With every mark or scratch on your leather bag there holds a memory or story that is close to your heart. With some parts darker than the other, it shows how long this very leather accessory has been with you. Yes, I am talking about leather patina (aged leather). Although many companies have tried to manually replicate leather patina, we know that it will never be equitable to one that has aged with time. But here is the thing, leather can’t be let to age on its own! You can’t be dealing with cracks and peels, can you? Here are some tips for you to care for your leather the right way!
1) Stay away from water
Leather should not be let to be exposed to water at any cost! It is highly absorbent like any other fabric that you use. Soiled fibres will eventually lead to peeling. So here is what you should do! Get yourself a water proof spray to keep your bag protected. If you can’t find one opt for traditional Vaseline and polishes. Side tip, test it out before you apply it all over just to make sure that it doesn’t affect the colour.
2) Cleaning the leather
Leather accessories are something that you had invested in and so it is very likely that you will keep it longer. So if you have the trouble of stains, use a saddle soap or leather cleaning agents. If you can’t get hold of one, use a mild facial cleanser and dilute it with water to wipe your stains off!
3) Drying your leather
Once you are done with your damp wipes, dry your bags in normal daylight indoors. Here is the tricky part! Do not dry it directly under sunlight. Neither do you dry it with high heat like a blow dryer. Let it air dry. High heat may cause your leather to accelerate its ageing process and cause it to have uneven shrivels. It may take a couple of days to dry, but trust me. It will be worth it.
4) Conditioning the leather
Tired of your cracks and peels? Here is a way to keep your leather bags as good as new! Leather bags have to be conditioned regularly! I would say depending on the texture of your bag, monthly or once in 3 months. You could use natural leather oils or balms to do this. But if you don’t have one in hand, opt for a light weight almond oil mixed with some beeswax.
5) Ageing the leather
Ageing the leather takes time. It may take years for you to achieve a fully aged patina. But if you want your leather accessories to age slowly you need to make sure that you have proper storage. Always keep your leather in a cool area and not under direct sunlight so that it will not become blotchy! If you condition them well and store them properly, you will have a beautifully aged patina that no one else could have!
What are some ways that you care for your leather? Share with me in the comments below!