HANDCRAFTED CUSTOM LEATHERGOODS • MADE FOR YOU IN LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND • SINCE 1966

Dos and Don'ts

Dust and Dirt

The simplest and most effective way to remove any dust or dirt from your bag is to use a dilute solution of warm soapy water and a soft clean cloth. Mild liquid hand soap is ideal, but please avoid any stronger detergents as these could affect the leather or pigment. A gentle rubbing action using a circular motion is best, avoiding any hard rubbing as this may damage the pigment causing it to fade or crack. A once a week cleaning regime using this method is an excellent idea. There are many leather cleaning products on the market and we would recommend that you test any you use on an unseen area and wait for at least 24 hours, to ensure that there are no adverse effects, before using on visible parts of the bag.

Don’t get your bag wet. If your leather bag does get wet, please wipe off all of the excess water as soon as possible with a soft dry cloth and then allow the bag to dry naturally. Don't force dry the leather with a hair drier or by leaving it on a radiator as this may well damage the leather and pigment.

If bad weather is a regular experience for your bag, then we would recommend that you use a waterproofing product to give some extra protection to the leather. Again testing this on an unseen area and waiting for 24 hours to ensure that there are no problems is advised. Beeswax is also an excellent product to help to repel water.

Extreme Temperatures

Extremely hot or cold temperatures are really bad for leather bags, so try to avoid this whenever possible. Freezing temperatures can cause issues with the fibers in the leather making them prone to cracking, whereas excess heat can cause issues with the pigments in the leather. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may also cause the bag to fade in color over time.

Removing Ink Marks

The best solution is to take your bags to see a professional leather restorer as soon as possible, particularly with older ink stains (don’t try to remove these yourself). The real key is to remove the marks straight away so that they don’t have time to fix in the pigment. Special ink removers are available and you should follow all instructions carefully. Always condition the bag after treatment and make sure it is left to dry thoroughly.

Storage

It is vital to store your leather bag properly, and it must always be kept in a clean and dry place, preferably in the dust bag that we supply with each bag. The dust bag allows the leather to breathe whilst also protecting it from dust and scratches. A cotton pillowcase is an excellent alternative if you don’t have a dust bag. It’s also a good idea to add some packets of silica gel to help keep moisture away from the bag. Never store a leather bag in a sealed plastic bag as the will lead to the development of mildew and rot.
If you are going to store your leather bag for a long period of time, it is important to pack the inside with old newspapers or similar. This allows the bag to maintain its shape. Be careful not to over-pack the bag - leather stretches, but will not shrink back to its original shape.

BACK TO TOP