Care
Leather care: cleaning, conditioning and what to avoid
A leather bag needs about ten minutes of care twice a year. Here is the routine, the products to use, and the four things that ruin leather fast.
3 September 2026, 5 min read
The twice-a-year routine
Empty the bag. Wipe the outside with a dry, soft cotton cloth to remove dust. Apply a thin coat of neutral leather balm with a second cloth in small circles, wait 20 minutes, then buff with a clean cloth. The whole routine takes ten minutes per bag.
Do this in spring and autumn. Conditioning more often makes the leather greasy and attracts dust.
What to use
A neutral, colourless balm made for smooth leather. Test on the base of the bag first. Cognac shows a balm slightly darker for a day, Ebony does not change.
What to avoid
Four things damage leather faster than years of use.
- Water. If the bag gets wet, blot with a cloth and let it dry at room temperature, away from a radiator. Heat cracks leather.
- Alcohol and baby wipes. They strip the finish and leave a pale patch.
- Direct sun for weeks. It fades Cognac unevenly.
- Plastic bags for storage. Leather needs air. Use the cotton dust bag it came in.
Scratches and marks
Light scratches on Cognac disappear when rubbed with a finger, the heat and the oil from the skin blend them. Deeper marks soften with a drop of balm. Ebony hides scratches better but shows scuffs on the corners over time, which most owners consider part of the bag.