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musicalhouses · Jul 7th, 2009, 08:25 PM

Thanks axcelle and madaboutdarcy!

Also to be prepared, IF mold does grow on my leather bags, what should I do to remove them? Will Apple Leather cleaner or something like that work?

What moisture absorbers do you guys use? The dehumidifier boxes sound like a great idea...I have no idea where to get one (I honestly think where I'm moving to doesn't have them) but I hope I can find someplace with overseas shipping..

lpritchett · Jul 8th, 2009, 08:00 AM

Musical, this is another example of the type of product Madaboutdarcy mentioned. You should be able to find something like this where you are moving at a hardware or big box store.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100391308

alpengold · Jul 8th, 2009, 11:29 AM

Did someone treat Noir MAM or some other glazed leather? What happens with glaze? I used Leather protection cream on two different places, and one place seems to be fine, but the other one don't shine anymore. I don't know if I should treat whole bag.

katrin · Jul 8th, 2009, 02:59 PM

you can get those moisture absorbing boxes/containers at asian grocery stores. i used similar ones in japan to prevent mold and they are quite useful (as long as you don't tip them over! b/c after a while you'll notice a small puddle of water at the bottom of the box and then you can throw it out). not sure how often you'll need to replace these.

i used the wilson's leather lotion on my mam and it made the dark brown leather darker and very shiny which i did not like. then i spot tested it on my coral mac and it made the leather dull looking. i had some transfer onto the underside of the flap from the zipper but the lotion didnt remove it. i guess i need a cleaner product instead?

i did get some color transfer from both bags on the cloth i was using to apply the lotion. i didnt use the lotion on the rest of my coral mac for fear it would change the color/texture.

desperate to keep it water-resistant, i sprayed my mac entirely with the weather protection seal from aldo. i was worried this might not be a very good quality product to use on my RM but it seems to work just fine. i think i'm going to spray another layer of it tonight. the weather has been so rainy here and i haven't been able to take my mac out since i got it.

i hope this helps anyone w/ bright colored bags as i couldn't find any info here about the coral leathers.

tejava · Jul 8th, 2009, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by alpengold

Did someone treat Noir MAM or some other glazed leather? What happens with glaze? I used Leather protection cream on two different places, and one place seems to be fine, but the other one don't shine anymore. I don't know if I should treat whole bag.

I once treated my Noir Matinee and it has lost all of its glaze after that. So then I found a leather self-shine product, it is in liquid form, I applied it all over the bag and it has since then restored its glaze again. I think I will never treat it again though, only use the self-shine product if needed.

alpengold · Jul 8th, 2009, 06:46 PM

Tejava, thank you!
I'wait for my order from MLB. I need something to waterproof my bags. Maybe MLB helps.

Can someone explain to me what "non-dulling" means. What "dulling" does with leather? Is it good or bad?

alpengold · Jul 9th, 2009, 02:57 AM

Hellooooooooooooo!!!!

alpengold · Jul 9th, 2009, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by alpengold

Can someone explain to me what "non-dulling" means. What "dulling" does with leather? Is it good or bad?

Pleeeeease, I need some help here!
I don't know if I purchased a right moisturizer LMB Feel soft moisturizer. Maybe Ultimate moist. is better? I don't understand what does "non-dulling" mean.

tejava · Jul 9th, 2009, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by alpengold

Tejava, thank you!
I'wait for my order from MLB. I need something to waterproof my bags. Maybe MLB helps.

Can someone explain to me what "non-dulling" means. What "dulling" does with leather? Is it good or bad?

Dull = Lack of shine or brightness; lusterless.
So I suppose a conditioner that is non-dulling means it will not make your bag look lusterless.

axcelle · Jul 9th, 2009, 11:03 AM

In other words, non-dulling is good if you are using it on a shiny bag :)

musicalhouses · Jul 9th, 2009, 12:46 PM

Thanks lpritchett! I will definitely look for something like that when I go abroad! If not I will freaking send it here by overseas shipping! I NEED that! RM and Botkier are not available where I'm going, so I will CRY if anything happens to those bags!

I was also thinking, since it is the humidity that makes mold grow, do you think using a waterproofing spray like Wilson's TLC or Appleguarde will make the bag more resistant to mold since there's a layer of waxy thingy (or whatever they put in those sprays) on the bag? Just a wild guess, but hoping someone can help me!

