how to maintain leather purses and make them shine?

Answer 1

Leather handbags and other leathergoods can get dirty, wrinkled and maybe even stained. You may be wondering about preventative measures and even be wondering what you should do to your new special leather item to preserve it.
If you want it to stay looking just like it did when you took it out of the box... put it back in the box. If you want to rub something on it... it's yours, do what makes you happy. If you put something on it, it cannot be returned.
Keep in mind what the tanners and finishers have already done to produce this leather that has been chosen as the best leather for it's purpose. If it needed something rubbed on it to preserve it, I would have done it for you, or chosen different leather. I am not selling a kit.
I have come to believe that there may be something to the theory of evolution. For thousands of years, tanning and maintaining leather required a lot of rubbing oils into leather. It now seems to be instinctive in humans if indeed it has not produced a new gene.
I have used leather scraps to patch jeans. Surprisingly, they can be machine washed many times before they become stiff and start to shrink. Neatsfoot oil restores them for this purpose. That is an extreme example of what not to do to your leather goods, even though it worked for this purpose. Neatsfoot oil is normally used on leather pump gaskets to keep leather from being damaged while immersed in water. In the past it was sometimes used on work shoes also, but most modern shoes have cemented on soles. The adhesives can break down and be damaged by oil.
I do not expect that you will wear your leather handbag on your feet instead of boots so it is unlikely that it will get repeated wet and dry cycles and become salt stained. With normal use the
leather does not need something on it to preserve it.
Whatever you do to leather will change it's appearance in some way. This, as well as normal use, will make the item uniquely yours. Oil will darken leather. Keep your leather handbag away from
Italian salad dressing. Naked leathers are porous and will absorb oil. Oil from your hands will in time give this leather a pleasing patina. If you do not want this to happen you can use a conditioner, it will fill the pores and darken the leather according to the porosity of the leather and what is in the conditioner. This will perhaps prevent staining, The idea is to put oil or wax on the leather to pre stain it in a uniform way.
The first stain is the worst, especially an oil stain. Service Master, the cleaning Co. used to have a product called Oil sorb Pro. It works almost like magic, if you can get some. Otherwise try using Fullers Earth to absorb the oil or clean the leather with saddle soap and then use a conditioner on it if the leather feels dry. It won't look like new but you will have taken the first step in the break in process. The break in process usually takes about a year and is unique to each user, then the leather should maintain the same look for a long time. This break in process also depends on the type of leather. The naked leathers become more leathery looking with use than the leathers with some aniline finish.
Just about the time leather really starts looking good is when the bags with regular linings are shot on the inside or if all leather, the inside is getting grotey. You can use a sponge with warm water and soap on the bonded linings that we use, if necessary.
You may want to clean the outside with saddle soap, though this may not be suitable for all leathers. If you do, don't just rub it on, use it with a damp rag as if it were soap, then rub the leather dry. By this time you are probably ready to enhance the look with a leather treatment. Don't use silicone or any product intended for, or used on shoes. I hesitate to recommend anything specific, check out what they have at Walmart, it will be as good as anything
you can get elsewhere. Some things rub off on your clothes, some darken, some shine. ( see advise from tannery below ) I use "Leather Balm" on my oak tanned, hand stained leather belts.
Chances are that even after 2 years, unless you have repeatedly gotten the leather wet, it won't really have to have something on it to keep the leather from cracking. You can tell from the feel if the leather is getting stiff or not. If it is, it's time for a leather conditioner. Or... just buy a new one... it's probably time for a change anyway :-)
If the leather stays dry it will give you years of use. What really destroys leather is mold growing on the leather. It feeds on the fibers, eventually the leather goes dry and powdery similar to dry rot in wood. Just putting on oil will not repair the leather. If it gets wet it will eventually need to have the oil in the leather restored for looks and flexibility, but more importantly it should not be left in a damp enclosed environment where mold can grow. Dry the leather, out of the sun, preferably in a room with a dehumidifier. Lay it out in the shape you want it to be until dry.
I asked representative from a U.S. tannery, who supplies some of my leather, to comment on my leather care advise. This is his reply:

" You have covered everything I can think of quite accurately. The only thing I might mention is that when informing customers on applying oils, conditioners, silicones, etc. that they make sure that they do not have a solvent in them. Most leather, and all our leather is made with water based finishes. If a oil or conditioner has a solvent in it, the solvent could destroy the finish."

I think what we are talking about here are things like Acetone ( which is in nail polish remover ) and other petroleum based thinners. I have had people do some crazy things with leather, like washing their glazed sheepskin coat in the bath tub, pouring Coca Cola on leather, and heating leather in their oven. Please do not do these things, contact me first if you have a special problem.

Answer 2

Leather is known for its durability and can last a lifetime is taken proper care of. It is necessary to maintain the beauty and other desired qualities of leather. A proper care of leather makes it protected from excessive dryness and prevents it from moisture that may cause it to swell or mildew. The following things need to be done to make your leather bag a lifetime utility accessory.
The leather bags should not be stored in plastic bags or other nonporous covers as they encourages the growth of mildew and bacteria that ruin the leather.

-In a dry environment, regularly condition the leather in order to prevent it from drying out and cracking.
-Caustic household chemicals should never be used to clean leather and leather preparations that contain alcohol should also be avoided.
-Turpentine and mineral spirits must be avoided as they can pull color.
-No waxes or silicone should be used on soft leather as they gum up the pores, making it impossible to oil and condition.
-Fresh stains of blood or food items can be cleaned up with a damp cloth. While those from oil or grease can be cleaned by grinding ordinary blackboard chalk, sprinkling the area and leaving the powder on for a twenty-four hour period.
-A dampened cheesecloth and a leather conditioning cream should be used thrice or four times a year. This facilitates the durability, shine With and increases the beauty of the leather bags.

Answer 3

Bees wax is the best leather conditioner going around, you can also get leather conditioner at all good leather accessory shops..

It's also perfect for reconditioning your leather shoes or anything even synthetics LOL

One of the cheapest methods is go to Saddlery / Harness/Tack shop and purchase small tin or jar cos you don't need much.I use it and swear by it just make sure it contains a lot of beeswax...♥

Answer 4

Saddle conditioner which you can get at a feed and tack store. Honestly, the stuff practically repairs beaten up old leather, and buffs to a nice sheen.

Answer 5

Pledge Clean & Dust, the extra benefit is that it will clean any dirt off also. It took a pen mark off my leather furniture.

Answer 6

Use Steycleen.

Answer 7

always keep it dry and polished. keep away from water

Answer 8

polish them monthly or two...
handle them with care...
dont use roughly...
thank-u...

Answer 9

you,should,polish,that,purse,with,a,help,of,a,shoe-polish.OR,keep,them,away,from,sun.