Care of Leather Goods, Part 10

by Steven Ferry

General Care of Leather, Part 2

After each use, wipe leather products with a cloth dampened with water (soap often contains chemicals that degrade leather) to remove abrasive particles such as dust that are a leading cause of wear and tear.

While shoes can be returned to their proper shape by the use of shoe trees, the same cannot be said of other leather products, such as bags and jackets. So for clothing, hang the item after wearing and let it fall naturally by doing up any zippers or buttons. For bags, wallets, etc., when in use, do not overstuff them in a way that stretches them and loses their natural shape. One could try stuffing bags with newspaper or cloth to emulate the same function as a shoe tree in the hope that the leather may regain its normal shape.

As well as storing leather in cloth bags, away from heat, humidity, sunlight, and dust, air them occasionally to prevent the growth of mold. Similarly, do not leave leather in direct sunlight, otherwise the color will fade and, as the leather dries, it will crack.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.