Chanel Lambskin - how do I clean it/care for it?

[ElleA92]

I'm absolutely doing a pair of shoes tomorrow (UPS came late today with my box of goodies). I need a bigger box to keep my leather supplies in now! I've completely overgrown the old one. I still have patent leather spray to come!

Hi tutushopper it’s been years ans I had to get a new screen name here!
would you please share your patent leather brand? Also any tips on sticky patent leather? I got a vintage piece from my mom but it feels sticky. Also any recommendations on products to repel stain and water on light colored lambskin?! TIA

 

[pursekitten]

Hi tutushopper it’s been years ans I had to get a new screen name here!
would you please share your patent leather brand? Also any tips on sticky patent leather? I got a vintage piece from my mom but it feels sticky. Also any recommendations on products to repel stain and water on light colored lambskin?! TIA

The coating on the patent leather may be breaking down after huge temperature swings or age. You may be able to use a gentle leather cleaner, but the stickiness possibly be temporarily neutralized. The Handbag Spa kits keep my bags clean, conditioned, and protected—their Dermo Protect is what I use on my vintage black lambskin 3 series Chanel Classic Flap. I waited at least 24 hours between cleaning, conditioning, recoloring, and using a protectant to avoid dulling the lambskin.

I've also treated my Classic Flap with black Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier to condition and revive color—the shea butter based formula retains the soft lambskin texture very well. If your light-colored lambskin is showing fading or wear, you could condition it then use a neutral-colored Saphir before a protectant.

 

[pursekitten]

Hi ladies! Here is my first vintage bag and I highly appreciate any advice. I don't have any experience in bag care and thought to send it to Leather Surgeons but after reading some threads changed my mind and decided to try improving its condition at home. I was going to buy Saphir Renovateur but there is a note "Do not use this product on leather handbags. Use the Saphir Nappa Leather balm." Please advice me which one will be good for vintage lambskin. I'll highly appreciate any instructions on how to clean vintage metal chains too.
I'm going to use youtube method shown above (cleaning it with pure wipes, let it dry, apply some leather cream then buff with microfibre cloth. Is this sequence correct in your opinion?)
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I've used Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier on my 3 series black lambskin to revive color and condition the leather—it's a shea butter-based formula and very gentle but needs to be applied lightly and buffed out thoroughly with a microfibre/soft cloth. The Saphir will collect between the quilted diamonds. My steps were:

+ The Handbag Spa Sensitive Cleanse
+ The Handbag Spa Pure Hydrate
+ Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier (black)
+ The Handbag Spa Dermo Protect

Just to be safe, I waited at least 24 hours between steps to fully dry since I've heard the lambskin could appear dull if products are applied one after the other. Saphir does leave a residual scent but the scent goes away after 2-3 days.

 

[pursekitten]

Update: Sunny day today so took some better photos! Her full at-home handbag spa is listed above.

 

[bkee]

I've used Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier on my 3 series black lambskin to revive color and condition the leather—it's a shea butter-based formula and very gentle but needs to be applied lightly and buffed out thoroughly with a microfibre/soft cloth. The Saphir will collect between the quilted diamonds. My steps were:

+ The Handbag Spa Sensitive Cleanse
+ The Handbag Spa Pure Hydrate
+ Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier (black)
+ The Handbag Spa Dermo Protect

Just to be safe, I waited at least 24 hours between steps to fully dry since I've heard the lambskin could appear dull if products are applied one after the other. Saphir does leave a residual scent but the scent goes away after 2-3 days.

View attachment 4953605

Hi pursekitten, may I ask do I need to apply the product throughout the bag, or just on the spot that has scratches? I would like to clean and buff out light scratches on a lambskin woc. Thank you

 

[pursekitten]

Hi pursekitten, may I ask do I need to apply the product throughout the bag, or just on the spot that has scratches? I would like to clean and buff out light scratches on a lambskin woc. Thank you

Hi bkee, Technically you can just apply Pure Hydrate to the scratch and try to buff the scratch out. This video by Anna in Warsaw was my introduction to The Handbag Spa products and demonstrates how to treat light scratches with Pure Hydrate. I give my lambskin a full cleanse, hydration, and dermo protect once a year to keep her looking her best. Good luck with your WOC!