Also my mum thinks that carrying your bags out more makes them grow mold faster - I personally don't think this is true at all, but can anyone tell me if she is right or wrong? IMHO if its the humidity than it has nothing to do with usage (although you could sweat on your bag or something like that)..But I'd like a second opinion? My mum thinks I should only use one leather bag at a time so that the rest that are not being used will not grow mold, but IMHO if the humidity is there won't they still grow mold anyway? The thought of this upsets me slightly, as I like the option of changing my bags every week or so...

tejava · Jul 9th, 2009, 01:07 PM

I think what makes mold grow is humidity, not frequent usage of the bag. I'm from Taiwan and I have worked there a few years back. It was humid there,too. I always used dehumidifier machine to keep my place and closet dry to avoid molds on my handbags, shoes, and clothes.

Also I saw someone mentioned dehumidifier boxes. These are really common in Taiwan, I could find it easily in any supermarket. I suppose it should be common in most tropical Asian countries. I'm sure you will be able to find some.

starkfan · Jul 9th, 2009, 01:28 PM

musicalhouses, did I read in another thread that you're from Singapore? If that's the country that you're referring to with your humidity concerns, yup, the biggest threat would be mould, rather than frequent usage. You should be able to find dehumidifying boxes here too, either in supermarkets or maybe in hardware stores. It may also be better to keep your bags in the open (in a dry area indoors, out of direct sunlight, and in their dustbags, of course!), e.g. on an open shelf or something, rather than in a closed cupboard or wardrobe. It'd be good to check on them occasionally as well, of course, and there are also local bag cleaning services that should be able to remove mould if anything like that does happen. One is typically recommended by SAs at designer boutiques too, and I think that one is fairly reliable. Feel free to PM me if you need more info!

musicalhouses · Jul 9th, 2009, 02:06 PM

Thanks tejava and starkfan! I'm originally from Singapore, but have been in Chicago for 3 years now, and in the meantime have gotten a couple of bags. Now, I'm returning back to Singapore and leaving Chicago for good (in 2 weeks actually), and I'm freaking out about how my leather bags, which were all bought in Chicago, will adapt to the change in weather. I was never into bags when I was in Singapore, so I've never had to take care of leather in Singapore before... I'm trying to think of how/where to store my bags when I reach home, and it's giving me a minor headache, LOL!

Thanks for being so understanding and helpful, I've learnt a lot on the boards! When I get back I will look for a dehumidifying box and see if I can put my bags on my study table shelf instead of in the closet.

Also, I was wondering, for those with patent and leather bags, how do you protect your bags? I have a Trio MAM I'm expecting (UPS says Delivered! YAY! I feel like leaving work early just to see it!) and I'd like to protect the white leather, but I'm worried that if I just spray the entire bag I'll ruin the patent bits too? I heard that spraying protectant on top of patent leather could potentially ruin the patent finish, so I'm curious to see if anyone has devised a way to just spray the white bits without accidentally spraying the patent trim too! Any help would be appreciated :)

tejava · Jul 9th, 2009, 03:11 PM

Patent bags do not really need protectant or conditioning. They are so easy to take care of, and practically worry free. You just need to be careful not to scratch it because if you do, it's impossible to buff out.

I just came back from vacation in LA, and I carried my purple patent MAB with me. I travelled with my 4 year-old son so I didn't have much time to care after my handbag. I just threw the MAB under the seat during the entire flight, and when I got home, I sprayed my leather cleaner all over it, and then dry it with dry cloth, and it was all new and clean again. I normally just clean my patent bags with baby wipes or damp cloth, but I used leather cleaner this time thinking it could give a little extra spa to my lovely purple patent MAB.

I did scratch one of the handles with my long nail by accident, and the mark stayed there for good, which I hated, but can't do anything to save it.

Jul 7th, 2009, 08:25 PM	#421
musicalhouses Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 259	Thanks axcelle and madaboutdarcy! Also to be prepared, IF mold does grow on my leather bags, what should I do to remove them? Will Apple Leather cleaner or something like that work? What moisture absorbers do you guys use? The dehumidifier boxes sound like a great idea...I have no idea where to get one (I honestly think where I'm moving to doesn't have them) but I hope I can find someplace with overseas shipping..
musicalhouses Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 259	__________________ My little bag collection: Botkier Small Jackie Satchel Black, Coach New Hamptons Optic Signature Hobo 11811 Khaki, Coach Metallic Leah Handbag 13173 Silver Gold, RM Mini Devote in Lavender, Botkier Medium Trigger in Black, RM Trio Combo MAM, MJ Bal Harbour Satchel C363012 Army Green Lusting after: RM MAMs in Burgundy Triple Combo, Midnight/Pewter, Cloud Grey/Amber (like I actually need that many satchels), Mulberry Patent Rouge Noir Bayswater (only if on sale!) Last edited by musicalhouses; Jul 7th, 2009 at 08:47 PM.

