Care · 4 min read
Caring for Your Leather Goods
Leather care has a reputation for fussiness it does not deserve. The whole routine fits in one short article, and the article is this one.
Twice a year, wipe the object with a dry cloth, apply a thin coat of neutral leather balm with your fingers, let it sit overnight, and buff off the excess in the morning. That is the entire programme. Total time: two minutes of work plus patience.
Water, scratches, sunlight
Caught in rain: let it dry slowly at room temperature, away from radiators, then condition it. Water spots on vegetable-tanned leather usually fade as the piece dries and wears.
Scratches: rub firmly with your thumb. The friction and oils re-burnish the fibres and most marks vanish. Sunlight: it darkens leather, evenly and attractively. Consider it free patina.
Condition when it looks thirsty. Otherwise, leave it alone and carry it hard.
What to avoid: silicone sprays, coloured polishes on natural leather, saddle soap more than rarely, and heat of any kind. If a product promises to waterproof leather forever, it is selling plastic.
