CARE NOTES · 6 MIN READ
Keeping leather
lovely for longer
Simple, gentle ways to care for the bags that travel with you.
Leather can actually last for a very long time if you look after it properly.
I have seen many bags where the leather itself is still good, but because it was not cleaned or conditioned for years, it started to become dry, dull and sometimes even cracked.
The good thing is, you don't really need to do too much.
In fact, sometimes doing too much to leather can cause more problems than doing nothing at all.
Don't Wait Until the Leather Looks Dirty
A lot of people only think about cleaning their bag when they can already see dirt or stains on it.
By then, some of the dirt, hand oil and body lotion may already have built up on the leather.
This is especially common around the handles, corners and the areas that we touch all the time.
For normal cleaning, I normally prefer to start with just a soft clean cloth.
Wipe away the dust first.
If it needs more cleaning, then use a proper leather cleaner. Don't apply too much at one time and don't soak the leather.
I would normally put a small amount onto the cloth first rather than directly onto the bag.
This is important because not every leather reacts the same way.
Don't Rub Too Hard
This is one mistake I see quite often.
There is a mark on the bag, so the first reaction is to rub harder and harder hoping it will disappear.
Unfortunately, sometimes the colour disappears before the stain does.
Leather is not like cleaning a kitchen bench.
You need to be patient with it.
If a mark doesn't come off easily, stop and have another look before using something stronger.
Sometimes a small stain is much easier to restore than an area where the original leather colour has already been rubbed away.
Be Careful With Baby Wipes
I know baby wipes are very convenient.
You have them at home, they are wet, and they seem gentle.
But I generally don't recommend using normal baby wipes, alcohol wipes or household cleaning products on a good leather bag.
Some of them can affect the finish on the leather.
At first it may look fine.
Then later you notice that one area has become dull, sticky or slightly different in colour.
The same applies to hand sanitiser.
Be especially careful with sanitiser around handbag handles because alcohol and leather finishes are not always a good combination.
Leather Also Needs Conditioning
After some time, leather can start to lose some of its natural softness.
You might notice that it feels a little dry or stiff compared with before.
That's normally when I would think about conditioning it.
But don't think that more conditioner means better leather.
It doesn't.
Putting too much conditioner can sometimes make leather too dark, greasy or even change the feel of the surface.
Normally a thin, even application is enough.
Let it absorb properly and then gently buff the leather with a clean cloth if required.
I also don't really believe in saying every leather bag must be conditioned every three months or every six months.
It depends.
A bag you use every day in a hot climate is very different from a bag sitting inside a cupboard and only coming out three times a year.
Look at the leather.
Touch it.
If it still feels soft and healthy, there may be no reason to keep putting more products on it.
What Happens if Your Leather Bag Gets Wet?
Don't panic.
If it is just a little rain, normally the first thing I would do is gently blot away the water.
Don't aggressively rub it.
Then let the bag dry naturally.
One thing I definitely wouldn't do is put it in front of a heater or use a hair dryer because you want it to dry faster.
Too much heat can dry the leather very quickly and make it stiff.
If the whole bag has become quite wet, you can also put some clean tissue or soft material inside to help it keep its shape while drying.
Just don't overstuff it.
Sunlight Is Another Thing People Forget About
You might have a beautiful shelf where you display all your handbags.
It looks great.
But if strong sunlight comes through that window every afternoon, your bags may slowly start changing colour.
You may not even notice it at first.
Six months or a year later, one side may look slightly lighter than the other.
Leather, especially coloured leather, can fade from long-term sunlight.
Heat also dries it out.
So if you are storing a good bag for a long time, somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight is normally better.
Store Your Bags Properly
I think good storage is probably one of the simplest things you can do.
When you finish using a bag, don't just throw it into the wardrobe underneath another five bags.
Empty it first.
You will be surprised how many old receipts, tissues, pens and other things end up staying inside handbags for months.
Give the outside a quick wipe.
Then put some soft stuffing inside so the bag keeps its shape.
You don't need to stuff it until it becomes like a balloon.
Just enough to support the structure.
If you have the original dust bag, use it.
If you don't, a breathable fabric bag is also fine.
I don't like keeping leather bags sealed inside plastic bags for a long time.
Leather is better when there is some airflow.
Pay Attention to the Handles
The handles normally tell me a lot about how a bag has been used.
Even when the rest of the bag looks almost new, the handles can already look darker or feel different.
That's because our hands have natural oils.
Then add hand cream, sunscreen, sweat and whatever else we have touched during the day.
All of this slowly builds up.
So every now and then, look at the handles and give them some attention too.
If you have just put a lot of hand cream on, maybe give it a little time to absorb before carrying your favourite leather bag.
It sounds like a very small thing, but over a few years it does make a difference.
Don't Leave Small Damage Too Long
A small scratch is normally not a disaster.
Neither is a little wear on the corner.
But keep watching it.
If you start seeing the colour disappear, leather peeling, piping becoming exposed or the leather starting to crack, don't keep rubbing products into it hoping it will disappear.
Sometimes that is the point where proper restoration is better.
The earlier you repair damage, generally the easier it is.
Once leather itself has broken down badly, restoration becomes much more difficult.
And Most Importantly, Know What Leather You Have
Not all leather is the same.
This is probably where many DIY leather-cleaning problems start.
Someone watches a video where a cleaner works beautifully on one handbag and then uses exactly the same method on another bag.
But one could be pigmented calfskin and the other could be aniline leather.
Then you have lambskin, suede, nubuck, patent leather and many other finishes.
They all behave differently.
So before putting anything onto an expensive bag, find out what type of leather you are dealing with.
And when you're not sure, test first.
Always.
My Simple Rule With Leather
I normally keep leather care quite simple.
Keep it clean.
Don't let stains sit there for months.
Keep it away from too much heat and sunlight.
Store it properly.
Condition it when it actually needs conditioning.
And don't keep experimenting with different products just because somebody online says they work.
A good leather bag doesn't have to look completely new forever.
Actually, I don't think it should.
Leather develops character as you use it.
A little softness, a little patina and even some signs that the bag has been enjoyed are part of what makes leather beautiful.
The idea is not to stop your leather from ageing.
It is to help it age nicely.