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A leather bag is an investment in your future style, not just financially. If cared for properly, your leather bag can last a lifetime, even long enough to pass on to the next generation. If you practise these leather care tips, your bag will last for decades, developing a uniquely beautiful patina and increasing in value yearly.
With 50 years of experience in the leather industry as a family business, we've put together our best tips to help you care for your leather bag and enjoy the fruits of your labour as you navigate life.
But first, let's answer one of the most common questions we get asked at Greenwood Leather:
The highest-quality leathers can last 100+ years, while lower-quality or faux leathers tend to wear down in less than five (5) years.
Our leather handbags are made from full-grain leather, the outermost layer of the hide and the highest-quality leather in the world. When cared for properly,full-grain leather bags can last for decades—it's not uncommon for them to be passed down through 2-3 generations, totalling over 100 years. As it ages, it also develops a unique patina, a soft sheen that differentiates one bag from another.
The next best type of leather is top-grain leather, which is slightly less durable than full-grain and can last upwards of 10-20 years. Below that, longevity falls off fairly quickly, with genuine layer and bonded leather lasting anywhere from 5-10 years and 3-5 years, respectively.
Faux or vegan leathers, including materials like polyurethane or PVC, typically last 3-5 years with regular use. While they lack the durability and natural ageing qualities ofsuede leather or other genuine types, they can be more resistant to stains and easier to maintain in the short term.
With all that said, let's get into the tips!
How you care for andstore your leather bag will vary depending on the type of leather it is made from. For example, top-grain leather bags require regular use of a leather conditioner to maintain their quality. In contrast, vegan leathers cannot absorb conditioner, so doing so would waste time and money.
If you purchased the bag, check the manufacturer's instructions for proper care if it was gifted or passed down, and research to identify the leather type before starting any care routine.
If you own a Greenwood Leather product, rest assured that it's made of the highest quality, full-grain leather, which undergoes an extensive production process to ensure quality.
Whether it's your person or sitting in a closet, your leather bag will slowly accumulate debris like dust. While dust isn't necessarily damaging in the short term, it can build up along with oil and other grime on the surface, shortening the lifespan of your bag.
Dust your full-grain leather bag regularly with a soft, dry cloth. For other natural leathers, use a slightly damp cloth instead. This will prevent dirt particles from sinking into the porous leather.
We recommend storing it in a cool, dry place protected from excess heat, humidity, and direct sunlight whenever you're not using it. Even indoors, these environmental factors can accelerate the aging process, reducing the lifespan of your bag. It should be stored off the ground to avoid becoming home to tiny critters.
Accidents happen. From unexpected rainstorms and spilled drinks to makeup smears andsunscreen stains, your leather bag will inevitably find itself on the receiving end of a mess. As soon as time allows, cleaning the bag would help. Wipe it down with a soft cloth or paper towel to remove large spots of liquid or debris. Afterwards, use a damp cloth to remove any hard-to-remove spots before they become permanent stains.
Even if your bag is immune to accidents, we recommend cleaning the leather regularly. For full-grain leather bags, wipe them down with a damp cloth or paper towel. Do not use a multi-surface cleaner or any "leather cleaner", as this will strip the natural, protective oils from the surface. Commercially available leather cleaners will damage and discolour the bag, drastically shortening its lifespan.
Generally speaking, you can use a leather cleaner on other types of natural leather, such as top grain, genuine, or bonded. Just be sure to choose one that's alcohol and chemical-free, pH-balanced, and not excessively soapy – these will be least likely to destroy your leather. For very stubborn stains, you candry clean leatherbags but take them to a leather care expert who understands the specific needs of your bag.
As we've mentioned, full-grain leather bags don't require regular conditioning. If anything, you can use a gentle conditioner once per year. But if you properly take care of your full-grain leather bag, you'll unlikely need to condition it. The natural oil from your fingertips functions as a natural conditioner, meaning every time you touch it, you're conditioning it!
For other natural leathers, a conditioning frequency of every 3-6 months is usually sufficient to keep it in top shape. Though tedious, this process nourishes the leather, replenishes the natural oils, and prevents it from drying out and cracking.
Like the cleaning solution, there are good and bad leather conditioners. Top-grain leather bags require a conditioner free of waxes, silicones, and petroleum distillates. While your bag may look good for a day or two, the sheen will wear off, and your bag will be left with clogged pores.
A lighter, non-oily conditioner is sufficient for genuine and bonded leathers. It provides some conditioning benefits without damaging the material or greasing the bag.
With these care tips, you'll never need to repurchase another leather bag. And keep in mind that these tips apply to all kinds of leather goods, evenleather wallets andlaptop bags.
Store your leather bag in a cool, dry place, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, clean regularly with a damp cloth, and condition every 3-6 months.
Yes, oiling can help keep leather soft, maintain its suppleness, and prevent cracking. Still, it's often better to use a dedicated leather conditioner.
Yes, depending on the type of leather, conditioning leather handbags every 6-12 months helps to keep the leather hydrated, supple, and protected from wear and tear.
To avoid damaging the leather, use natural oils like mink oil or a high-quality conditioner specifically designed for leather goods.
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