If you love your bags as much as we do, you tend to keep them and wear them.  And sometimes they need a little TLC.  The best folks we know for cleaning, repairing, and restoring well-loved designer handbags is LovinMyBags.com  We encourage you to contact them if you have a bag in need.  We appreciate them allowing us to share these "Tips 'n' Tricks" with you.

Tips & Tricks
FINISHED LEATHERS (do not darken with water)
  Use warm water (1 cup) with a teaspoon of vinegar for
  wiping off dust and some dirt. Make sure the leather is finished (does
  not darken with water!) Most leather cleaners on the market are pH 10 while
  leather has a pH of 4.5. These cleaners may be OK for car leather, but not for
  handbags. They will alter the leather chemistry causing pH damage
  (recognizable by the spongy texture and cracking).
  
  For ink stains: use a white eraser right away; caution:
  do not rub vigorously rather gently and softly

  If the  ink is not moving, then it  has to be corrected professionally (sorry!)
  Do NOT use alcohol to remove ink stains. It does not work.
 
  Do NOT use saddle soap.  It is very alkaline (pH over
  10) and will attach the leather finish and affect the pH of the leather. Good
  for saddles which are much harder and thicker than handbag leather

For other spot soiling use the white eraser, it is  effective in removing many different types of dirt; again be gentle with the
  rubbing.

For oil stains, use corn starch. Rub in; let corn starch  absorb the oil. Use a light bulb to create some heat, this will facilitate the  absorption of the oil into the cornstarch. Brush off with a soft tooth brush. Repeat until all oil has been removed. 
 

Keep your bag OUT of direct sunlight.  Many leathers will fade when overexposed to sun and its UV rays!
  To remove odor from handbags, spray bag with Lysol (linen  scent is not too bad) and place a container of baking
  soda inside the bag. The larger the surface area the better. Heat will help   release the odor, so the baking soda can  absorb  it, while the Lysol kills   neutralizes the odor. Leave for 24 hours.Lovin my Bags odor out bag candies are guaranteed to remove smoke odors.

UNFINISHED LEATHERS (darken with water)

  Do NOT use hand creams or lotions on your leather. Even
  though these are great for your skin, they contain  oils and waxes that
  are not compatible with leather. You may get a darkening effect that you
  desire, but it will attract dirt and soil. Oils except for sulfanated oils
  will cause leather to rot over time 
 
  Do NOT use baby wipes, or any other wipes on this type of
  leather 
  If you get oil on your handbag, put corn starch on it
  immediately. Rub it in to absorb the oil. Use a light source to create heat
  for faster absorption of the oil into the cornstarch. Brush off with a soft
  toothbrush.
  
 For ink stains and other dirt, use a white eraser and
  rub the spot gently. Usually if you get the ink right away you can remove all of
  it. Ink migrates into the leather fibers so once it is set, it needs
  professional care.

For water stains, there is really no at home solutions
  unfortunately. However it can be fixed by a professional leather technician.
  
  Use a pre-treatment on your handbag as soon as you get
  it. There are a few available: 3M based products can work if you are looking
  for a spray on option (this option wears off fairly quickly and must be
  reapplied regularly); Lovin My Bags pre-treatment is formulated as a
  rub on. 
  

Do NOT use any over the counter leather cleaners on your
  unfinished leather bag as they will stain.

If you have any leather related questions, please feel free to contact us, we
will gladly give you any advice we can help you with your leather handbags!