Product Overview
Louis Vuitton Vachetta Leather Care Kit V7 Plus by Leather Doctor is for cleaning, rinsing, hydrating, softening, and conditioning Vachetta and Canvas LV bag.
Kit V7 Plus is formulated and designed for LV bag preventive, routine, periodic, and restorative care.
It is a combination problem-solving kit for the monogram canvas, lining, and pH-sensitive Vachetta that is an upgrade from Kit V7 with an addition of Vachetta Pro 1.2.
Additional products relevant to existing problems shown with the Vegetable-Tanned (V) Vachetta - Leather Problem Solving Guide are purchased individually and treated accordingly.
Tips:
A sequence of wet processes for Leather Problem #6 Restorative Cleaning is explained. Typically, a wet process is continuous where the leather is constantly kept at the lowest moisture level of about 25%. This minimum moisture level is important not allowing the leather to dry before the final fatliquoring process with Fatliquor 5.0 otherwise existing cracks will accelerate, accentuate, or magnify. The optimum fatliquor (fat and oil) moisture level should reach 14% when dry to avoid the ill effect of drying without sufficient fatliquor. Fast drying will stiffen the leather and slow natural drying will produce a softer leather. If you have any other problems that need clarification, please post your questions with pictures to this link:
Vachetta - Instruction:
Vachetta Pro 1.2, pH1.2 is a strong water-based pH balancing cleaner for alkaline overexposure Vachetta. It is specially formulated for restoration cleaning and rectifying the common blotchy browning effect derived from sweat, alkaline stains, and cleaning products especially on naked unfinished vegetable-tanned leathers popularly known as Vachetta. It is particularly effective in emulsifying general soiling in a gentle penetrating, lubricating, and suspending reaction to be towel extracted.
Penetrated darkening body contact oil and grease stains are highly recommended to be pre-removed with Degreaser 2.2 in conjunction with white towel extraction if any. Vachetta Pro 1.2 continues over the grease stain and extends to the entire panel or section without leaving a dry edge. It is sequenced with Acidifier 2.0 as a rinse and continues with Hydrator 3.3 and Fatliquor 5.0 as the last wet process.
It is important to note that the wet process is kept at a minimum 25% moisture level in each continuous process in transition and only allows for a complete dry after Fatliquor 5.0. Otherwise insufficient (less than 7%) fatliquor content will easily accelerate existing cracks when dry. Fatliquor (fat and oil) content when dry at an optimum level should be up to 14% when measured with a leather or an equivalent wood moisture meter.
Further lightening with Vachetta 2.8 by Redox (oxidation-reduction reaction) may follow for browning discoloration and the undesirable sun tanning effect to a lighter biscuit color appearance.
1: Leather Degreaser 2.2 - Degreasing Darkening Body Oil and Grease Stains.
1.1: Degreaser 2.2 is a pH2.2 leather-safe degreaser for body oil, grease, and sweat contact darkening areas.
2.2: Degreaser 2.2 is swirled around and given a vigorous shake to gels before use.
2.3: Degreaser 2.2 is saturated to reach penetrated soiling with a brush and eraser and extracted with a dry towel until it is clean and ready for acidifying rinsing.
2: Leather Acidifier 2.0 - Acidifier Rinse in Sequence with Degreaser 2.2.
2.1: Acidifier 2.0 is a pH2.0 acidifier rinse for controlling, neutralizing, and pH-balancing leather from browning or getting tacky.
2.2: Acidifier 2.0 concentrate 1: 25 is to be mixed with 218g distilled water or 1.5 inches from the top of the 8oz bottle before use.
2.3: Acidifier 2.0 is applied directly, brushed, and extracted with a towel until clean.
2.4: Acidifier 2.0 is kept for 3 to 30 minutes to control browning or tackiness.
2.5: Acidifier 2.0 treatment is complete with a test for a healthy squeaky feel, ready for other specialty and overall cleaning.
3: Leather Prep 4.4 - Restorative Cleaning on Accumulated Soiling and Aged Conditioners.
3.1: Prep 4.4 for general accumulated soiling or restoration cleaning of both the Vachetta and the Canvass to remove aging unwanted conditioners.
3.2: Prep 4.4 is applied and work with horsehair brush on heavily soiled areas.
3.3: Prep 4.4 suspended soiling is towel extracted before dries until it shows clean and continues general cleaning.
4: Vachetta Leather pH Balanced Cleaner 1.2 - Restoring Browning Discoloration.
4.1: Vachetta 1.2 is a pH1.2 strong pH balancing restorer cleaner for rectifying the common blotchy browning discoloration stains on Vachetta.
4.2: Vachetta 1.2 concentrate 1: 19 is mixed with 216g distilled water before use.
4.3: Vachetta 1.2 is applied and brushed with a detailing horsehair brush.
