Leather is a classic addition to any wardrobe. Whether you’re a fan of leather totes, mens satchels, or leather keychains, it’s one element that never goes out of style. However, it’s important that you know how to handle it properly to keep it looking fresh and new.
Start With Clean Hands
It’s inevitable that some oils from our hands are going to transfer to your leather tote, but washing your hands before ensures that you don’t transfer excess. This will keep your leather looking nice and fresh.
Apply a Cleaner Made Specially for Leather
Believe it or not, leather cleaner is an important part of the care process. Using soap and water may cause damage to your bag, as water can warp leather and damage it. Leather cleaner isn’t terribly expensive, and is essential for keeping your bags looking nice.
Moisturize Your Bag
In order to keep your bag supple and flexible, it’s important that you use a leather conditioner. These products can keep you leather looking like you just walked out of the store with it for years after the fact.
Remove Stains Promptly
The worst thing you can possibly do to your leather is let a stain sit on it. As soon as you notice a stain, remove it to avoid any permanent damage to your bag.
Stuff Your Unused Bags
Whether you’ve got a leather tote bag or a leather wallet, if you’re not using it you should stuff it with bubble wrap and store it in a cool, dry place. The bubble wrap will help the bag keep its shape, while the dry conditions will keep it from getting any water damage.
Keep Cosmetics in a Pouch
Many people simply keep cosmetics in their bags, but if any of your products have the potential to leak, it’s important you keep them in a separate pouch to ensure they don’t damage your leather.
In short, you should be engaging in positive habits with all of your leather totes. Keep it away from water, dirt, and spills, and you should be all set to have that bag for a lifetime. See this reference for more.