 

[bkee]

Hi bkee, Technically you can just apply Pure Hydrate to the scratch and try to buff the scratch out. This video by Anna in Warsaw was my introduction to The Handbag Spa products and demonstrates how to treat light scratches with Pure Hydrate. I give my lambskin a full cleanse, hydration, and dermo protect once a year to keep her looking her best. Good luck with your WOC!

Thank you pursekitten! Can’t wait to try it out!

 

[Jaded81]

I have been using Colonil Gel which is supposed to clean/moisturise/waterproof leather at the same.

However everytime I use it on my lambskin the black dye comes out!

Anyone using this also and having the same problems?

So thinking of changing to Apple leather conditioner + Apple Garde.

Is there any problems changing brands?

 

[Jaded81]

also what kind of cloth to use for cleaning or conditioning leather bags? esp lambskin?

 

[Jaded81]

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[Jaded81]

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[Jaded81]

Your bag looks great!!❤️

So you use black Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier to color the bag and not to condition as it appears you used something else for conditioning?

Does it help restore black color? My black lambskin has faded. And I have another pair of untreated black lambskin shoes that are badly scruffed (you can see the green underneath) and need something to recolor it.

Will the color transfer to clothing?

Also what kind of microfiber/soft cloth did you use for the process? Did you use the same one for all the steps?

Is it really necessary to wait 24 hours between steps? Is that what the handbag spa advised you to do?

I've used Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier on my 3 series black lambskin to revive color and condition the leather—it's a shea butter-based formula and very gentle but needs to be applied lightly and buffed out thoroughly with a microfibre/soft cloth. The Saphir will collect between the quilted diamonds. My steps were:

+ The Handbag Spa Sensitive Cleanse
+ The Handbag Spa Pure Hydrate
+ Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier (black)
+ The Handbag Spa Dermo Protect

Just to be safe, I waited at least 24 hours between steps to fully dry since I've heard the lambskin could appear dull if products are applied one after the other. Saphir does leave a residual scent but the scent goes away after 2-3 days.

View attachment 4953605

 

[Jaded81]

Saphir makes a delicate leather cleaner And conditioner, which they advertise as not changing the colour or texture of even the most delicate leathers.

Someone mentioned renovateur darkening their light lambskin so being extra careful and using the delicate cream might be worth while.

That’s the product description:
“Saphir's Creme Delicate Cream is a specially-formulated cream for very delicate leathers, such as fine smooth leather, nappa, and box calf leather. The cream nourishes and revitalizes the leather but contains a low wax content. This is the conditioner that some of the world's most famous, luxury handbag makers uses for their handbags.”

This is called Saphir Creme Delicate Cream?

Is it a neutral color?

 

[Christofle]

This is called Saphir Creme Delicate Cream?

Is it a neutral color?

Yes it is a neutral colour and used by many brands.

 

[pursekitten]

Your bag looks great!!❤

So you use black Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier to color the bag and not to condition as it appears you used something else for conditioning?

Does it help restore black color? My black lambskin has faded. And I have another pair of untreated black lambskin shoes that are badly scruffed (you can see the green underneath) and need something to recolor it.

Will the color transfer to clothing?

Also what kind of microfiber/soft cloth did you use for the process? Did you use the same one for all the steps?

Is it really necessary to wait 24 hours between steps? Is that what the handbag spa advised you to do?

Hi Jaded81!

Recolorant and Conditioner: This is the Saphir I used (color: 01 Noir) restores color and conditions the leather. My husband also uses this Saphir on his vintage 1950s black leather BFG Vogue by Goodrich shoes. I also condition the leather yearly using The Handbag Spa Pure Hydrate. I've been thinking of just using Saphir's Renovateur too, since it's a pigment-free balm, but I've only used it on my leather boots so far.

Color Transfer: No transfer on clothing if you buff the purse thoroughly until the cloth comes away clean, let the purse dry, then seal with a protectant or use The Handbag Spa Dermo Protect. I just used a microfiber cloth from Amazon by Almost Done, which I use for all my leather bags. After fully drying and Dermo Protect, I tested the color transfer again with a towel and it came away clean.



Wait to Dry: I heard the advice for waiting 24 hours to dry from YouTuber Hello Catwalk City, who called The Handbag Spa for advice. Not waiting may result in sticky residue and/or a cloudy cast on the leather, which is completely reversible but just a pain.

Left side photos on black background are before I did anything to the bag back in 2019, and right side photos are after I cleaned, recolored, and conditioned the bag this year.





Good luck with your bag and shoes!