How to Repair Your Snakeskin Designer Handbags (Without Damage!)

Because the scales of snakeskin bags dry out and shed with age and improper handling, simple repairs are necessary to extend the life of your designer handbag.

 

Things You’ll Need to Repair a Snakeskin Designer Purse:

• Small White Cloth
• Microfiber cloth
• Water
• Desalting liquid
• Neutral leather polish
• Designer snakeskin handbag leather conditioner
• Professional snakeskin handbag glazing
• Waterproof spray

 

Determine the smooth sides of your snakeskin handbag scales.

Run your fingers along the skin of the snakeskin bag. The natural direction of the scales will be either smooth to the touch instead of rough.

 

Dislodge dirt from the snakeskin scales with a clean white cloth.

Dab the end of the cloth in cool water. Pat the scales down gently in the natural direction of the skin to remove the dirt.

 

Use water sparingly without soap. Too much liquid applied to the surface of your purse may discolor the scales permanently by reacting with the tannin used during the modification of the snakeskin.

 

Clean your bag with a leather conditioner.

Squirt or spray a few drops of the leather conditioner on your microfiber cloth.  (To avoid damaging the skin beyond repair, do not apply the conditioning product directly to the item.)

 

Lightly, press the surface of the bag with the cloth to apply the conditioner to the snakeskin or python scales.

 

If you are concerned about damaging the exotic skins, test the leather conditioner on the bottom of your purse.

 

If there are salt stains on your snakeskin handbag, remove them with a desalting liquid.

Apply a teaspoon of the desalting liquid on a small microfiber or lint-free cloth. Dab the spots gently.

 

Air dry away from heat. After the skin dries, apply a leather conditioner made specifically for snakeskin and exotics.

 

Use neutral polish to combat fading leather on the handles of your purse.

Clear leather polish may restore the leather handles on the bag. Before applying polish on the handbag, patch-test a small section.

 

Avoid wax polish; it is too heavy. Do not rub the polish into the scales. The polish will add extra weight and a light layer of film to your purse.

 

Repair flaking snakeskin handbags with glazing.

A professional handbag restorer applies a clear glaze to the skin to return the scales to their original shine and luster. Costs to reglaze a small snakeskin purse in 2016 may range from 100 to 200 dollars.

With a variety of luxe styles, shapes, and fashionable colors, these must-have designer snakeskin bags work double duty as sophisticated daytime or nighttime accessories.

 

Additional Repair Tips for Your Snakeskin Designer Handbags

• • Have your snakeskin handbag professionally cleaned once a year to maintain the bag’s appealing eye shine.
  • Apply conditioning treatments, desalting liquids and neutral polish on the smooth portion of the snakeskin scales, which is the natural snakeskin grain, according to Snakeskin handbag repair experts VintageSkins.com.
  • Before you wear your handbags, always apply a light coat of Collonil waterproof spray to protect your exotic skins from accidental spills, rain, and dirt. I use this Collonil spray because it is the best product on the market to reduce dirt and watermarks and clean a soiled snakeskin purse.

 

• It is important to condition your snakeskin or python handbag regularly. Condition it once every three to four months to extend the life of your handbag.
• Store your python or snakeskin bag in a dry, cool place, and away from any bare or bright lightbulbs in the top of your closet, and in the original box or dust bag
• If your snakeskin handbag gets wet, the leather may darken beyond repair, suggest the handbag repair experts at Gleni.
• WSJ- The Best Care for Python Bags and Alligator Shoes