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[OneMoreDay]

I have an Ellipse with grubby handles and the vachetta has already got a patina. I actually like the honey colour but it's never been cleaned and we don't have any areas of the house with sunlight filtering through (one storey terraced house).

Should I just do the wet sock thing and then condition? Was looking to do the Magic Eraser trick earlier but reading this thread has given me a different option.

 

[OneMoreDay]

I have an Ellipse with grubby handles and the vachetta has already got a patina. I actually like the honey colour but it's never been cleaned and we don't have any areas of the house with sunlight filtering through (one storey terraced house).

Should I just do the wet sock thing and then condition? Was looking to do the Magic Eraser trick earlier but reading this thread has given me a different option.

Forgot to add photos. Here is my Ellipse.

 

[hideyoshi]

Do the wet sock thing then you will get the patina on that handle immediately.

 

[OneMoreDay]

Do the wet sock thing then you will get the patina on that handle immediately.

Am I right in saying the wet sock technique cleans as well as evens out the patina? The handles are actually darker than these photos appear. More of a medium caramel tone. Which would be lovely if not for the dirt accumulated.

 

[hideyoshi]

Am I right in saying the wet sock technique cleans as well as evens out the patina? The handles are actually darker than these photos appear. More of a medium caramel tone. Which would be lovely if not for the dirt accumulated.

Yes, that's right. But in this pic i see your bag handle 's patina-ed already. Do you think no need to do the wet sock? Or if you want to clean out dirty it can help -> the handle will patina evenly but keep in mind that you hv to keep repeat this method if you decide to do it.

 

[OneMoreDay]

Yes, that's right. But in this pic i see your bag handle 's patina-ed already. Do you think no need to do the wet sock? Or if you want to clean out dirty it can help -> the handle will patina evenly but keep in mind that you hv to keep repeat this method if you decide to do it.

The thing is I have never ever cleaned or conditioned my bag. So I can't really tell what kind of work it needs (it doesn't seem dry but it's been out in the sun and heat (not to mention humidity) recently so it might need the extra care. I've kept it inside an air conditioned enviroment for so long.

I'll try the wet sock trick after I can find a leather conditioner available locally. There's a cleaner/conditioner that's caught my interest called Shucare. Then there's also the Aldo brand of cleaner and conditioner which I have seen used on one vachetta thread here on tpf.

The only downside to Shucare is it doesn't list the full ingredients. Although it does contain tea tree oil, a natural leather cleanser and conditioner.

I might also take it to the bag spa to see what they would do as another option. Really anxious about doing anything to this bag. It's my mother's first LV.

 

[hideyoshi]

The thing is I have never ever cleaned or conditioned my bag. So I can't really tell what kind of work it needs (it doesn't seem dry but it's been out in the sun and heat (not to mention humidity) recently so it might need the extra care. I've kept it inside an air conditioned enviroment for so long.

I'll try the wet sock trick after I can find a leather conditioner available locally. There's a cleaner/conditioner that's caught my interest called Shucare. Then there's also the Aldo brand of cleaner and conditioner which I have seen used on one vachetta thread here on tpf.

The only downside to Shucare is it doesn't list the full ingredients. Although it does contain tea tree oil, a natural leather cleanser and conditioner.

I might also take it to the bag spa to see what they would do as another option. Really anxious about doing anything to this bag. It's my mother's first LV.

When you do this method at the first time, it is no need the conditioner 'cause the leather will not be dry.
So dont worry.
That was my case.

But when doing this method for many times later, i feel the leather dry abit. Then, i must use it for my hand oil condition the handle -> but it will be darken quickly.
Then i feel i hv to use this method again - this circle will never end for my Keepall bag.
The result of this method is to prevent the handle not to be darken and the rest of vachetta leather patinas so evenly and to not afraid of water or rain.

For my new bag i just use it & dont apply this method to see how it turns... very complicated !

 

[OneMoreDay]

When you do this method at the first time, it is no need the conditioner 'cause the leather will not be dry.
So dont worry.
That was my case.

But when doing this method for many times later, i feel the leather dry abit. Then, i must use it for my hand oil condition the handle -> but it will be darken quickly.
Then i feel i hv to use this method again - this circle will never end for my Keepall bag.
The result of this method is to prevent the handle not to be darken and the rest of vachetta leather patinas so evenly and to not afraid of water or rain.

For my new bag i just use it & dont apply this method to see how it turns... very complicated !

I see. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[amti79]

I bought my daughter a 25 speedy at an auction- it is 6 years old and in really good condition. I had one of the chaps replaced at the LV store in town so I will work on getting that a bit darker and focus on cleaning the handles. Wish me luck!

 

[OneMoreDay]

So I did the wet sock thing. Without the sunlight part. Some dirt definitely came onto the sock. But I ended up drying out the vachetta (the glossy honey colour is now replaced by a sort of matte dark-ish beige/caramel). Will run out to buy conditioner once I get the chance.

I think the dark streaks on the handles were colour transfer from my mother's dark clothing.

 

[MokeyLV]

So I did the wet sock thing. Without the sunlight part. Some dirt definitely came onto the sock. But I ended up drying out the vachetta (the glossy honey colour is now replaced by a sort of matte dark-ish beige/caramel). Will run out to buy conditioner once I get the chance.

I think the dark streaks on the handles were colour transfer from my mother's dark clothing.

Did you try buffing it with a soft cloth? That has worked to bring back the shine to my Speedy handles.

 

[OneMoreDay]

Did you try buffing it with a soft cloth? That has worked to bring back the shine to my Speedy handles.

Too dry to do anything. I'll be buffing after conditioner.

 

[OneMoreDay]

So I tried Shucare leather balm (cleanser/conditioner). It darkened the spot I tested it on (vachetta piping on the base of my Ellipse). Deeper than the honey toned patina I adore. It even looks slightly dirty imo. I can see the difference between the vachetta I never cleaned and conditioned with the part I did.

The bottle doesn't list any ingredients apart from a description saying it contains tea tree oil. I must say, there was a pretty obvious scent like shoe polish. While that would work on things like leather belts and treated leather, the vachetta is not a leather this product was made for.

Edit: I deleted my comment about saddle soap. Apparently, it's a no-no? But I think the famous Docride uses saddle soap on Hermes Barenia. And I've seen comments for and against saddle soap (I am, however, leaning towards yes). I still need to do a ton of reading on the topic of leather cleaning and conditioning.

I also used Shucare leather cleanser (this is a different product from their leather balm) on a pair of Aldo white/beige weaved leather shoes (synthetic probably). It worked quite well removing some superficial dirt that looked like ink stains (possibly oil?). Unfortunately I can't seem to upload any pictures while on mobile. The app keeps telling me I need to log in but I already am. I'll try again later.

 

[baylorbear33]

I only use Apple Conditioner or Cadillac Boot & Shoe Care on my LV vachetta. It works well, and does not have a notable darkening of the leather.

 

[Carrie ashcraft]

Lol I crack myself up ...the champ is here that's silly

Please share!!!