The Ultimate Leather Care Guide

Leather is a luxurious and durable material that, with proper care, can last a lifetime. This leather care guide will provide you with essential tips for keeping your leather bags, handbags, wallets, cardholders and other leather goods looking their best. The longevity of your leather goods is part of our brand ethos to #BuyLessBuyBetter

Everyday Care Tips for your Leather Goods

Leather is a durable material but that doesn't mean that it is resistant to scratching, stretching, or getting dirty. Leather is like our skin, it needs love and protection to keep it glowing and beautiful. Here are some tips:

#1: Keep it away from natural elements

• Don't leave or store your leather products in direct sun or heat - this can cause colour to fade.
  
• Don't leave it near artificial sources of heat (heaters, radiators, etc.) which can cause leather to dry and crack
• Avoid getting leather wet. 

What happens if it does get wet?

• Gently blot (not rub!) off the water, and allow it to air dry.
• Do not use a heating source to speed up the drying. 
• Stuff the interior of a bag with newspaper to help retain the shape and absorb moisture from the interior.

#2: Don't overstuff your leather goods

Leather is a skin, it can stretch. 

• Don't overstuff or overfill your bags, wallets, or cardholders to maintain its original silhouette 

#3: Keep it away from sharp objects

• Take care to avoid contact with heavily embellished clothes, sharp object, chunky jewelry when you are out and about.
• If you leave your wallet or cardholders in your bag, make sure that it is not in contact with any sharp objects or get pressed by or on any heavy objects.

#4: Store it properly

• Store it in a place/space away from heart, humidity, sunlight or dust.
• Store it in breathable fabric like a dust bag, not plastic. It also prevents scratches.
• Air your leather goods every few weeks to prevent mould growth.
• Remove straps from your bags and store them in the bag to prevent the exterior from being pressed on and warping over time. 
• Stuff your bags to prevent it from loosing its shape. 

How to maintain my leather good so that it lasts

Leather is loved for its timeless beauty - some enjoy the natural patina of good quality leather like full grain leather. Changes in colour, shine, texture are all subtle signs of a life well-loved and lived. As leather is a malleable material, regular maintenance can help increase the longevity and durability, and improve the appearance of your leather goods.

Aged Full Grain Leather Card Holder - Day 1 vs Day 1000 Patina

Here are some Dos and Don't:

Dos

• Dust your leather goods regularly.
• Condition your leather goods with a good leather conditioner at least twice a year (more if you live in a dry climate) to help leather remain more durable and water-resistant. 

Don'ts

• Never wash leather in the washing machine (that's blasphemy!)
• Don't leave it wet - make sure to wipe off excess water, and leave the rest to air dry.

Why you should condition your leather goods

You should condition your leather goods for a few reasons:

Leather Conditioner - 100% Mink Oil

#1: Looks better and minimises the appearance of scratches

Just like your skin, leather needs a good dose of moisturising and conditioning to keep it soft and supple. It prevents cracks and helps minimise the appearance of light scratches (deep scratches might be difficult to remove - think of scarring, not all scars can be removed over time). 

#2: Adds protection against staining

If your leather product has a spot or scuff, it should be addressed quickly before it turns into a permanent stain. Keeping your leather conditioned can help keep it protected.

#3: Makes it more water-resistant and helps prevent mould

Leather is not waterproofed but it can be made more water-resistant with regular conditioning. In hot and humid climates, leather conditioning can also help prevent mould. 

How to condition your leather goods

We got you, follow these steps:

#1: Gently remove ant dust or dirt

Use a brush if you can, otherwise, a microfibre cleaning cloth works as well. Debris may cause scratches.

#2: Apply leather conditioner

A little goes a long way, don't overuse it as it may clog the pores of your leather (yes, it's exactly like human skin!). Dab some leather conditioner (we use 100% mink oil) a and gently polish it over your leather goods with a microfibre cleaning cloth. Be sure to get it all over the product to maintain a consistent colour and outlook.

#3: Allow it to air dry for 10 to 12 hours or overnight

Just like how your skin needs time to absorb your moisturisers, give your leather time to absorb the mink oil and dry. Never use the sun, heat or a hair dryer to speed up the drying process as it may cause the leather to warp or discolour.

Note: Mink oil may darken leather overtime but this is part and parcel of the process!

Leather Passport Wallet - Before vs After Leather Conditioner

FAQs

Why is there mould or mildew on my leather goods? Does this mean the leather is bad quality? Does it mean the leather can no longer be salvaged? How can I prevent it?

It's perfectly normal to have mould on leather, especially if you live in a hot and humid climate like we do in Singapore! It has nothing to do with the quality of leather. The great thing is, you can prevent it by conditioning your leather on a regular basis. And if you forget and mould still grows, you can remove it easily with a microfibre cloth and condition it with a leather conditioner.

Will the light scratches on my leather good go away? How do I remove light scratches on my leather good?

Just like our skin, leather can heal over time with some love and patience. Keep it soft, supple and well protected. Regular use will help the the light scratches as our hands and body contains natural oils or sebum that nourish the leather. You can help it to speed up the healing process by regular leather conditioning once every few months. Do not the the 'recovery' process varies depending on the type and leather quality and also the intensity of usage. Generally full grain and top grain leather will heal like our skin, while genuine or split leather may not heal as well as scratch cause the pigments to come off, which cannot be covered up. This is why we only use full grain leather at Gnome & Bow, a testament to our buy less, buy better belief.

How do I remove deep scratches on my leather good?

Light/faint scratches can be removed with some polishing and over time but deep scratches can be a lot trickier, much like a deep wound or scar to our skin.

First, clean the area with a damp cloth and allow the surface to dry. 

Next, assess the scratch. If the colour is scratched, but the surface remains intact, you can buff the scratch with a dry cloth. Then slowly apply thin layers of a matching colour balm. 

Some really deep scratches are like scars, and may require fillers. We would recommend consulting a professional leather cleaning company to help.

What is the best thing to condition leather?

If you want to maintain the soft supple quality of leather, we recommend using a leather conditioner made of 100% natural mink oil.

What is mink oil and how does it condition leather?

Mink oil is a natural oil extracted from mink fat, and is a popular leather conditioner used to rehydrate, condition and protect leather goods. It has palmitoleic acid within its chemical make up, very similar to the human sebum. In this way, it helps coat, moisturise, condition, and protect leather, especially full-grain leather.

But not all mink oil is created equally. It is important to examine the ingredients of mink oil, many commercial mink oil contains silicon, lanoline and neatsfoot oil. This is because pure mink oil is an expensive product. We use 100% natural mink oil, no other ingredients.

What are the caveats of using mink oil on leather?

1. Mink oil may darken your leather and this might not be suited for everyone's tastes.
2. As of any animal by-product, like leather, it is not well-received by the vegan community. It is a controversial and well-debated topic that is a conversation for another day - but if you are buying leather, then this is possibly the least of your concerns for now.
3. It is not suitable for some leathers like nubuck or suede. 

 

Got more questions? Leave us a comment below.