“Age equals beauty and the more you carry your bag the more beautiful it will become over time,” Ray says. It starts with a scratch, maybe an unsightly wrinkle, or even a small stain—we’ve all been there.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure – We advise you to always follow the proper care instructions for cleaning, drying, and storing your leather bag. It’s better to prevent mold from occurring than having to remove it, as it could damage your leather. After determining which areas on your leather bag have mold, you should use a horsehair brush or any type of soft brush to wipe away mold spores. Use a light hand to clean the surface of your leather bag and don’t apply too much pressure on the surface. Once you spot any mold or mildew spots, you should treat them right away to ensure that your leather bag doesn’t get permanently damaged. Moreover, when ignored, your leather bag can develop a musty and unpleasant odor that is difficult to get rid of. Check out our guide on removing odor from leather bags for more information.

While it is not essential to polish leather, it adds to the aesthetics and offers a mild layer of protection. Applying polish to leather is a matter of personal preference. Wipe the surface in a gentle circular motion, allowing the leather to absorb the cleaner. Regular soap will be very drying and a saddle soap has a high oil and fat content.

It’s available in vegetable tanned harness leather, latigo, and english bridle leather. Leather goods have existed, in one form or another, for thousands of years.

The natural wax used in the cream offers a glossy shine and adds conditioning agents to the leather. The wide variety of colors available for shoes presents a challenge in finding the right shade of polish. However, these are inorganic products that will prevent the leather from breathing. Opt instead for a beeswax coating which acts as a barrier against water. The solution is odorless and non-greasy, with no chemical solvents. With a high level of conditioning oil, neatsfoot oil can present a case of too much oil in one single application. A milder application would be beneficial for most leather hides.

Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag

Read more about leather crossbody bag here.

Be Sure to Zip or Fasten the Handbag and Overlap Handles on Top of It

When designing leather handbags, brands also create an image. Leave it on the ink stains overnight and watch the stain fade away. Wipe off with a cloth damped with water and rub a leather conditioner later on. Following the above-mentioned steps will remove any form of mold or mildew from your leather bag. But we also wanted to share some important tips and best practices that you can apply when following our proven process.

Bandolier Tote Bag

But often the best results are achieved by using a specialist cleaner to remove odors, then a separate leather cream to condition the item. Sofa smells like dog, or if the item is any other leather furniture that is too big to wrap. Baking soda is well known for its odor absorbing qualities and doesn’t cause any harm to leather. Throw a light coat of baking soda over it as well as inside any cavities and leave the container sealed with the item and powder inside for 24 hours.

If your bag is nylon, you’ll clean it differently than leather. “Gently hand-wash nylon with mild soap, rinse with water, press almost dry with a large clean towel, and air dry for a couple of hours,” Chen Wu says. Chen Wu recommends only cleaning your handbag when it needs a refresh to avoid wearing it out more quickly. You can clean the exterior of your leather bag using a dedicated leather cleaner.

While it’s true that leather is extremely durable material, it will succumb to excessive use and abuse, especially if you don’t show extra love to it. Our high sustainability standards reduce our impact on the planet, better the lives of apparel workers and make it easy for you to look good with a clean conscience.