Our 3 tips for making your leather bag last longer

What better way to start wondering how to care for your leather bag than with the arrival of autumn and chilly days? Coming from the skin of an animal, this material, as natural as it is alive, still requires some knowledge to properly care for it. Whether it's a handbag, a satchel, a shoulder bag, or even a tote bag, it can easily become damaged if you don't take care of it. Indeed, leather moves, relaxes, softens, and if it's poorly maintained, it can even lose its shape or even its original color.

To prevent your leather accessories from losing their shine, we have already shared our tips for maintaining your Mapache . Today we reveal all our advice for making your leather bag last over time.

Before you think about caring for your leather bag, you should know that there are different types of leather . The products used for maintenance vary depending on the material you are dealing with. Available in many materials, leather can be grained, varnished, smooth, suede, etc. They all differ in their own characteristics (smell, texture, quality, etc.).

- Grained leather : as its name suggests, grained leather is a leather whose surface grain is visible. It is also recognizable by its touch and its natural finish. It is with this material that prints are made, in particular to create crocodile or snake effects.

- Smooth leather : there are different types of smooth leather (coarse grain, flat grain, matte, shiny). But, more generally, smooth leather is leather whose grain is on the upper part and whose thickness and quality have been preserved.

- Suede : It is known for its velvety appearance and is nothing more than a classic leather whose treatment has been done on the flesh side, in other words on the reverse side of the leather. This is the reason why it is also nicknamed "spindle leather".

Now that you know the difference between the different types of leather, let's get down to business with our tips to help you care for your bag!

1. Take care of it

Weren't you ever told as a child to take care of your belongings? For the leather bag, this much-heard phrase now takes on its full meaning! The first piece of advice we can give you is to store your bag when you are not using it. Storing it away from light , flat , in a fabric or cotton bag helps prevent it from getting damaged and potentially scratched. This material is the result of meticulous work and needs to be protected, from its production to its use. Protect it from heat and light to avoid any color change. Storing your bag in a dark room in your home will extend its lifespan. To prevent it from losing its shape or getting damaged, lay it flat and fill it with tissue paper or newspaper.

2. Wear it with care

The bag can add a real touch of elegance to your outfit. When carrying your bag, be careful of rubbing against abrasive surfaces to avoid scratches and tears, the worst enemies of leather. In case of rain, protect your bag from humidity because leather hates water. Also be careful about color transfer. Therefore, avoid combining dark-colored clothing if the leather of your bag is light-colored because they do not mix well and this action can be irreversible . In fact, your clothing can stain the leather or vice versa! Raw textiles that bleed, such as new clothing or dark-colored jeans, are often subject to color transfer .

3. Clean it

The secret to cleaning your leather bag is to use products specifically designed for this material. At Mapache, we've got you covered and we already have everything you need!

- Before carrying your bag, spray it with Eco Protect waterproofer from about 20 centimeters away to prevent possible water stains and to strengthen the leather.

- Throughout its use, nourish it . Well-hydrated leather protects the material and thus prevents it from drying out. Use our Delicate Cream or Fama Eco as well as a clean cloth then massage the leather using circular movements . Once the product is impregnated, polish the bag with a soft cloth.

- On a daily basis, cleaning your bag is important to ensure it doesn't lose its original appearance. Dusting it with a soft brush after each use and rubbing the lining with a sponge and a little water helps to keep it clean and shiny. Our Eco Clean foam helps remove potential stains and revive the original color.

To maintain your leather bag, there are no miracles, the only remedy is regularity! We are convinced that with regular and delicate maintenance as well as the application of all our advice, your Paco champagne , your Emilio Camel , or your Pablo black , will not lose their shine ✨