Leather bags are a typical item in many people's closets. They come in so many various kinds and can be either simple and industrial looking or stylish and fashionable. You can keep your leather bags in good shape by taking care of their exteriors and preserving them while you store them, which will help you avoid wearing them out.
Here are 4 simple tips for your leather bags
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Conditioning and Protecting Your Leather
Rub conditioner into your bag once a month. Leather conditioner helps to stop your bag from cracking and drying. Place a quarter-sized drop of leather conditioner onto a clean cloth and rub it into the outside of your bag. Use leather conditioner about once a month to maintain the life of your bag.
Weatherproof your bag by adding beeswax or a spray protectant. Leather is not waterproof, and will absorb moisture like rain or humidity. This can cause the leather to mildew or mold. To protect your bag from the weather, rub a beeswax cream into the outside of your leather or use a leather spray protectant to add a barrier between your bag and the elements.
Detail your suede bag with a suede brush once a month. Suede brushes are made of steel bristles that are covered in nylon so that they are more gentle on your bag. They have a few different shapes and texture types to brush away dirt from the sides and seams of your bag. Use a suede brush on the outside of your suede bag to brush away dirt and grime about once a month or whenever it gets noticeably dirty.
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Extending the Life of Your Leather Bag
Rotate your bag out to avoid everyday use. Using something every day is going to wear it out faster, and leather bags are no exception. If you have been wearing your leather bag for a month straight, consider giving it a break and switching to another bag for a while. Or, try to only use your leather bag once a week instead of all the time.
Avoid rubbing your bag against your jeans to reduce stains. Leather bags with long straps can rub against your pants as you walk. If you wear jeans a lot, the color of the denim can transfer onto your leather bag. Try to avoid letting your bag rub against your pants as much as you can to prevent a color change.
Let water spills dry naturally without added heat. If you get any rain or water from a spill on your leather bag, don’t try to dry it with heat. Instead, wipe the majority of it off with a clean cloth and let the rest air dry.
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Removing Dirt and Stains
Brush your bag with a soft cloth every other day. If you use your leather bag a lot, it is probably collecting dust and dirt. Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe down the outside of your bag at least every other day to get rid of dirt, dust, and grime.
Wipe down your bag with leather cleaner if it’s really dirty. If you haven’t cleaned your leather bag for a few months, it may have built up dust and dirt that is noticeable. If you need to thoroughly clean your leather bag, dab a small amount of leather cleaner onto a clean cloth and wipe down the outside of your bag. Let the cleaner dry before you use your bag again.
Take care of any stains immediately after they happen. The longer you let things like grease and ink sit on your leather bag, the more chance they will have to soak into the material. Try to clean up any stains as soon as they happen before they have a chance to dry into your leather bag.
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Storing Your Leather Bag
Stuff your bag with a T-shirt to maintain its shape. Leather bags have the tendency to deflate and deform when they aren’t upright. To hold your bag’s shape, put an old cotton T-shirt on the inside of your bag so that it sits upright. If your bag is large, you may need to use 2 shirts.
- Never use newspaper to stuff your leather bag. The ink could transfer onto the lining and stain it.
- You can also use bubble wrap to stuff your leather bag.
Keep your leather bag in its dust bag. When you purchased your leather bag, it probably came with a dust bag, or a bag with a drawstring made out of cloth. This bag prevents dust buildup and scratches to your leather bag as it sits in storage. Make sure you put your leather bag into a dust bag before you store it.
Place silica packets with your bag to remove moisture. Silica packets have gel inside of them that absorbs moisture from the air. Place 2 to 3 silica packets in with your leather bag when you store it to prevent moisture buildup.
Air your bag out every 2 weeks to avoid mold and mildew. As moisture builds up, your leather bag could get moldy or mildewy. To prevent this, take your bag out of storage and let it air out for 1 hour every 2 weeks. This will also help prevent a damp or dank smell.
Avoid storing your bag in direct sunlight. The sun causes leather to fade and crack much faster than it usually would. Never store your leather bags in an area where they could be touched by the sun.
