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A leather bag is more than just an accessory; it's an investment. With the right care, a quality leather bag can last for years, even decades, and become a cherished heirloom. These items aren't like plastic bags, people want to enjoy them for some time.
At The Leather Colour Doctor, we want to enhance your leather bag, ensuring you enjoy it for many years to come. We’ll provide you with the essentials of leather bag care, which will help you look after your prized possessions.
Developing these habits will make caring for your leather bag a simpler process.
Before handling leather goods, ensure your hands are clean, wiping with a damp cloth if necessary. Dirt, oils, and lotions can transfer from your hands to the leather, leading to stains or discolouration.
Store Makeup In A Separate Pouch: To prevent any accidental spills or leaks, always store cosmetics in a separate pouch inside your bag.
Avoid Getting Beauty Products On Your Bag: Lotions, perfumes, hair products, cleaning products, and other beauty products can damage leather. Always apply them well away from your bag and let them dry before handling your accessory.
General Protection: Avoid placing your bag on dirty surfaces or exposing it to direct sunlight for extended periods. This can cause the leather to fade or become discoloured.
Keep It Dry: While some moisture won't harm your bag, it's essential to keep it as dry as possible. If it gets wet, wipe it down with a soft dry cloth and let it air dry naturally.
Embrace Imperfections: Leather is a natural material, and over time, it will develop a patina, a soft sheen that forms on the surface due to age and use. This adds character to your bag, making it uniquely yours.
Maintain The Bag's Shape: To prevent your bag from losing its shape, avoid overstuffing it. When not in use, stuff it with bubble wrap or tissue paper to help it retain its form.
Even with a proper care routine in place, it is likely you’ll need to clean your leather bag.
Check out: How To Clean A Leather Purse
A good rule of thumb is to give your leather bag a basic wipe-down every week with a damp cloth or lint roller to remove dust and dirt. A more thorough cleaning, with items like a suede brush, can be done every three to six months, depending on usage.
Use Non-toxic Leather Cleaners: Chemicals can damage the leather surface, so always opt for non-toxic cleaners designed specifically for leather.
Your Dry Cleaner Is Your Friend: For a deep clean or to tackle tough stains, consider taking your bag to a professional dry cleaner experienced in leather care. For more serious issues, consult a leather repair shop to best care for your leather handbag.
Leather, while durable, can be susceptible to stains. Here's how to address common problems:
Remove Stains Immediately: The sooner you address a stain on leather handbags or bags, the easier it will be to remove. Blot, don't rub, with a cloth.
Grease Stains: Avoid using water. Instead, blot the stain with a clean dry cloth.
Ink Stains: Gently wipe the stain with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. Test on an inconspicuous area first.
Water: Blot away excess moisture or warm water immediately and let the bag air dry.
For peace of mind, apply a stain-resistant spray to your bag.
Discover: How To Remove Ink From Leather
Ideally, try to avoid scratches and sharp surfaces, but in some cases, scratches can add character. If you experience deep scratches and prefer a smoother look, gently rub the scratch with a leather conditioner, mild soap, or olive oil using circular motions.
Explore: How To Repair Cat Scratches On Leather
Leather is a natural material that can lose its natural oils and moisture over time. When this happens, leather can become dry, brittle, and more prone to cracks or damage. A leather conditioner replenishes these essential oils, ensuring the leather remains soft, flexible, and looking its best.
As a general rule, you should condition your leather bag every 3-6 months. However, this can vary based on the climate you live in and how often you use the bag. If you're in a particularly dry environment or use your bag daily, you might need to condition it more frequently.
If your leather bag starts to look or feel dry or loses its lustre, it's a sign that it might benefit from conditioning.
Always condition your leather bag after you've cleaned it, especially if you've used a leather cleaner. Cleaning can strip the leather of its natural oils, so it's essential to replenish them.
Before applying any conditioner, ensure your leather handbag is clean. Wipe off any dust or dirt with a cloth. If the bag is particularly dirty, consider using a leather cleaner.
Always test the conditioner on a small, inconspicuous area of the bag first. This ensures that the product doesn't adversely affect the leather or change its colour.
You don't need to use too much conditioner to achieve great results. Take a small amount of conditioner on a cotton swab or microfiber cloth and apply it in circular motions. Ensure you use the product sparingly to prevent the leather from becoming overly oily or greasy.
After applying, let the conditioner absorb into the leather purse or bag. This can take a few hours, so it's best to condition your bag when you know you won't need to use it immediately. Once the conditioner has fully absorbed, buff the leather with a damp cloth to bring out its shine. After conditioning, store your leather handbag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Before using your genuine or patent leather bag for the first time, consider applying a protective treatment:
Waterproofing: A waterproofing spray can protect your bag or leather purse from unexpected rain showers. Ensure it's suitable for leather and always test on a small area first.
Beware Of Wet Weather: Even with waterproofing, it's best to avoid using your leather bag in heavy rain.
Knowing how to store leather bags effectively makes a massive difference:
Keep Away From Radiators: Heat can dry out and crack leather goods, even quality leather travel bags. Store your bag away from direct heat sources.
Use A Dust Bag: When not in use, store your bag in the original dust bag to protect it from dust and scratches. If you no longer have the original dust bag, a white cotton pillowcase is a suitable replacement, as long as the entire bag or leather purse fits in.
The silica gel packets will help to keep the leather supple by absorbing moisture. If you don't have these, absorbent powders such as baking soda, baking powder, or cornstarch are alternatives that keep your leather supple and smelling good.
Maintain The Shape: As mentioned, stuffing your bag with bubble wrap or tissue paper can help it retain its shape when you store leather.
Long-Term Storage For Clean Leather Bags: If storing for an extended period, ensure the storage area is cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight.
Regularly inspect your bag for signs of wear and tear as part of your cleaning process. Addressing issues early on can prevent more significant problems down the line, or prevent you from disaster when you see an issue with a weekend bag as you're heading out of the door.
With regular care and attention, your smooth leather bag can remain a stylish and functional accessory for years to come. Embrace its unique character, and address issues promptly, and your bag will age gracefully, telling a story of all the places it's been.
Delve into: How To Clean Leather Bags
Being proactive is often half the battle in leather care, so having a cloth handy ensures you act swiftly and decisively. When you clean leather items quickly, it enhances your chances of preserving them.
When it comes to caring for real leather bags, including high-quality leather handbags, The Leather Colour Doctor has everything you need and more. We make sure you know everything you need to know about caring for leather bags, and we want to extend the lifespan of all your leather materials.
While you're here, take a look at our post "How To Tell If Leather Is Real" for more additional information.
