Use a soft, barely damp white cloth and wipe down the entire purse to remove any surface debris.
Test a small, inconspicuous area for colorfastness with the soap or cleanser. Let it sit for a while and examine it to make sure it's not going to leave a mark. If it does leave a mark, use another cleanser.
Clean the leather by massaging the saddle soap or handbag leather cleaner into the grain of the leather. Use a second cloth to blot out stains. You can use a soft toothbrush to pull up dirt or debris ingrained into the leather.
Moisturize the leather with mink oil or a special handbag leather moisturizer/conditioner. You can use a cloth or your own hands, moving in a gentle circular motion. Take care to reach every portion of the purse, including the seams and crevices. Wipe off the oily residue with a clean cloth. Buff the leather well.
Conditioning leather replaces the tanning oils that are depleted over time through wear, heat, and moisture. Reconditioning leather every 6-9 months will ensure that it never becomes stiff, dry, or cracked.
A leather conditioner is necessary for this step. There are hundreds of products available for this task, so read the label before using a leather conditioner to be sure that that particular product is suitable for your vintage leather item.
Do not use leather conditioners that contain waxes or silicone which do not allow the leather to breathe
Always use a lint free soft cloth when conditioning leather; microfiber cloths are ideal.
Dampen the cloth with water before applying the conditioner to it so that there is not too much conditioner applied to the leather.
NEVER apply contitioner directly to the leather, apply to cloth first.
Apply conditioner to leather by gently rubbing into the lie or nap of the leather until the entire surface has been covered.
Several light applications are preferred over a heavy soaking of conditioner.
Allow conditioner to penetrate the conditoner for at least 30 minutes before applying antother coat.
Saddle Soap cleans and restores all in one I use it on all my leather and have in past when I had horse on all his tack. Then good conditioner like Mink oil(can darken leather) or Fiebing Aussie Leather Conditioner with beeswax. Glad you are restoring/saving it, good leather purses/hanbags are hundreds of dollars or more.
I have a plastic chair mat under my computer desk that the edges are curled and won't lay flat. Have been unable to bend them back as the plastic is hard
Use banana peel. I saw where it revived leather boots
Use a soft, barely damp white cloth and wipe down the entire purse to remove any surface debris.
Test a small, inconspicuous area for colorfastness with the soap or cleanser. Let it sit for a while and examine it to make sure it's not going to leave a mark. If it does leave a mark, use another cleanser.
Clean the leather by massaging the saddle soap or handbag leather cleaner into the grain of the leather. Use a second cloth to blot out stains. You can use a soft toothbrush to pull up dirt or debris ingrained into the leather.
Moisturize the leather with mink oil or a special handbag leather moisturizer/conditioner. You can use a cloth or your own hands, moving in a gentle circular motion. Take care to reach every portion of the purse, including the seams and crevices. Wipe off the oily residue with a clean cloth. Buff the leather well.
Conditioning Vintage Leather
Conditioning leather replaces the tanning oils that are depleted over time through wear, heat, and moisture. Reconditioning leather every 6-9 months will ensure that it never becomes stiff, dry, or cracked.
A leather conditioner is necessary for this step. There are hundreds of products available for this task, so read the label before using a leather conditioner to be sure that that particular product is suitable for your vintage leather item.
Do not use leather conditioners that contain waxes or silicone which do not allow the leather to breathe
Saddle Soap cleans and restores all in one I use it on all my leather and have in past when I had horse on all his tack. Then good conditioner like Mink oil(can darken leather) or Fiebing Aussie Leather Conditioner with beeswax. Glad you are restoring/saving it, good leather purses/hanbags are hundreds of dollars or more.
Hi Sandy, hope this instruction helps you out,
https://www.bagvanity.com/how-to-restore-a-leather-bag/