Jul 8th, 2009, 02:59 PM	#424
katrin Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 266	you can get those moisture absorbing boxes/containers at asian grocery stores. i used similar ones in japan to prevent mold and they are quite useful (as long as you don't tip them over! b/c after a while you'll notice a small puddle of water at the bottom of the box and then you can throw it out). not sure how often you'll need to replace these. i used the wilson's leather lotion on my mam and it made the dark brown leather darker and very shiny which i did not like. then i spot tested it on my coral mac and it made the leather dull looking. i had some transfer onto the underside of the flap from the zipper but the lotion didnt remove it. i guess i need a cleaner product instead? i did get some color transfer from both bags on the cloth i was using to apply the lotion. i didnt use the lotion on the rest of my coral mac for fear it would change the color/texture. desperate to keep it water-resistant, i sprayed my mac entirely with the weather protection seal from aldo. i was worried this might not be a very good quality product to use on my RM but it seems to work just fine. i think i'm going to spray another layer of it tonight. the weather has been so rainy here and i haven't been able to take my mac out since i got it. i hope this helps anyone w/ bright colored bags as i couldn't find any info here about the coral leathers.
katrin Member Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 266

Jul 9th, 2009, 02:57 AM	#427
alpengold Minkette mafia Joined: May 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 336	Hellooooooooooooo!!!!
	Last edited by alpengold; Jul 9th, 2009 at 03:08 AM.

Jul 9th, 2009, 11:03 AM	#430
axcelle ღ Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Queen City USA Posts: 2,318	In other words, non-dulling is good if you are using it on a shiny bag :)
	__________________ ¸.•*´¨)¸.••.¸♥ Loving what I have!

Jul 9th, 2009, 12:46 PM	#431
musicalhouses Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 259	Thanks lpritchett! I will definitely look for something like that when I go abroad! If not I will freaking send it here by overseas shipping! I NEED that! RM and Botkier are not available where I'm going, so I will CRY if anything happens to those bags! I was also thinking, since it is the humidity that makes mold grow, do you think using a waterproofing spray like Wilson's TLC or Appleguarde will make the bag more resistant to mold since there's a layer of waxy thingy (or whatever they put in those sprays) on the bag? Just a wild guess, but hoping someone can help me! Also my mum thinks that carrying your bags out more makes them grow mold faster - I personally don't think this is true at all, but can anyone tell me if she is right or wrong? IMHO if its the humidity than it has nothing to do with usage (although you could sweat on your bag or something like that)..But I'd like a second opinion? My mum thinks I should only use one leather bag at a time so that the rest that are not being used will not grow mold, but IMHO if the humidity is there won't they still grow mold anyway? The thought of this upsets me slightly, as I like the option of changing my bags every week or so...
musicalhouses Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 259	__________________ My little bag collection: Botkier Small Jackie Satchel Black, Coach New Hamptons Optic Signature Hobo 11811 Khaki, Coach Metallic Leah Handbag 13173 Silver Gold, RM Mini Devote in Lavender, Botkier Medium Trigger in Black, RM Trio Combo MAM, MJ Bal Harbour Satchel C363012 Army Green Lusting after: RM MAMs in Burgundy Triple Combo, Midnight/Pewter, Cloud Grey/Amber (like I actually need that many satchels), Mulberry Patent Rouge Noir Bayswater (only if on sale!)

Jul 8th, 2009, 08:00 AM	#422
lpritchett Someone Intervene! Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 156	Musical, this is another example of the type of product Madaboutdarcy mentioned. You should be able to find something like this where you are moving at a hardware or big box store. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100391308

Jul 8th, 2009, 11:29 AM	#423
alpengold Minkette mafia Joined: May 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 336	Did someone treat Noir MAM or some other glazed leather? What happens with glaze? I used Leather protection cream on two different places, and one place seems to be fine, but the other one don't shine anymore. I don't know if I should treat whole bag.

