Aging Well: A Guide to Caring For Your Leather Product

1. Cleaning Basics: Don't Destroy Your Leather

A spill happens, what now? A common instinct is to reach out for the strongest cleaning product and clean it as soon as possible. However, this may do more damage than help. Harsh chemicals and strong alcohols can deteriorate the fiber structure of the leathers^[1], leading to it being less durable and causing discolored spots.

To make sure that your leather maintains its natural properties, ask yourself these questions before cleaning:

• Is it clean? Oil attracts dust, high humidity attracts mold. Is your leather in a spot where you would access it often, or is it kept in a damp and oily area — like the kitchen? The first step of maintenance is prevention. A simple step like keeping your leather on you — moving through varied rather than stagnant environments — can avoid future headaches.
• Is this cleaning product suitable? With the vast amounts of leather cleaners in the market, it is important to test out the fit of the product. Aside from the differing quality, different cleaning products are meant for different types of leather. Chrome-tanned leather has different properties from vegetable-tanned leather, after all. Start by testing out products in a small, non-visible spot. Let it dry. Only if it doesn't stain or damage the leather should you continue.

2. Cleaning Stains: Let Nature Do The Work

Now you know what not to do, let's dive into what you should do when stains happen. Vegetable tanning is a slow, curated process that leads to durable and resilient leather. This same process means that it is an organic material that grows with you. The patina of leather is affected by friction, moisture, sunlight, and more. However, not all elements may be equally desirable. A spill on leather by an acidic drink, like soda, may cause unevenness in color over time.

To clean stains properly, just refer to the three steps below:

1. Start with clean hands: Our hands naturally pick up oils, dust, and all sorts of residue over the day as we use them. To avoid adding on any unwanted elements, wash your hands with soap and water before starting.
2. Use a soft bristled brush: Besides our hands, these residues also come to rest on the surface of the leather as we carry it with us through all sorts of environments. To avoid rubbing these in, take a soft bristled brush — like an old toothbrush — and gently brush off the surface of the leather.
3. Spray water and wipe down: The leather is now ready. Spray on water to the leather. If stronger cleansing is required, a mixture of 1 part hand soap to 10 parts water should do well. Finish by wiping down with a cotton swab or microfiber cloth to restore the smooth original feel.

3. Maintaining Leather: Just Use It

Full-grain vegetable-tanned leather is naturally resilient. However, certain environments, like high humidity, can lead to deterioration and mold spots forming on leather. To prevent this, just carry your leather with you. This will expose it to a variety of environments, ensuring that it does not face prolonged stress and deterioration.

Do quick, regular cleanings: Whilst not strictly necessary, regular cleaning and application of leather conditioners like mink oil will help leather age gracefully. Cleaning and maintenance helps to get rid of accumulated dust, dirt, and oils and gives your leather a fresh start. This has to be balanced against over-cleaning, such as the excessive usage of leather cleaning products not suited for the leather type. Such over-cleaning might ironically hasten deterioration of leather as the leather is repeatedly stressed. Follow the light cleaning steps listed in the previous structure to best care for vegetable-tanned leather.

4. What To Expect From Your Leather: A Character That Grows With You

The evolution of a patina is the hallmark of genuine vegetable-tanned leather. Organic leather reacts organically to sunlight, oxidizing plant tannins in it. Over months, and even years of handling, usage characteristics like the rubbing of leather against your jeans and even minor scratches blend in naturally to show the evolving character unique to you and your journey.

Whether you carry our handcrafted Key Strap or display our Circle Leather Coasters, applying these simple care principles ensures your leather investments remain beautiful for a lifetime.