Before it goes away
- Empty every pocket. Pens leak, lipstick melts, receipts leave ink, and loose coins scratch the lining.
- Give it a quick wipe. A soft, dry microfibre cloth takes off dust, hand cream and perfume before they settle into the leather.
- Let it dry first. Caught in the rain? Stuff it with tissue and let it dry in the shade. Never a hair dryer, never the sun.
How to store it
- Stuff it, don’t squash it. Fill it loosely with acid-free tissue paper, or a small cushion in a cotton cover. Ordinary tissue and newspaper can yellow or mark the lining.
- Dust bag, never plastic. No dust bag? A clean cotton pillowcase works just as well. Plastic traps damp.
- Stand it up. Don’t hang it by the handles for months, and don’t stack bags on top of each other.
- Give it space. Bags pressed together can swap colour — a dark bag can stain a light one, and patent leather can stick.
- Wrap the metal. Tissue around chains and clasps stops scratches and dents. Keep zips closed.
- Out of the light. Away from windows, heaters and hot corners — sunlight fades one side first.
- Keep the damp out. Silica gel inside, a moisture absorber in the cupboard, and humidity around 40–50% if you can measure it.
Everyday habits
- Sanitiser, then wait. Give your hands about 30 seconds to dry before you pick up your bag. Alcohol strips the finish — and marks lambskin and untreated tan leather almost instantly.
- Perfume first, bag second. Spray, let it settle, then pick up the bag.
- Watch your jeans. Dark denim rubs its colour off onto light-coloured bags.
- Don’t overfill it. A stuffed bag stretches out of shape.
- Use it! Bags that sit untouched for months are the ones that crack, stick or grow mould.
Every few months
- A leather conditioner every 3–6 months keeps it soft — not olive oil or household creams, which darken leather and go rancid
- A professional clean, or a “bag spa”, once or twice a year is a good idea — especially after the rains, or before a bag goes away for a long time. Think of it like servicing a car.
Signs it needs more than home care:
- Corners and edges worn through
- Handles cracking or peeling
- Colour fading or patchy
- A sticky or peeling finish
- A broken zip, clasp or loose stitching
The pink Stella McCartney at the top came to us with its finish peeling away. With a little care, yours never has to. And if it ever does — you know where to find us.