“Even stored in a wardrobe, leather will discolor from the fluorescent light it catches every time the door is opened.”
Keep in mind just how delicate leather is, and raise your beloved “child” with care.
Don't let your guard down when it's not in use: storage edition
To enjoy your favorite leather items in top condition whenever you like, it is essential not to let your guard down when putting them away. A little extra effort means they feel good every time you use them, and the character unique to leather deepens over time. The two big points of storage are giving the item proper basic care before putting it away, and guarding against loss of shape while it is stored. Remove dirt thoroughly, take measures against insects, moisture, and odor, and then store the item in a way that keeps its original, beautiful shape. That is all there is to it.
Step1. Brushing
Start by brushing off the dirt. Here a horsehair brush is used. Think of it as scraping out the dirt lodged in the pores of the leather, and clear out anything caught in the seams as well.
Step2. Spray cleaner
Spray on the cleaner, press a cloth against it, and then wipe it off. Removing dirt puts a strain on leather, so the key is not to scrub forcibly.
Step3. Cream cleaner
Next, use a cream cleaner to remove the dirt lifted by the spray cleaner. A tiny amount—so little that you can barely tell it is there when you touch the surface—is enough. Never apply too much.
Step4. Waterproofing spray
Finish with a waterproofing spray. Spraying straight onto the leather can leave blobs of liquid that turn into stains, so start spraying into empty air and then move across onto the leather. Much better!
Step5. Shake out the debris inside
The inside of a bag gets surprisingly dirty without your noticing. Turn it upside down and shake out the debris. Even a bag you use every day should be emptied now and then, so that dust and crumbs don't build up.
Step6. Deodorizing spray
A quick spritz of deodorizing spray at the end keeps unpleasant odors at bay. If the lining looks dirty, first wipe it with a cloth wrung out tightly in diluted neutral detergent, dabbing rather than rubbing.
Step7. Stuff the bag
Fill a non-woven bag with newspaper to make a stuffing of just the right size, and pack it inside. Avoid using bare newspaper, as the ink can transfer onto the leather. Adding a desiccant at the end is an effective way to prevent mold.
Step8. Hang it up to store
The best way to keep a bag's shape is to hang it. Avoid thin hooks and wire hangers, and choose something that matches the shape of the handles.
For leather garments, the hanger is the key
Garments spend long periods on a hanger, pulled down by gravity, so choosing the right hanger is the single most important point. Thin hangers that dig into the leather are out of the question, but the thing to watch most closely is the shoulder width. Store a garment on a hanger of the wrong size and the leather will deform to the hanger's shape. Check before you hang!
If an unwanted crease has set in, it can be fixed with an iron. Use a low to medium setting, and always iron over a cloth.
Leather deforms when it gets wet and dries too quickly, so never use steam! Test on an inconspicuous spot before doing the whole garment.
