Leather is a highly coveted material. High-quality leather boasts high durability, a vintage look, and a wonderful smell. So now that you have leather goods, how do you take care of them effectively? How do you enhance their longevity for years to come? Read on to find out.

Different Leather Treatments

If longevity is what you’re looking for after you finish shopping for leather, you should wipe it down with a damp cloth. Don’t use soap. The chemicals can ruin the leather. However, wiping it down without soap gets rid of dust and grime. It’s normally sufficient to do this every few days. Suede brushes are ideal for suede products since you don’t want to use water. You should avoid water on suede products because it’ll ruin them. This will cause you to get another suede item entirely, and who wants that?

Leather Care Principals

Generally, leather has to breathe. As such, you should store it somewhere with adequate airflow. This way, any moisture that gets in it will evaporate naturally. Don’t transport your leather product in a plastic grocery bag. Store it in the bag it came with or a breathable fabric. Don’t ever put it in direct sunlight either. If you feel tempted to do so, remember that it can shrink and dry out as a result. It’s better to let it dry naturally. When applying any polish or conditioner, test a small area to ensure it won’t ruin your leather. As stated above, you’ll want to clean the item regularly with a damp cloth as well. These are the best ways to take care of your leather effectively.

Leather Care by Category

You should wipe shoes down with a damp cloth weekly and condition them every one to six months. Polish them as needed. When you come across salt stains, wipe them with warm water and vinegar. Mix two parts water and one part vinegar—this should do the job. 

You shouldn’t fill leather bags to the point of bursting. If your bag becomes misshapen, it isn’t going to spring back like nylon. Unlike shoes, bags get less treatment because they aren’t subject to the same beating as shoes. As such, wipe them down regularly and condition them like leather shoes every six months to a year. Jackets are like shoes because we use them in a ton of climates. Condition them every three to five years. You can lengthen this time, but if your jacket starts to crack or dry up, it needs some serious attention.

In short, taking care of your leather isn’t difficult. You just need to learn the proper procedure. If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your leather in tip-top shape for years to come.