How to Maintain Leather Bags

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: July 14, 2020 References

Leather bags are a staple item in many people’s closets. They come in so many different varieties and can range from simple and industrial to fashionable and elegant. You can maintain your leather bags by taking care of the outside and preserving them when you store them to avoid wearing them out.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Conditioning and Protecting Your Leather

1
Rub conditioner into your bag once a month. Leather conditioner helps to stop your bag from cracking and drying. Place a quarter-sized drop of leather conditioner onto a clean cloth and rub it into the outside of your bag. Use leather conditioner about once a month to maintain the life of your bag.^{[1]
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- You can find leather conditioner at most home goods stores or leather boutiques.
2
Weatherproof your bag by adding beeswax or a spray protectant. Leather is not waterproof, and will absorb moisture like rain or humidity. This can cause the leather to mildew or mold. To protect your bag from the weather, rub a beeswax cream into the outside of your leather or use a leather spray protectant to add a barrier between your bag and the elements.^{[2]
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Warning: If you are using a beeswax cream, test it on a small corner of your bag to make sure it doesn’t alter the color before you put it on the entire thing.

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3
Detail your suede bag with a suede brush once a month. Suede brushes are made of steel bristles that are covered in nylon so that they are more gentle on your bag. They have a few different shapes and texture types to brush away dirt from the sides and seams of your bag. Use a suede brush on the outside of your suede bag to brush away dirt and grime about once a month or whenever it gets noticeably dirty.^{[3]
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- You can find suede brushes at most home goods stores and leather boutiques.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Extending the Life of Your Leather Bag

1
Rotate your bag out to avoid everyday use. Using something every day is going to wear it out faster, and leather bags are no exception. If you have been wearing your leather bag for a month straight, consider giving it a break and switching to another bag for a while. Or, try to only use your leather bag once a week instead of all the time.^{[4]
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- Having multiple leather bags can allow you to use a fashionable bag every day without wearing one out.
2
Avoid rubbing your bag against your jeans to reduce stains. Leather bags with long straps can rub against your pants as you walk. If you wear jeans a lot, the color of the denim can transfer onto your leather bag. Try to avoid letting your bag rub against your pants as much as you can to prevent a color change.^{[5]
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- If the color of your jeans does transfer onto your leather bag, take it into a leather boutique to have it cleaned right away.
3
Let water spills dry naturally without added heat. If you get any rain or water from a spill on your leather bag, don’t try to dry it with heat. Instead, wipe the majority of it off with a clean cloth and let the rest air dry.^{[6]
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- Heat damages leather and can cause it to crack and fade.
4
Avoid overstuffing your bag with heavy items. If you put too many large, bulky things into your bag, like textbooks or a laptop, it could stretch or warp the leather. Try to purchase a bag large enough for your needs and avoid overfilling it to make your bag last longer.^{[7]
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Tip: If you are taking your bag to school or work, consider using a satchel instead of a handbag.
5
Keep pens and beauty products in separate pouches to avoid damage. Ink pens, hair products, skin care products, and makeup can all stain the leather of your bag if they get onto it. Consider storing items like these in separate pouches, like a pencil bag or a makeup bag, so that there is no risk of damage.^{[8]
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- Keeping items like this in separate pouches can also help keep you more organized.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Removing Dirt and Stains

1
Brush your bag with a soft cloth every other day. If you use your leather bag a lot, it is probably collecting dust and dirt. Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe down the outside of your bag at least every other day to get rid of dirt, dust, and grime.^{[9]
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- You can also shake out the inside of your bag as you clean the outside to get rid of dirt and crumbs.
2
Wipe down your bag with leather cleaner if it’s really dirty. If you haven’t cleaned your leather bag for a few months, it may have built up dust and dirt that is noticeable. If you need to thoroughly clean your leather bag, dab a small amount of leather cleaner onto a clean cloth and wipe down the outside of your bag. Let the cleaner dry before you use your bag again.^{[10]
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- You can buy leather cleaner at most home goods stores.
- Depending on how often you use your bag, you may have to wipe it down with leather cleaner as often as once a month.
3
Take care of any stains immediately after they happen. The longer you let things like grease and ink sit on your leather bag, the more chance they will have to soak into the material. Try to clean up any stains as soon as they happen before they have a chance to dry into your leather bag.^{[11]
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4
Use cornstarch to remove grease stains. Sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch on the stained area. Let it sit on your bag for at least 8 hours. Gently wipe away the cornstarch with a clean, dry cloth to remove the grease stain.^{[12]
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- Cornstarch naturally absorbs grease and won’t harm your leather bag in the process.
5
Dab nail polish remover on ink stains to remove them. Dip a cotton swab into a bottle of nail polish remover. Gently swipe the cotton swab over the ink stained area. Repeat this until the cotton swab picks up all of the ink. Wait for your bag to dry before you use it again.^{[13]
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- If you don’t have any nail polish remover, you can also use cologne or perfume that contains acetone.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Storing Your Leather Bag

1
Stuff your bag with a T-shirt to maintain its shape. Leather bags have the tendency to deflate and deform when they aren’t upright. To hold your bag’s shape, put an old cotton T-shirt on the inside of your bag so that it sits upright. If your bag is large, you may need to use 2 shirts.^{[14]
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- Never use newspaper to stuff your leather bag. The ink could transfer onto the lining and stain it.
- You can also use bubble wrap to stuff your leather bag.
2
Keep your leather bag in its dust bag. When you purchased your leather bag, it probably came with a dust bag, or a bag with a drawstring made out of cloth. This bag prevents dust buildup and scratches to your leather bag as it sits in storage. Make sure you put your leather bag into a dust bag before you store it.^{[15]
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Tip: If you don’t have a dust bag, you can use a cotton pillow case instead.
3
Place silica packets with your bag to remove moisture. Silica packets have gel inside of them that absorbs moisture from the air. Place 2 to 3 silica packets in with your leather bag when you store it to prevent moisture buildup.^{[16]
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- You can find silica packets at most home goods stores or online.
4
Air your bag out every 2 weeks to avoid mold and mildew. As moisture builds up, your leather bag could get moldy or mildewy. To prevent this, take your bag out of storage and let it air out for 1 hour every 2 weeks. This will also help prevent a damp or dank smell.^{[17]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Stain Removal Specialist
Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
- If you do notice the presence of mold or mildew, take your bag out of storage and keep it in a cool, dry place until the mildew or mold is gone.
5
Avoid storing your bag in direct sunlight. The sun causes leather to fade and crack much faster than it usually would. Never store your leather bags in an area where they could be touched by the sun.^{[18]
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- Cool, dry places, like a closet with a dehumidifier, are the best places to store leather bags.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you clean a dirty leather bag?

Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Green Cleaning Expert

Expert Answer

The easiest way to spot clean leather is to mix warm water with a few drops of dish soap. Dip a microfiber cloth into your soapy water and rub the dirty area gently until the stain or dirt disappears. Wipe the excess water off and let your bag air dry.