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

[Jaded81]

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.

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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.

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Good luck with your bag and shoes!

Is it necessary to use a cleaner (i have used a cleaner before and it removed dye from my bag ), and a hydrator before using Saphir Noir?

Saphir Noir doesn’t moisturise the bag?

Also is it necessary to use a protectant after to prevent color transfer?

Unfortunately the amazon link doesn’t work for some reason

 

[Jaded81]

it looks great! You used the premium cadillac lotion?

I’m guessing it helped moisturise the bag but how about the faded parts?

also did any black dye come off while using it?

Thanks everyone for the help. I ordered the lotion suggested and I gave her a good polish today. I'm very pleased, she looks brand new! Ready for the next party
Thanks again!View attachment 4090416

 

[pursekitten]

Is it necessary to use a cleaner (i have used a cleaner before and it removed dye from my bag ), and a hydrator before using Saphir Noir?

Saphir Noir doesn’t moisturise the bag?

Also is it necessary to use a protectant after to prevent color transfer?

Unfortunately the amazon link doesn’t work for some reason

Double moisturizing is optional. My vintage bag seemed to need the extra moisturizer but yours may not. Moisturizing twice is not necessary.

Saphir includes shea butter and will moisturize your bag as well as deposit color. Saphir also has a clear, no-color balm you can buy if you prefer. Apologies that the link no longer works. You may just want to search for the name "Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier".

Protectant optional but highly recommended. I would highly recommend a protectant after using a color-depositing balm on your bag because it may also repel light rain but a protectant may not be necessary. You can alternatively just spray your jeans or other clothing you may think will transfer color instead of protectant on the bag.

I'm excited for your vintage beauty's at-home spa treatment!

 

[sydsunshine]

+1 for saphir as well. I use the Renovateur, and it takes a week to dry in Sydney’s summertime. Makes my vintage lambskin nice and soft. I also have saphir nappa but wasn’t too impressed.

Cadillac boot and shine doesn’t work as well on Chanel lambskin. I still use it to moisturise my LV and Dior canvas bags and it does a great job there.

 

[Jaded81]

+1 for saphir as well. I use the Renovateur, and it takes a week to dry in Sydney’s summertime. Makes my vintage lambskin nice and soft. I also have saphir nappa but wasn’t too impressed.

Cadillac boot and shine doesn’t work as well on Chanel lambskin. I still use it to moisturise my LV and Dior canvas bags and it does a great job there.

What didn’t you like about the nappa balm? According to the hanger project that is supposed to be used instead of the Renovateur.

One week to dry ? Whoa!! Why so long? It is really dry and hot in Oz during the summer! Are you applying a lot or it just takes a long time for it to be absorbed?

This is what I did for my other preloved bags. I would use the wipes that kill 99.99% of germs. Give it a good wipe over. Then, quickly use a dry clean cloth, to wipe it off. Followed by a slightly damp cloth. Let it dry and use some Cadillac moisturiser after.

even lambskin? do you do the interior including the inner flaps?

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.”

have you tried it on lambskin?

 

[Christofle]

have you tried it on lambskin?

No issues, but test a small area on yours first. The key is to apply a little at a time and follow the instructions on the bottle. Less is more when it comes to these products.

 

[Jaded81]

No issues, but test a small area on yours first. The key is to apply a little at a time and follow the instructions on the bottle. Less is more when it comes to these products.

Ever tried the MDO version? ie the Nappa Balm? Also do you use any of their other products?

 

[Christofle]

Ever tried the MDO version? ie the Nappa Balm? Also do you use any of their other products?

I use a lot of their products! For my shoes and some bags. Mainly the renovateur, pâte de luxe, mink oil, etc..

 

[Jaded81]

I use a lot of their products! For my shoes and some bags. Mainly the renovateur, pâte de luxe, mink oil, etc..

Ahhh so for lambskin you use the BDC delicate cream... how about the Renovateur? when do you use that?

 

[Christofle]

Ahhh so for lambskin you use the BDC delicate cream... how about the Renovateur? when do you use that?

I use the renovateur on my Loewe Calfskin without issue

 

[nyc or nowhere]

Hi all - new member here, but longtime lurker! I recently acquired a vintage Chanel medium Classic flap (my first Chanel!!) and I'm trying to figure out how to best care for it/maintain it. Any advice? For reference, it's in excellent - almost premium condition.

 

[Pursehoarder2025]

Hi! I bought a sac cordon in a light tan. It seems very susceptible to water. I scarf to wear it! I used a tiny drop of leather conditioner at the bottom and even that darkened it a bit. What can I do to protect it?

 

[Jaded81]

This bag is 10 yrs old.. years of using colonil products... colonil gel and the waterproofing spray. Although it left a shiny finish i think it dried out the leather over the years.

Recently tried the Saphir Renovateur but although it moisturised it and gave it a shine, it removed A LOt of color and left a sticky finish that i couldn’t stand and color kept coming off when i buffed days later... and make the wrinkles more pronounced.

I then applied Cadillac lotion and it did remove color as well (beginning to think it is this particular lambskin) but it helped soften some of the wrinkles/ceases at the back of the flap but not in front as showed. Took away the stickiness too.

Is there ANYTHING i can do about these wrinkles? Nothing I use seem to smoothen it out or hydrate it.

I have Apple conditioner on the way. Might try that.

I heard good things about Meltonian delicate that is being sold at a ridiculous price on ebay... would that help? Don’t mind paying the price if it will

Also does Apple Garde Spray (read it contains silicones.. which is supposed to dry leather) dry leather in the long term? anyone been using this in their lambskin for 10 years or more?

 

[Klaneckya]

This bag is 10 yrs old.. years of using colonil products... colonil gel and the waterproofing spray. Although it left a shiny finish i think it dried out the leather over the years.

Recently tried the Saphir Renovateur but although it moisturised it and gave it a shine, it removed A LOt of color and left a sticky finish that i couldn’t stand and color kept coming off when i buffed days later... and make the wrinkles more pronounced.

I then applied Cadillac lotion and it did remove color as well (beginning to think it is this particular lambskin) but it helped soften some of the wrinkles/ceases at the back of the flap but not in front as showed. Took away the stickiness too.

Is there ANYTHING i can do about these wrinkles? Nothing I use seem to smoothen it out or hydrate it.

I have Apple conditioner on the way. Might try that.

I heard good things about Meltonian delicate that is being sold at a ridiculous price on ebay... would that help? Don’t mind paying the price if it will

Also does Apple Garde Spray (read it contains silicones.. which is supposed to dry leather) dry leather in the long term? anyone been using this in their lambskin for 10 years or more?




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I asked Chanel SA and was told to not use anything. You can always take the bag to boutique fir repair if needed.

 

[Klaneckya]

Wrinkles in lambskin are normal. Even caviar leather gets wrinkles. It seems leather is cracking under closure rod.

I asked Chanel SA and was told to not use anything. You can always take the bag to boutique fir repair if needed.