Please accept my apologies in advance for the long post.
I purchased a much abused 19 year old pre-loved Alma PM for avery low cost. Since it did not cost me much, I decided to try cleaning it myself before sending it off to Louis Vuitton for repair. Here are the steps I took in an attempt to rescue my pre-loved Alma PM.
Thanks for letting me share this experience with you.
Warning: I am not suggesting you launder your Louis Vuitton handbag; I am just sharing my experience. I will update this post in a few weeks to advise if I notice any issues with the canvas or leather.
I purchased a much abused 19 year old pre-loved Alma PM for avery low cost. Since it did not cost me much, I decided to try cleaning it myself before sending it off to Louis Vuitton for repair. Here are the steps I took in an attempt to rescue my pre-loved Alma PM.
- First, let me start off by saying, this bag was very dirty and had many stains, so I did not feel comfortable washing it in my tub or bathroom sink. Therefore, I put the Alma in a lingerie bag and went to the Laundromat. I placed the Alma, its dust bag and two old towels (towels were used as a buffer to prevent damage during the spin cycles) in the machine, added 1/4 cup of Murphy's Oil Soap and Pine-Sol and selected the permanent press wash cycle.
- After the wash was complete, most of the stains were gone or barely noticeable and I now had a clean and germ/odor free bag. I did not want to leave the leather saturated with water for too long, so I placed the towels and the Alma, which I placed inside its dust bag, in the dryer. I used the permanent press cycle and kept the bag in the dryer until the leather felt damp, but not soaking wet. Fearful that the canvas might melt () or the leather would dry and crumble, I checked the bag every 5 minutes to make sure the canvas everything was OK. I only kept the bag in the dryer for a total of 15 minutes.
- I let the bag air dry overnight before applying leather conditioner, moisturizer and gently buffing the leather to a shine.
- I also cleaned the lock and key because they were severely tarnished. I used Bar Keepers Friend to clean the lock and keys. When I compared the cleaned lock to another lock, I noticed the color was not as vibrant. I think the lock for the Alma is pure brass vs. the coated brass ones they are now making.
Thanks for letting me share this experience with you.
Warning: I am not suggesting you launder your Louis Vuitton handbag; I am just sharing my experience. I will update this post in a few weeks to advise if I notice any issues with the canvas or leather.
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