Congrats on the new bag!!! if you are anal like me about keeping the vachetta clean so it ages into a nice honey color, i recommend the following, especially since she is still very new:
[from a LV lovers group that i belong to]
PREVENTATIVE & ACTIVE CARE:
I recommend using the Leather Care and Apple Garde treatments from Apple Products to protect your bag's beauty, as well as to ensure it's value. You can find these products at
www.leatherstuff.com
All new bags should be immediately treated with Apple Garde. Apple Garde is a leather rain & stain repellent spray that protects against water spots, body oil, wine, and grease. It has also been rumoured that it will also slow down the patina process of your bag just a bit, but I have personally seen no tangible proof of that.
To treat: take your new purse to a highly ventilated area (preferably, outside!) and lay your bag down on a hand towel. Because the Louis Vuitton Monogram/Murakami canvas and Vernis bodies are already pre-treated (and Epi doesn't need to be treated at all), you are really only spraying the straps and trim. Spray a light mist for about 10 seconds, holding the aerosol can about 10 inches away from the purse. Don't worry about getting the spray on the body because it won't absorb. Wait about 30 minutes and do another final mist. Your straps will be considerably darker, and you may feel like jumping off a bridge but take heart~~they will lighten back to their original light patina eventually. It will take much longer than indicated on the bottle~~perhaps even a few days, but they will lighten back. However, if you have OVER-SPRAYED, then your straps will be a shade or so darker than they were orginally. Keep that in mind, you heavy-handed divas!
Wipe all excess spray off the canvas, Vernis body, and/or hardware. Let your bag dry unencumbered in a shaded area outdoors (or a well-ventilated area).
Apple Garde treatments will depend on how often you use your purse: an everyday bag should be sprayed and treated every couple months or so. Occasion bags can be treated much less frequently.
For older bags with established patina: use the Leather Care Lotion to remove dirt, grime, and body oil, as well as to restore moisture. Get a clean rag (put the lotion on the rag) and use liberally on your straps, especially in the area that sees the most contact with the skin (it will be darker in this area than the rest of the straps). You will feel the leather softening up immediately. Let dry and buff with another clean rag. Wait another hour or so and treat with Apple Garde. You want to condition your straps with Leather Care Lotion regularly (once every couple of months) to keep your leather supple and prevent drying, cracking, and mildewing.
Louis lovers are split almost 50/50 about whether to pre-treat or let the natural color of their bag develop. I vacillate between both sides; some bags I have sprayed while others I have not. There is no rhyme or reason to my inconsistency, but I do lean towards the natural patina process. I do, however, always use the Leather Conditioner for older bags.
I know some people who always condition their new bags, but I tend to believe that new leather has plenty of it's own natural oils.
Do NOT use the Leather Cleaner on any LV vachetta leather. It is way too harsh and will STAIN.
I liked that one the best of the three!
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