Leather bags are considered the most popular bag choice out there thanks to their stylishness, beauty, and functionality. The desire for leather bags is based on the durability, quality, and timelessness they embody.
Bags made with real leather come in an assortment of shapes, colors, and sizes that offer practicality as pieces of luggage or as everyday bags. And due to the price of real leather, leather fashion bags tend to be status symbols.
It’s best to keep in mind that leather bags need a lot of care for them to last longer and remain sleek looking as well as in-season. Hence, you’ll need to take care of its exterior and preserve the inside to avoid wearing and ruining them.
If you want to enjoy your leather bag for longer, consider using the tips and tricks discussed below that cover maintenance, day-to-day care, small repairs, and cleaning.
Avoid Overfilling Your Leather Bag To The Brim
No matter which type of leather is used, leather bags tend to be well made to last a while depending on the type of leather bag care.
As a reminder, you should avoid overfilling your bag especially if it’s a tote bag as it places undue pressure on most load-bearing parts. With excess pressure, your bag will begin to get out of shape by stretching and ruining its general aesthetics. And when it comes to leather bag care, this happens in most bags that are shaped for specific uses, such as bags meant for fewer items like a wallet.
Thus, when buying leather bags to hold many items, consider going for those large enough for all your needs. For instance, if you want to carry your laptop to work with your stationery, decide on getting a bigger laptop bag, not a smaller handbag.
Protect Your Bag By Conditioning
Once you’ve used a leather bag for a while, you might realize that it starts to appear lighter and dried out. And with the dryness comes cracking that may ruin your bag in the long run. As a result, you’ll need to condition your bags at least once a month to keep them in great shape.
To begin, pick a leather conditioner and place a small-sized amount onto a clean cloth. Then, rub the outside of your bag with the rag. When rubbing the conditioner, based on sites like Vonbaer.com recommend regular cleaning, use circular motions and let it sit for ten minutes to allow the moisture to be fully absorbed. If you find any leftover conditioner, wipe it off with a clean rag.
It might be important to consider that some conditioners might darken some bags. Henceforth, before using any oil-based conditioner, apply only a small amount to a discrete area and let it completely dry. Afterward, assess how it settles on the exterior. If you prefer a darker exterior, you can use the oil-based conditioner. Nonetheless, consider checking for alternative conditioners if you want a fresher look.
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Keep Your Bag Away From Sharp Objects
It’s hard to argue that leather bags tend to be flawlessly crafted and scratches tend to ruin the overall aesthetic. In other cases, tears damage the bag entirely.
So, to avoid getting scratches on your leather bag exterior, avoid carrying your bag when you’re dressed in heavily embellished clothes or jewelry. In addition, try to prevent your leather bag’s insides from coming into contact with sharp surfaces. When carrying sharp objects that might include knives, nail clippers, pins, or other similar items, ensure they’re in a different pouch to avoid ruining the bag’s interior.
Air Your Leather Bag
Leather can be delicate and you might need to uphold some leather bag care by maintaining ventilation during storage. Consider taking your bags out of storage for about one or two days monthly. This is because leather needs ventilation to prevent mildew and mold from growing.
But if you don’t have the time to air out your bag, consider removing it from the dust bags it came with and leave the storage doors open. Plus, as you air your bag, keep it away from direct sunlight and in a room with low humidity.
As part of basic leather bag care, avoid storing your bags in containers as they lead to moisture and mildew growth. And just for extra precaution, consider using silica gel to avoid damping in your leather bag.
Remove And Reduce Stains
With the use of leather bags comes stains that might ruin the aesthetic but can be taken care of. So, once stains occur, you must keep in mind to avoid them soaking for long periods into the material itself.
One type of stain that tends to be rampant is that caused by your bag rubbing against your jeans. As a result, avoid letting your bag rub against your pants to prevent color change. But if the color changes, consider having it cleaned immediately in a leather boutique right away.
Another stain that might ruin the aesthetic of your bag might be a grease stain. Luckily, you can easily avoid grease marks. You can do this by letting the oils and fragrances absorb your skin first prior to using your bag to avoid leaving oil stains on the bag’s handle.
Once your bag contracts a grease stain, consider sprinkling cornstarch on the stained area. Let the cornstarch sit on the stained area for at least eight hours as it absorbs grease without harming the leather. Afterward, clean grease the stain and dry it well with a cloth.
Nail remover is also great on ink stains that are on leather as they contain acetone. To proceed, use a cotton swab to wipe the ink-stained area until it disappears gently. Yet to avoid dealing with ink stains, consider taking steps to prevent contact with inks. These steps may involve storing ink items in separate pouches to reduce damage risk.
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Bottom Line
With leather bags being delicate, you’ll need to adhere to leather bag care during storage, handling, day-to-day use, and bag cleaning. The post above hopefully laid down a few helpful pieces of advice when it comes to taking care of leather bags of all kinds. As a golden rule, if major damage is present, don’t hesitate to reach out to a leather professional for expert help.
