THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LEATHER CARE

If you own any leather products, you probably already know how lucky you are. Leather is gorgeous, supple, durable, and so much more. However, if you want to keep your leather belts, leather jackets, and furniture pieces looking their best, proper leather care is essential. In the next few sections, we’ll share some tips and suggestions to help you with leather cleaning, storage, and maintenance to ensure that your treasured pieces retain their luster and beauty.

DAY-TO-DAY LEATHER MAINTENANCE AND CARE

Leather is a durable material, but that doesn’t mean it is immune to scratching, stretching, or getting dirty. When using leather, it is important to take a few key steps to protect your items and prevent excess wear and tear. Doing so will help ensure that you’re able to enjoy your items for many years to come. Keep in mind that leather is a skin, and just like our skin there are things you should do to protect it. Here are some tips to help you learn how to care for a leather bag, leather jackets, and other leather items on a daily basis

• Try to keep leather goods away from direct sunlight or heat.
• Bring an umbrella if the forecast calls for heavy rain to avoid getting leather wet.
• Each week, use a soft bristled brush or soft cloth to remove dust or debris from your items.
• Do not overfill leather duffle bags, purses, or wallets. Doing so can cause the material to stretch and appear misshapen.
• Be careful to keep any sharp items, bulky jewelry, large buttons, or anything else that may scratch leather away from it.

CLEANING LEATHER

Keeping your leather clean is important. As mentioned above, regular dusting of leather is important. Beyond that, aim to deep clean leather about two times each year. Never wash leather in the washing machine. To give your leather a good cleaning, use a soft cloth with warm water. Squeeze out most of the excess water from the cloth, and use a circular motion to carefully clean the entire surface of the item and remove any dust or dirt. After your cleaning, allow the leather to dry naturally (away from heat or direct sunlight) for at least 10 to 12 hours. After cleaning, follow the steps below to condition your leather.

CONDITIONING LEATHER

Maintaining soft leather will require regular conditioning. When you’re thinking about how to care for leather, aim to condition your leather goods at least twice a year. However, if you live in a dry climate, whether the weather is hot or cold, you should condition leather more frequently (once you notice that the leather is not as soft or looks faded).