Jul 8th, 2009, 06:46 PM	#426
alpengold Minkette mafia Joined: May 2009 Location: Norway Posts: 336	Tejava, thank you! I'wait for my order from MLB. I need something to waterproof my bags. Maybe MLB helps. Can someone explain to me what "non-dulling" means. What "dulling" does with leather? Is it good or bad?

Jul 9th, 2009, 01:07 PM	#432
tejava Member Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,067	I think what makes mold grow is humidity, not frequent usage of the bag. I'm from Taiwan and I have worked there a few years back. It was humid there,too. I always used dehumidifier machine to keep my place and closet dry to avoid molds on my handbags, shoes, and clothes. Also I saw someone mentioned dehumidifier boxes. These are really common in Taiwan, I could find it easily in any supermarket. I suppose it should be common in most tropical Asian countries. I'm sure you will be able to find some.
tejava Member Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,067	__________________

Jul 9th, 2009, 01:28 PM	#433
starkfan Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,532	musicalhouses, did I read in another thread that you're from Singapore? If that's the country that you're referring to with your humidity concerns, yup, the biggest threat would be mould, rather than frequent usage. You should be able to find dehumidifying boxes here too, either in supermarkets or maybe in hardware stores. It may also be better to keep your bags in the open (in a dry area indoors, out of direct sunlight, and in their dustbags, of course!), e.g. on an open shelf or something, rather than in a closed cupboard or wardrobe. It'd be good to check on them occasionally as well, of course, and there are also local bag cleaning services that should be able to remove mould if anything like that does happen. One is typically recommended by SAs at designer boutiques too, and I think that one is fairly reliable. Feel free to PM me if you need more info!
starkfan Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,532

Jul 9th, 2009, 02:06 PM	#434
musicalhouses Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 259	Thanks tejava and starkfan! I'm originally from Singapore, but have been in Chicago for 3 years now, and in the meantime have gotten a couple of bags. Now, I'm returning back to Singapore and leaving Chicago for good (in 2 weeks actually), and I'm freaking out about how my leather bags, which were all bought in Chicago, will adapt to the change in weather. I was never into bags when I was in Singapore, so I've never had to take care of leather in Singapore before... I'm trying to think of how/where to store my bags when I reach home, and it's giving me a minor headache, LOL! Thanks for being so understanding and helpful, I've learnt a lot on the boards! When I get back I will look for a dehumidifying box and see if I can put my bags on my study table shelf instead of in the closet. Also, I was wondering, for those with patent and leather bags, how do you protect your bags? I have a Trio MAM I'm expecting (UPS says Delivered! YAY! I feel like leaving work early just to see it!) and I'd like to protect the white leather, but I'm worried that if I just spray the entire bag I'll ruin the patent bits too? I heard that spraying protectant on top of patent leather could potentially ruin the patent finish, so I'm curious to see if anyone has devised a way to just spray the white bits without accidentally spraying the patent trim too! Any help would be appreciated :)
musicalhouses Member Joined: May 2009 Posts: 259	__________________ My little bag collection: Botkier Small Jackie Satchel Black, Coach New Hamptons Optic Signature Hobo 11811 Khaki, Coach Metallic Leah Handbag 13173 Silver Gold, RM Mini Devote in Lavender, Botkier Medium Trigger in Black, RM Trio Combo MAM, MJ Bal Harbour Satchel C363012 Army Green Lusting after: RM MAMs in Burgundy Triple Combo, Midnight/Pewter, Cloud Grey/Amber (like I actually need that many satchels), Mulberry Patent Rouge Noir Bayswater (only if on sale!)

Jul 9th, 2009, 03:11 PM	#435
tejava Member Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,067	Patent bags do not really need protectant or conditioning. They are so easy to take care of, and practically worry free. You just need to be careful not to scratch it because if you do, it's impossible to buff out. I just came back from vacation in LA, and I carried my purple patent MAB with me. I travelled with my 4 year-old son so I didn't have much time to care after my handbag. I just threw the MAB under the seat during the entire flight, and when I got home, I sprayed my leather cleaner all over it, and then dry it with dry cloth, and it was all new and clean again. I normally just clean my patent bags with baby wipes or damp cloth, but I used leather cleaner this time thinking it could give a little extra spa to my lovely purple patent MAB. I did scratch one of the handles with my long nail by accident, and the mark stayed there for good, which I hated, but can't do anything to save it.
tejava Member Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,067	__________________

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