Leather Bags are an expensive investment, aren’t they? We take extra precautionary measures in advance to keep our precious accessories in good shape. For example, we always keep our iPhones in protective covers (even though we have insurance). Then how can we be ignorant about our favorite leather bags?
Your leather bag does not need to be pampered like a baby; it requires minimum effort to keep it in good shape for years.
In the following sections, we are explaining simple tips that address your concerns related to your loving leather accessory
Leather bags either your handbag, purse, messenger, or weekend traveler's favorite duffle bags are known for their signature patina that develops over time on the leather surface. Treating your favorite leather bag with care is needed to keep it in top-notch condition for years to come.
In the following sections, we are explaining simple tips that address your concerns related to your loving leather accessory.
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Spare a Minute Daily to Care for Your Leather Bag
The first tip is to clean your leather bag daily. For daily cleaning, you are supposed to wipe out dirt using a mildly damped soft cloth, which will require just a minute or less. This one-minute investment of time is worth it when people admire your years-old leather bag as if it were a new one.
It is advised to thoroughly clean your leather bag at least once a month if using it regularly or twice a year if using it occasionally.
You can follow How to Clean Your Leather Bag to have a detailed insight into how to give a thorough cleanup of your leather bag using natural ingredients available at your home.
It is a good idea to remove items you are carrying all day from your bag after coming home. It will save your leather bag from reshaping permanently.
Avoid hanging your leather bag while not in use, it may cause wrinkles or stretch marks on the leather surface which does not look pleasant.
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Condition Your Leather Bag
Leather is a natural material and it is advised to keep your leather moisturized and conditioned. Just like your skin if you leave your leather dry for a long period without conditioning it properly, leather may be cracked or wrinkled.
You can use natural oils like olive oil or caster oil or commercially available dedicated leather conditioners for this purpose. The frequency of application of leather conditioner depends upon climate like humidity or temperature of the area you are using your leather bag.
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Promptly Address any Stain on the Leather
Do care to avoid your leather bag being stained but if you have got one, do not ignore it and use the appropriate removal regimen as early as possible before it gets permanent and requires more rigorous or professional cleaning which is not only expensive but also leather of your precious bag may not be revitalized to its natural beauty.
Be wise and always proactive when it comes to removing stains from your leather bag. When treating stains do not use aggressive chemicals like bleach, ammonia, or acetone based solvents. Instead, use rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or baking soda in minute amounts using a cotton swab to smear the stains and gently blot the cleaning agent.
Also, Visit the How to Remove stains from the leather bag blog and be ready to tackle any stain marks on your leather.
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Store your Leather Bag Properly
Storing your leather bag properly is strongly advised when you plan to not use it for a while. Storing your leather bag without giving due attention can damage the leather more than it is in use. You can follow below mentioned steps before keeping it in the cupboard for a while:
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Clean your leather bag thoroughly and let it completely dry in the air before storing it
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Stuff your bag with bubble wrap or tissue paper to maintain its shape, empty bags get wrinkles or cracks and get out of shape
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It is good to store your leather bag in the original dust bag. leather is a natural material, so let it breathe the air so it can not trap moisture that builds up fungus and ultimately ruins your precious leather bag.
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Never forget to wrap metallic hardware with clean tissue paper to preserve its shine.
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Store your bag in a clean and dry place, out of direct sun exposure. Using silica gel pouches in a storage bag is a great idea to beat the moisture built up.
Bonus Care Tips
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Always dry leather naturally after cleaning avoid using a hairdryer or exposing it to direct sunlight
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Take care of your leather bag during your saloon appointments, ammonia and alcohol in hair dyes and sprays cause stubborn stains that are difficult to remove
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If using the leather bag as your daily college or office carry-on bag, be careful to carry ballpoints with caps on and inside a case carrying your writing material.
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If a dust bag is not provided with your leather bag, you can use a white cotton pillow cover, muslin cloth, or even your old cotton T-shirt you wanted to scrap.
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Never try to wash your leather bag by soaking it in water, it will surely be a recipe for disaster for your bag.
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Never store your leather bag near a heat source like radiators.
Final Takeaways
Leather bags are made to last for many years, taking good care of your leather bag will surely preserve its elegance and integrity for decades and enable you to pass the legacy and the memories to the next generation.
Let your leather backpacks be part of the bedtime stories for your grandchildren or feel the mesmerizing first date accompanying your leather handbag. Treat your bag royally as an assist and you will earn invaluable memories with your leather accessory besides the amazing functionality guaranteed.
