colors.
7.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!
1.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.
2.Do NOT use lanoline leather creams/conditioners - the lanolin oil will cause the leather to rot over time and makes restoration virtually impossible.
3.Do not use Saddle Soap under any circumstance!! It is much too harsh for handbag leathers - pH over 10 which causes pH damage to leather over time.
4.Do NOT use baby wipes, or any other wipes on this type of leather as they may stain and can remove the finish ( color). Lovin My Bags cleansers removes dye transfer from jeans - good to have on hand.
5.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. Protect leather with Lovin My Bags protection products.
6.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.
7.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 protection products that are formulated as lotions and protect the leather from OIL and Water stains.
8.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 darken with water )
1.For ink stains: use a white eraser right away.
2.Do NOT use alcohol to remove ink stains. As you can see from the photo it does not work.
3.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.
4.For other spot soiling use the white eraser, it is effective in removing many different types of dirt
5.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.
6.Keep OUT of direct sunlight as this can cause the finish to fade - not all finished bags are susceptible to fading - reds and green are more likely to fade than any other colors.
7.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!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Hermes Tri-Color - keeping colors from transfering
Dyes seem to like each other and in some cases transfer one to another - all of Lovin My Bags protection products are excellent products to seal the leather and prevent dyes from transferring. Byebyedye is the newest of product to remove dye transfer from leather.
Keeping your handbag investment protected and well maintained is one of the key motivational factors for Lovin My Bags by Barbara.
When your handbags need TLC send them to the one and only Handbag Spa - Lovin My Bags by Barbara for the best in handbag care and restoration.
Keeping your handbag investment protected and well maintained is one of the key motivational factors for Lovin My Bags by Barbara.
When your handbags need TLC send them to the one and only Handbag Spa - Lovin My Bags by Barbara for the best in handbag care and restoration.
LV Bags need Protection
To prevent the Vachetta leather from darkening For Handles Only from Lovin My Bags is the perfect solution. This product is an oil blocker, so hand oils and sweat do not affect the leather. Must be applied regularly in order to keep the leather protected. Lovin My bags has updated their protection for Louis Vuitton vachetta leathers which does not eliminate the patina from developing over time. (Patina: the honey color we all love and cherish.)
The new LV protection is called "Vachetta Protection" and it comes in a kit of 3 products:
The new LV protection is called "Vachetta Protection" and it comes in a kit of 3 products:
- Vachetta Cleanser - the best cleanser for LV handles
- Vachetta Conditioner with Soil Release - use regularly to keep the leather from cracking
- Vachetta Protection - the ultimate in protection your Louis Vuitton Handles.
Best Protection for Leather Handbags
Lovin My Bags has different protections available for each fashion leather that is in the market place. Protection for Chanel with Most Delicate - protection for Balenciaga and other shiny bags with Beauty and Shine, protection for Louis Vuitton' Vachetta with the Vachetta Collection Protect and for all other leather we have So Natural Protect - all of these protection products are a "must have" for all owners of handbags - these products are sure protection from oil and water stains. Easy to apply and offer instant protection.
Another "WOW" product from Lovin My Bags.
Another "WOW" product from Lovin My Bags.
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