4.4: Vachetta 1.2 is left to dwell for 3 to 30 minutes or before it dries for complete neutralizing and pH balancing.
4.5: Vachetta 1.2 suspended soiling is extracted with a dry highly absorbent towel until it shows clean and continues general cleaning or rinsing.
5: Leather Cleaner 3.8 - General Cleaning in Sequence with Prep 4.4.
5.1: Cleaner 3.8 is a pH3.8 leather-safe cleaner that is particularly effective in emulsifying and suspending oily soils without common side effects.
5.2: Cleaner 3.8 concentrate 1: 64 is mixed with 223g distilled water before use.
5.3: Cleaner 3.8 is applied and brushed with a detailing horsehair brush.
5.4: Cleaner 3.8 is left to dwell for 3 to 30 minutes or before it dries for complete soil suspension.
5.5: Cleaner 3.8 suspended soiling is extracted with a dry highly absorbent towel until it shows clean and continues rinsing.
6: Leather Rinse 3.0 - General Rinsing in Sequence with Cleaner 3.8.
6.1: Rinse 3.0 is a pH3.0 mild acidic rinse for removing suspended soil and strengthening the leather's pH chemistry integrity.
6.2: Rinse 3.0 concentrate 1: 80 is mixed with 224g distilled water before use.
6.3: Rinse 3.0 is applied and brushed with a detailing horsehair brush.
6.4: Rinse 3.0 suspended soiling is extracted with a dry highly absorbent towel until it shows clean and continues hydrating.
7: Leather Hydrator 3.3 - Relaxer in Sequence with Fatliquor 5.0.
7.1: Hydrator 3.3 is a pH3.3 conditioning relaxer, that facilitates colloidal water movement, and reduces surface and interfacial tension.
7.2: Hydrator 3.3 concentrate 1: 25 is mixed with 218g distilled water before use.
7.3: Hydrator 3.3 is applied and soaked with a detailing horsehair brush and deep suspended soiling is extracted with a towel until clean.
7.4: Hydrator 3.3 is left to dwell for 1 to 72 hours for wicking deep soiling and effective relaxing results before fatliquoring.
8: Leather Fatliquor 5.0 - Replenishing Diminishing Fat and Oil with Softness and Strength.
8.1: Fatliquor 5.0 is a pH5.0 ionic negative (-ve) charged micro-emulsion of fat and oil softening conditioner that works by hydrogen bonding.
8.2: Fatliquor 5.0 concentrate 1: 5 is mixed with 189g distilled water before use.
8.3: Fatliquor 5.0 is applied and soaked with a detailing horsehair brush allowing water content to evaporate naturally.
8.4: Fatliquor 5.0 is reapplied each cycle water content evaporates until the last application, the leather absorbs no more and is left to dry naturally.
8.5: Fatliquor 5.0 surface is rinsed residue-free with Hydrator 3.3 and physical massage, or flexed until dry to produce the softest leather.
8.6: Fatliquor 5.0 ends the continuous wet process and is ready for other treatments and conditioning.
9: Vachetta Leather Redox Treatment 2.8 - Reduces Suntanning and Browning Effect.
9.1: Vachetta 2.8 is a pH2.8 Redox (oxidation-reduction reaction) for lightening, browning, suntanning, and water discoloration.
9.2: Vachetta 2.8 concentrate 1: 3 is mixed with 85g distilled water before use.
9.3: Vachetta 2.8 treatment is recommended after fat liquoring with a high percentage of fat and oil content.
9.4: Vachetta 2.8 applied brushed with an even appearance and excess is extracted with a towel until the towel is clean.
9.5: Vachetta 2.8 application is left to dry naturally, with satisfaction, surface residue is wiped with Hydrator 3.3.
10: Leather Protector W - Nonstick, Rub-Resistant Conditioning.
10.1: Protector W is a soft, waxy-feel, nonstick, rub-resistant conditioner that increases resistance to rubs while retaining its natural transpiration.
10.2: Protector W concentrate 1: 19 is mixed with 217g distilled water before use.
10.3: Protector W is applied, spread, left to dry, and ready to use.
11: Tips: Lining, Canvass, and Vachetta Cleaning and Conditioning Sequence.
11.1: In an overall cleaning of the interior lining and the outer canvas and Vachetta, the lining comes, first, left to dry before cleaning the canvas followed by Vachetta.
11.2: Products used in sequence for the lining and canvas are Prep 4.4, Cleaner 3.8, Rinse 3.0, and Protector B Plus.
Email Comments by G. D. on 2-Feb-2019:
I want to tell you how unbelievably grateful I am for your products. They are just amazing and there is absolutely nothing else like them. I’m able to restore vintage Louis Vuitton bags to the point where before and after pictures of the leather are hard to believe. So a very big thank you!!!