Restoring leather

itsthelittlethings

I have bought an old leather bag but it looks a bit tired. How do you restore leather? Can you buy leather restorer? No eye of newt home remedies please 🙂

Emmia

I'd start off with some leather balsam, Dr Martens do one in a tin with a sponge applicator - but I'd wipe the bag first with a lightly dampened cloth to remove dirt etc before conditioning.

The Dr Martens stuff is clear, if you want colour restoration then you'll need other products 

elsien

You can indeed. What you want depends on what is wrong with the bag so you can get tinted ones if the leather is scuffed, or I have a generic one that just shines up any colour of leather.

Nonnadiluca

Renapur is really good. I use it on leather bags, shoes, boots, sofas. You don't have to use much so it lasts for ages.

DullGreyGuy

itsthelittlethings said:

I have bought an old leather bag but it looks a bit tired. How do you restore leather? Can you buy leather restorer? No eye of newt home remedies please 🙂

Whats wrong with it? Do you have a picture?

Are you trying to make it look like a brand new bag again or still have its patina from life but less knackered? 


Personally swear by Saphir's Renovateur Cream for most things, it's mainly a blend of beeswax, lanolin and mink oil but not a home remedy. Not the cheapest thing so probably not the right solution for a sofa but frequently used on shoes and bags.

Brie

I'd say avoid the coloured stuff as it's hard to apply it evenly and you end up with something that looks like it was painted by a toddler.  (don't ask me how I know)

My 2 go-tos in the past have been marmot oil or beaver oil.  All they are doing in oiling (obviously) the leather a bit.  it will darken, scratches and scuffs will be less obvious and the leather get a bit more flex to it.  Do be sure that you don't overdo it and don't use it as a bag until it's fully dried.  Maybe a week after application?  Otherwise you'll get it on your clothing.  

Runner_Duck

I've used Urad from Lakeland, worked well on a leather jacket that was looking a bit tired.

itsthelittlethings

Thanks. I bought a second hand leather bag which was £20, then I spent another £20 on leather restorer. I bought the wrong one so I had to buy a second one. I’ll put the other one on Oli&.

twopenny

I've done a lot of this because I like long lasting bags.

I've used leather stain. Get a good one, it will last and is quick. But follow the instructions and wipe and polish off. Leave somewhere warm to dry.
Polish with a good shoe polish. Again th good stuff. Leave on overnight and polish off thoroughly in the morning. You can use this to touch up odd bits that get scuffed.

Do the renovation in a bright light.
Agrivating to think you've got it perfect and then go out in the sun to find you missed bits.

The better the leather the more attention it needs sadly. I found that out the hard way. Renovating a black bag is easier than a pink purse.