Though your V.T. full grain leather product is built to take a lot of abuse, you will greatly extend its usable life by taking proper care of it, even pass it on to next generation. The good news is that it doesn’t require expert knowledge and expensive measures to maintain and care for your leather. Just follow a few simple tips when cleaning, conditioning, waterproofing and storing your leather bag and it will be doing just fine.
Knowing your leather is the first step. Full grain leather is a natural absorbent material due to its porous nature. It literally “breathes in” all kinds of substances that it comes in contact with, from good things like conditioning and hand oils to not so desirable things like sweat, dirt, grease and even scents. A healthily aged piece of full grain leather grows suppler, stronger and develops something we call a “patina”, which manifests itself as the rich, lustrous sheen that comes with time and normal wear. However if your leather is constantly exposed to bad environments, such as excessive sun exposure, heat, moisture, dry air and dirty conditions, the fibers will become weak and the leather can grow dull and crack. The worn-out look is not a sight to behold and should be distinguished from the weathered look of a well-maintained beautifully aged piece of leather.
Before we dive in, it is important to keep in mind that if you’re trying a new leather treatment to your bag, spot test it before applying it all over, as many leather treatments have a slight darkening effect, especially on light colored leather.
Leather Cleaning
Leather care starts with regular cleaning to prevent the surface of the leather from getting stained and clogged. The key is to get the stain out without drying out the leather too much. For everyday loose dirt, simply dust off with a soft brush or rag. To remove light stains and marks, all you need are some warm water (can use 1:10 diluted soapy water), soft cloth or towels (one slightly damp cloth for wipe cleaning and one dry cloth for drying the surface) and a leather conditioner of your choice.
First spray a small amount of soapy water onto a cloth and apply the damp cloth to the affected areas by gently rubbing in small circular motions until the stains are gone. Then use a clean, dry cloth to wipe off any soap residue or excess moisture and allow the leather to air dry completely. Be sure to follow with a leather moisturizer/conditioner to replenish the nourishing oils and protective waxes lost during the cleaning steps. You don’t need to apply much as the excess cannot be absorbed.
For a thorough cleaning or for those stubborn stains that won’t go away easily, it is necessary to use a professional leather cleaner instead of just soapy water and follow the above steps. You may also find our post on how to remove different kinds of stains helpful. It is highly recommended that you give your leather item a thorough cleaning once or twice a year.
Read Part II for more tips regarding conditioning, waterproofing and storing your leather bag.
