The Kitchen Cupboard Companion: Cleaning Your Leather Goods with Safe and Natural Ingredients You Can Find In Your Kitchen

By now, you're probably used to hearing the terms natural, green, and eco-friendly thrown-around like a frisbee at a barbecue. It's true that all things organic and natural have become a bit trendy of late, but that is not to say that there is no merit in the concept of going green. For example, did you know that even something as inanimate as your leather handbag collection can benefit from a healthy, organic diet? Yep. It's true. Okay, full disclosure; calling it an “organic diet” may be a bit if a stretch, but the actual practice of using natural products on your handbag collection is a sound one. As it turns out, you can make a perfectly serviceable, if not downright lovely leather cleaner out of some of the natural products that are available right in your very own kitchen. Here's how. Natural Leather Cleaner - One part olive oil - One part light vinegar - Essential oil of your choice (optional, but gives it a lovely scent!) Directions 1. Begin by making sure that the surfaces of your leather bag are free of dust and the interior is free of debris. 2. Whisk together your three ingredients. They will not mix entirely (hello? oil and water), but they will blend enough to be effective 3. Using a clean cloth, do a patch test on the bag in a place that does not show. Dip the cloth in the mixture, and rub it on the bag in a circular motion. If no discoloration occurs after 15 minutes, proceed with the rest of the bag. 4. Use another clean cloth to wipe off the excess mixture from the bag, and place it in a safe place with good ventilation to dry (do not hang it while it dries).