Traveling with leather bags can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your journey. Leather bags are durable and stylish; you can use them for various purposes. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, a leather travel bag is an excellent choice.
To ensure that your leather bags remain in top condition, take good care of them. Leather can quickly degrade without proper care. Seeing some wear and tear on a beautiful bag may be distressing. Luckily, there are ways you can restore it and bring it back to its best shape.
Restoring Faded Leather Bags
Weekender from Von Baer
According to Albert from Vonbaer.com, one of the most important things to remember when restoring a faded leather bag is to start with a clean surface. Use a soft cloth or brush to remove any dirt, dust, or debris from the surface of the bag before you begin the restoration process.
While there are ways to restore your leather bag, it’ll be better to prevent fading from happening. Keeping your leather travel bags in their best shape retains the value of your investment. Rather than trying to bring them back to life, you should look into how to prevent any damage. To help you out, listed below are some care tips and maintenance for your leather travel bags:
- Remove Stains Immediately
You should never let a stain sit on your leather bags too long. The longer you wait, the harder it’ll be to remove the stains. When your leather bags get water drops, remove them immediately using a dry clean cloth. You can let the excess moisture dry naturally. Never use heat; it may cause your leather to crack and peel.
You may consider using chalk powder to remove the mark of intense stains, such as food or blood. You can sprinkle chalk powders on the spot and let it sit overnight. You can dust it off in the morning, leaving a clean surface.
- Rotate Your Bag
It’s ideal not to use your leather bags for everyday use unless you can handle the wear and tear. When traveling with leather bags, it’ll be better to rotate them. You can alternate your bags to give them a break. Switching bags is the best way to avoid wearing the material and keep them in their best shape.
Switching your bags can also make your trip more fashionable. You can pack at least one to three bags you can alternate during your trip.
- Practice Proper Storage
Since you’re rotating bags, you must store your leather bags properly to maintain their pristine condition. When keeping your leather bags, remove every item and let it air dry. Fill the entire bag with bubble wrap, a small pillow, or newspaper to maintain shape. If your bag has metallic or chrome finishes, you can wrap them with toilet paper for protection.
When storing your leather bags, keep them in a clean and dry place. You can place silica gel packets around the bag to remove excess moisture. You can put the bags in their original dust bag or inside a clean pillowcase.
- Keep Away From Denim
Denim is a staple piece. It matches everything and gives off the perfect casual vibe. Unfortunately, denim doesn’t go well with leather. While they look perfect together, their materials can damage each other.
When your leather bag rubs against your jeans, the denim’s color may transfer to the bag. If this happens, you must bring your bag to a leather boutique for immediate cleaning. To prevent this, you can either avoid wearing denim or use a handheld travel bag rather than one with a long strap.
- Do Not Overstuff
It’s tempting to bring as many items with you as you travel. However, overstuffing your leather bags can damage them. Overstuffing can stretch your bag, affecting the leather’s quality.
Additionally, you should avoid putting heavy items inside your leather bags. The excess weight can weigh down the bag and stretch the leather as well. When the leather stretches, bringing it back to shape can be difficult. It’s best to use extra travel bags to bring your needs.
- Avoid Beauty Items And Pens
You should keep your beauty items and pens away from your leather bag. Ink or makeup spills can damage your leather bags inside and out. Bringing the bag back to its shape may be impossible when spills happen. Even if your bag has a designated pocket, you should store them in a separate bag to protect your leather bags.
Moreover, you should keep your beauty items and pens away from the leather’s surface. Try to avoid applying makeup near your bag and keep your writing away from it as well. You can place your leather bag on a chair instead of a desk to avoid pens suddenly touching your bag.
- Use Clean Hands And Cloth
Ensure that your hands are clean when cleaning your leather bags. When dusting off or removing stains from your bag, wash your hands. You can also use a hand sanitizer to ensure your hands are clean and oil-free.
You should also use a clean cloth when wiping your bag. Since your leather bags are delicate, you should begin wiping with a dry cloth. You can gradually apply warm water or cleaner if the stain remains. You shouldn’t exert much force when cleaning your leather bags, as it can damage the surface. When dealing with stubborn stains, slowly increase intensity.
- Invest On A Leather Cleaner
Traveling may cause your leather bags to get dirty quickly. You must use a leather cleaner when you need to clean your leather bags while traveling. Since leather is intricate, you should only use leather cleaners when polishing your bag. DIY cleaners aren’t the best option as they may ruin the material.
When cleaning your bag, apply the leather cleaner in a soft circular motion. You can use a clean damp cloth to remove any excess.
Takeaway
You have many things to think of when you’re about to travel. Using leather travel bags for your trip can surely make you look fashionable. However, they’re not the easiest material to care for.
With the tips above, you should be able to keep your bags in their best shape. For starters, you need to keep your bags clean at all costs. Avoid exposing them to ink, makeup, and jeans. When cleaning your bags, use clean cloth and hands. You should also practice proper storage. These extra steps can guarantee a long lifespan for your leather bags.
