Louis Vuitton - Bag that needs some stain removing and refurbishing.

Hi Roger...
Here are pics of the vintage Louis Vuitton that needs some refurbishing.
I would like to darken the vachetta on the strap from moving the buckle,
remove the ink on the trap,
remove the water or oil mark on the trim and clean up the corners.
Please let me know what products will work.
I can’t afford the entire vachetta kit so please list the fewest as possible :)
Thanks for your time and talent!
Sarah


# 1
Attachment 4182


#2
Attachment 4183


#3
Attachment 4184


#4
Attachment 4185


#5
Attachment 4186

>>> I would like to darken the vachetta on the strap from moving the buckle,

Reference to picture #3, the exposed to sunlight areas received a sun tanned and it is correctable by using Vachetta-2.3. Vachetta-2.3 works by redox reactions or oxidation-reduction reaction and the sun tanning effect lightens up when dry. Surface residue is rinse off with Rinse-3.0


>>> remove the ink on the trap,

Reference to picture #4, this typical ballpoint ink is removal by using Prep-4.4.
Reverse transfer technique is by placing a stretchable paper over the ink and allows the suspended ink to be absorbed by the paper. Using the reverse transfer technique may not be as efficient as vachetta leather is characteristically absorbent as well. Alternatively is use a cotton swab and work out periodically as the ink is suspended by the Prep-4.4. Sticky residue is remove with Clean-3.8 > Rinse-3.0 thereafter.


>>> remove the water or oil mark on the trim

Reference to picture #5 water mark are removed by using Vachetta-2.3 describe above.


>>> remove the water or oil mark on the trim

Reference to picture #5 oil mark are removed by Degreaser-2.2 and Rinse with Rinse-3.0 for surface stain and Hydrator-3.3 when stains are penetrated to suspend them to the surface.


>>> and clean up the corners.

The lightening effect to the corners is due to leather dryness of its original fatliquor.
The lack of percentage of fatliquor (originally up to 14%) result in the lightening effect.
As the percentage of fatliquor increases the seasoning effect accentuated or magnified.
Protector-D will also season up the lightening effect and the D+ with extra leather scent would be a better choice when one prefers to have a seasoned appearance.


>>> I can’t afford the entire vachetta kit so please list the fewest as possible

The basic kit recommended is Kit-V3 and specialty products mentioned are available as add-on such as the essential Prep-4.4 for the ink stain. Degreaser-2.2 is only used if the stain proves to be oil related otherwise Vachetta-2.3 will removes such not oil related stain. Rinse-3.0 can be replaced by the Hydrator-3.3. Clean-3.8 is for removing any sticky residue; otherwise Hydrator-3.3 may do the job with less efficiency.


Roger Koh
Leather Care Consultant
[email protected]


Further readings. . .

Vachetta leather derives its popular brownish range of color from the tannin found in vegetable matter such as tree bark. Its exact shade depends on the mix of the tanning agent and the color of the skin. It is popularly made into luggage including trimmings of Louis Vuitton handbags. This leather is left untreated (naked); therefore, it is susceptible to water and other liquid stain. Sunlight will cause the natural leather to darken in shade or suntanned, just like our skin; unlike aniline dyes that fades.

Attachment 4187
Leather Doctor® Kit V3 Vachetta Leather Browning Removal Kit

Leather Doctor® Kit V3, unfinished leather care system is design for corrective appearance of vachetta, saddlery and veg-tan leathers from browning liquid stains. These alkaline pH sensitive leathers when neglected often suffer unsightly browning stain marks from a variety of liquid sources. Even apparent clean rain and tap water often leave a lightening spot with an outer ring. The pH 7 alone of water will often cause a rippling effect on the tannin that destabilize and causes it to moves. Browning correction is perform by using Vachetta-2.8, a pH 2.8 specialty leather cleaner that is particularly effective in emulsifying oily soiling, lightening suntan and water staining effect. A holistic system includes rejuvenating the leather structure for softness with Hydrator-3.3 to relax, follows with Fatliquor-5.0 to soften when dry and protecting with the healing properties of Protector-D thereafter. The lightening effect takes place when the leather dries. When leather is wet and dry again, it will often stiff up, as the fibers becomes stick closer together. Hydrator-3.3 helps separate and open up the inter-fibrillary spaces preconditioning for effective Fatliquor-5.0 replenishing to lubricate for leather flexing smoothness from cracking. Replenishing the leather structure with fat and oil after browning corrective cleaning besides the softening effect also prevents the ingress of liquid stains as a preventive measure. When leather is full of fat and oil, it makes the leather less absorbent. Fat and oil conditioning or rejuvenating with Fatliquor-5.0 mellows and enrich the appearance of the leather while most oil conditioners will simply darkens and dulls the appearance poorly. Protector-D enhances a rub resistant draggy-feel against friction rubs and is use routinely to conceal and fill scuffmarks. Body contact areas should be clean routinely with Clean-3.8 follows with Rinse-3.0, thereafter applied with non-stick protection and commence for another cycle of use. Darken and prolong body grease and sweat contacts will require a degreasing process with Degreaser-2.2 follows with Acidifier-2.0 in most cases. Preventive cleaning and protection to shield against sticky soiling, with the abilities to heal and conceal lightening scuff and abrasion marks keeps the leather appearance level high at all times rather than relying on corrective or salvage cleaning where the cleaning appearance deteriorates and diminishes with each cycle. Note that the mentioned products suffix numbers denotes its pH value in this holistic approach to removing vegetable, plant and water stains from vachetta, saddlery and veg-tan leathers.

>>> Is there a way to darken the 2 areas that were not exposed to the sun to match the darker patina?

Block off the surrounding areas and exposed the lighter areas to the sun to balance up the color differences is a practical solution depending on the season or on your geographical area.