As we fall in the middle of fall, those of us who live in the northern hemisphere are starting to feel the cold. The wind blows a little cooler, and the days are shorter. During this time of slowing down, you are probably putting away your summer goods and starting to pull out your winter goods. Whether it’s a set of gloves or strappy sandals, here are 5 things you should be doing for your leather to help keep it safe over the winter
1. Clean your Leather
Whether you’re pulling a leather good out of storage or putting one in, the first thing you should do is clean it. Using a damp cloth, wipe down your leather. paying special attention to the seams and inside corners. If you need to, you can use a saddle soap or a diluted mixture of warm watter, vinegar, and gentle soap (like Dawn). Be careful not to oversaturate your leather. It should never be soaked. When it’s clean, set it out to dry away from direct sunlight and direct heat. The leather you are putting into storage will probably need a more thorough cleaning than what you are pulling up. This is a great time to thoroughly check your leather, note any damage, stresses, or stains. For the items you are pulling out of storage, look for animal signs, dry mold or mildew, as well as any hard creases, which may indicate a weak point.
2. Condition your leather
Once your leather has dried completely, you need to condition it to replenish any oils it may have lost in cleaning. Using a clean, dry cloth, apply conditioner to the entire piece, paying special attention to the corners, seams, and straps. Apply a thin, even coat and let it sit for 5-10minutes to let it soak in a bit. Finally, take another clean, dry cloth or a horsehair brush and buff it out. This will help protect the leather goods you plan on putting into storage from drying out and mold, and mildew. For the items you are pulling out of storage, this helps replenish the oils in your leather, helping it to be flexible and preventing cracks and premature wear.
3. Repair any items that need repairing
Now is a perfect time to repair any damage you noticed earlier. There are few things that are worse than pulling out an item from storage only to find that you forgot it was broken or damaged. Most professionals who can repair leather tend to have a backlog or waitlist. If you get your item repaired now, you will be able to start using it immediately when you pull it out next year and “beat the rush”. Wearing or using a leather item that is damaged or broken can put undue stress on parts that have not been built to withstand it. Meaning there is a higher risk of it being further damaged.
4. Store or hang your Leather goods
Storing your leather properly can go a long way to keeping it in good condition. Always try and store your goods away from direct sunlight, as leather is UV reactive and will darken or patina if exposed to the sun for long periods. Hang your jacket on a padded hanger to avoid stretching them in the shoulders, put bags and purses on shelves or in boxes, and don’t hang them by their handles to avoid stretching them. Keep shoes up away from standing watter that may come from melting snow. For tall boots, put forms or pool noodles in them to keep them upright. For leather you are putting away, never store your leather in plastic bags; use pattern-free dust bags instead. If you don’t have dust bags, old pillow cases work great! If you are storing these in a basement or storage unit, consider putting aromatic cedar blocks or other pest deterents with them to keep small animals and bugs away from them.
5. Stock up on your Leather care products
Winter is the time of snow, salt, and inevitable dampness. These are all enemies of leather. stock up on your leather goods now so that when Winter hits, you aren’t opening a jar of conditioner only to find that it is already empty. When you get home from a long, cold day and your leather has been soaked in snow and ice, the last thing you want to do is put it back on to go to the store and get some saddle soap or conditioner. If you want your leather to remain in good condition, it is important that you regularly clean and condition it, especially when it is exposed to the harsh conditions of winter. Whether you buy your leather care products or make your own, stock up now so you have it when you need it later.
Whether you are putting your leather goods away or bringing them out for the season, doing these 5 steps now will set you and your leather up for success. Winter is hard on your leather goods, between the snow and the salt, your leather will typically need more care than it did in the summer, and for the items you are putting away, they can dry out, get deformed, or stretched if not properly stored. Keep your leather looking amazing for as long as possible by doing these 5 steps! If you are looking for a leather conditioner, I make one which you can find here: