Crackled Leather care

>>> I bought a new Michael Kors bag that is white and black crackled leather. The purse came without any care instructions. I searched the internet and only found how to repair cracked and crackled leather, which is the opposite of what I want to do. I want to preserve the purse and it's beautiful effect, while keeping it clean and in good condition.

There are basically 4 levels of cares, from Preventive, Routine, Periodic, and Restorative.

If the bag is brand new, after wiping with a lint free cloth you may proceed with Preventive care.

With a preventive, routine and periodic cycle, keeping the bag at the highest level of appearance is preferred than doing a restorative cleaning.

Here is a copy and paste of Leather Doctor Kit-A3

Attachment 10334
https://www.leatherdoctor.com/leathe...e-care-kit-a3/

Leather Aniline Care - Kit-A3 by Leather Doctor is an innovative leather-safe (pH 3 - 5) system designed for keeping leathers at their highest level of appearance, maintaining its pH chemistry integrity, enhancing their suppleness and preventing premature ageing. Leathers that face the sun, closed to the fireplace and heaters dry out the fatliquor (fat and oil) that keeps it supple sooner than the non-heat exposed areas. The diminishing of the fatliquor through evaporation results in the leather fibers being stuck closer together that results in stiffness and when flexed during use will lead to cracks. Periodic use of Hydrator-3.3 to plump the stick together fibers prior to fatliquor replenishing with Fatliquor-5.0 will keep the leather supple and strong. Thus, reduce the premature ageing of the leather against stiffness and cracking. The surface wear of the leather is greatly reduced with friction noise reduction. This is preventable with a rub-resistant Protector-B that imparts a natural buttery-feel. Periodic cleaning and rinsing with Clean-3.8 followed by Rinse-3.0 to the bare body contact areas like headrest and armrest helps reduce greasy soiling build-up. Restorative cleaning and occasional dye stains removal from new blue jeans is accomplished with Prep-4.4. Note that the mentioned product suffix number denotes its pH value in this leather-safe holistic care system.
Leather-Safe System Cycle of Care - Preventive, Routine, Periodic & Restorative . . .

Preventive Care:
A non-stick, rub-resistant protection is recommended to be in place before putting the leather to daily use. Protector-B imparts a soft natural buttery-feel that enhances the leather luxuriously to the sense of touch. The non-stick surface shields the leather from sticky soiling thus prolonging the high level of appearance. Rub-resistant ability reduces friction noises that translate into less friction wear. This leather-scented protector diffuses a classic leather scent that boosts the sensuous leather more appealing to the leather lover. This preventive care is kept in place at each level of routine, periodic or restorative cleaning cycle. A simple spray and wipe prolongs the need for cleaning heavy soiling. Protecting: Instruction . . . 1- Mist sprays Protector-B spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry (leather-scented version is available as Protector-B+).

Routine Care:
Routine care includes procedures such as general dust cleaning, attending to spots and stains as required especially the pH balancing of sweat stains from shifting alkaline. Thus prevents leather from tackiness. A routine non-stick rub resistant protection after neutralizing rinse helps keep leather in a more attractive and healthy state while preventing premature wear by . . . 1st step – Rinsing: Instruction . . . 1- Spray Rinse-3.0, horsehair Brush-1 agitates and towel extract until it shows clean. 2nd step – Protecting: Instruction . . . 2- Mist sprays Protector-B spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry.

Periodic Care:
Periodic care is recommended before soiling causes damages to the finishing. This keeps leather consistently clean and healthy at all times. Body contact areas would require more frequent attention than the unused areas. While the leather headrest, hand rest, handles etc gets the most of body oil and sweat contacts by . . . 1st step – General Cleaning: Instruction . . . 1- Spray Clean-3.8 and agitate with horsehair Brush-1; ensuring a uniform application over the entire surface a section at a time. 2- Towel extract until it shows clean. 3- Remaining residues are spray rinse with Rinse-3.0 and towel extract to a squeaky-clean. 4- Let dry and inspect for satisfaction, otherwise repeat the cleaning process as necessary or proceed to hydrating. Hydrating is essential to relax and separate the stick together collapsing fibrous structures. Moreover, it is used to check for surface tension from blotchiness prior to fat and oil replenishing by . . . 2nd step – Hydrating: Instruction . . . 1- Spray Hydrator-3.3 to check for an even appearance. Fatliquor evaporates as VOC (volatile organic compound) when temperatures rise especially from exposed surfaces. Periodic fatliquoring maintains the leather’s structure integrity and pliability thus strengthening these exposed leather from cracking by . . . 3rd step – Fatliquoring: Instruction . . . 1- Spray Fatliquor-5.0 in a manner as Hydrator-3.3 and let it dry naturally. 2- Repeat application in-between drying until saturated. 3- The leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness. 4- Surface strays are wiped with Hydrator-3.3 to free of sticky residue and let to natural drying. 4th step – Protecting: Instruction . . . 1- Mist sprays Protector-B spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry.

Restorative Care:
This is the ultimate restorative or salvage care system that removes accumulated soiling including aged conditioners. Accumulated soiling that fills creases is often mistaken for cracks. Using Prep-4.4 performs restorative cleaning. It works by chemical reaction to emulsify soiling through its penetrating, lubricating and suspending power. Horsehair detailing Brush-1 is recommended to work into heavily soiled areas sufficiently to avoid excessive agitation that might damage already weakened finishes especially on heavily used areas by . . . 1st step - Restorative Cleaning: Instruction . . . 1- Apply Prep-4.4 and agitate with horsehair Brush-1, ensuring a uniform application over the entire surface a section at a time. 2- Allow a dwell time of 10 to 30 minutes or before it dries prior to towel extraction until it shows clean. 3- Sticky residue is removed by Clean-3.8 with gentle brush agitation and towel extracts until it shows clean. 4- Remaining residues are spray rinse with Rinse-3.0 and towel extracts to a squeaky-clean. 5- Let dry and inspect for satisfaction, otherwise repeat the cleaning process as necessary or proceed to hydrating. Hydrating is essential to relax and separate the stick together collapsing fibrous structures. Its surfactancy helps check for surface tension of blotchiness prior to fat and oil replenishing. 2nd step – Hydrating: Instruction . . . 1- Spray Hydrator-3.3 to saturate with an even appearance to soften up the leather. 2- Let dwell for 10 to 30 minutes and towel extract wick up soiling until it shows clean. Fat and oil replenishing maintains the leather’s structure integrity and pliability thus strengthening these exposed leather from cracking. 3rd step – Fatliquoring: Instruction . . . 1- Spray Fatliquor-5.0 in a manner as Hydrator-3.3 and let it dry naturally. 2- Repeat application in between drying until saturated. 3- The leather is left for slow natural drying for extra softness. 4- Surface strays are wiped with Hydrator-3.3 to free of sticky residue. 4th step – Protecting: Instruction . . . 1- Mist sprays Protector-B spread with lint free towel and is ready for use when dry.

Attachment 10335
Roger Koh
Leather, Skin, Hair, Eye & Acne Care System Formulator
Consultant / Practitioner / Instructor / Coach
web: www.leatherdoctor.com
forum: www.leathercleaningrestorationforum.com
email: [email protected]