Leather Care Guide

How to Care for Your Leather Gear

This may be obvious, but it rings true: The best way to keep your leather wallet in good condition is to take good care of it. A few standard rules of care:

  1. Avoid exposure to water
    Water can leave unwanted splotches and splashes on your leather—even a light rain can leave behind marks.
  2. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight and heat
    Prolonged exposure to sunlight or harsh temperatures can zap oils and dry out leather, causing cracking or stiffness.
  3. Limit exposure to other dyed goods, such as denim 
    Even after washing, darkly died denim can transfer color to your leather. Limit the time your leather spends in dark denim pockets—especially a damp dark denim pocket.
  4. Limit exposure to oils and lotions, such as sunscreen 
    We're not gonna ask you to wash your hands before handling your own wallet, but it is smart to limit exposure to greasy substances as much as possible. 
  5. Use proper leather care products only when needed 
    But which leather care products are "proper," you ask? Here's a quick breakdown: 

leather care

In general, these products are safe to use on leather:

  • Conditioners will soften stiff or dehydrated leather
  • Saddle soaps can clean soiled leather *looks at darkly dyed denim*
  • Waxes and silicone increase water resistance 

Here are some specific leather care products that come highly recommended:

Bickmore LP or Obenauf's LP for dry or scratched leather

Fiebing's Saddle Soap for dirty or stained leather

Saphir Super Invulner Spray to protect and waterproof

When you need to do the occasional wallet cleaning...

Usually it's enough to simply remove dirt with a soft cloth that's warm and damp using gentle strokes (no scrubbing). For stubborn stains, we recommend using a saddle soap with a toothbrush or other soft bristle brush.

Because most treatments affect the color and look of the leather, always test an inconspicuous area first. And instead of spot-treating, be ready to treat the entire surface of the leather. For the visual learners out there, we have a full tutorial in our FAQ. 

One Final Thought:

Let your leather serve as a reminder that wrinkles are earned, getting older can be beautiful, and good things take time.