How do you care for your leather wallet? We will also explain the necessary tools and how to deal with dirt and scratches.
Among leather products, small items such as wallets are used frequently and are often touched by hand, so they are prone to aging.
In order to keep them in good condition for a long time, it is essential to care for them in the right way and at the right frequency.
In this article, we will explain the tools you need to care for your leather wallet, the steps to follow, what to do if it is very dirty, and the ideal frequency of care.
Is it necessary to care for your leather wallet in the first place?
Leather wallets are items that require regular care.
Leather wallets are prone to aging due to the oils from your palms, so if you don't take care of them properly, it can accelerate their deterioration.
In addition, small parts of a leather wallet that are not often touched and places where the leather is bent can dry out little by little and crack.
Tools required for caring for leather wallets
Before maintaining your leather wallet, there are a few items you'll want to have ready.
Here, we'll look at them along with some tips on how to choose them.
Brush for leather
When preparing a brush, choose a brush for leather.
Among them, it is recommended to choose a horsehair brush, which has a soft texture and can remove dust and dirt without damaging the leather.
Also, when choosing a brush to clean your wallet, we recommend a mini-sized brush.
Mini-sized brushes are compact, easy to handle, and maneuverable, so you can easily clean small areas and areas where the leather is bent.
In addition, there are also boar hair brushes as items for advanced users.
Pig hair brushes have the characteristic of being easy to blend cream into the leather, so they are suitable when you want to create a strong gloss.
However, because pig hair brushes have a hard texture, they can cause scratches when used on soft leather such as cordovan, so horse hair brushes are more versatile and easy to use on any type of leather.
If you are having trouble choosing a brush, we recommend that you first choose a horsehair brush.
Leather cream
To care for your leather wallet, you will also need a leather cream.
Using oil will thoroughly moisturize the surface of the leather and provide a coating effect.
It also has the effect of softening the leather.
However, if you use oil to care for leather products, it may cause stains on the leather depending on the type of leather and oil.
Therefore, oil is not suitable for beginners when it comes to caring for leather products.
Cream for leather care is a moisturizing item that is easy to use even for beginners.
Cream has a good balance of oil and water, and penetrates the surface more slowly than oil, so it has the property of being less likely to cause stains.
In addition, when using cream for the first time, it is important to apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area first to check whether it causes discoloration or stains.
If the cream and leather do not get along well, discoloration and stains may be more noticeable.
Soft cloth or leather cloth
To care for your leather wallet, you will also need a soft cloth or leather cloth.
The cloth is used to wipe off dirt from the leather wallet with a dry cloth. Be sure to use a soft cloth to avoid damaging the leather.
Instead of a cloth specifically designed for caring for leather products, it is also recommended to use a fine-grained towel or an old white T-shirt.
How to care for your leather wallet
How should you care for a leather wallet?
From here, we will explain how to care for a leather wallet in four steps.
1. Remove dust by brushing and wiping dry
First, use a horsehair brush to remove any dust or dirt from the surface of the leather and the stitch holes.
Horsehair brushes have high hair density and moderate elasticity, so they can also be used for the first brushing.
If you continue to care for the leather when it is dusty or dirty, the dirt will become more noticeable in some areas, and you may not be able to care for it properly, which may lead to further deterioration, so be sure to remove it properly now.
If you do not have a brush, apply leather cleaner to a soft cloth and gently wipe the leather.
In addition, dust and dirt tend to accumulate in the gaps in the stitched areas and the gussets on both sides, so it is important to clean every corner thoroughly by brushing or wiping dry.
2. Apply leather cream
After removing any dust from the leather wallet, use a brush or cloth to spread the leather cream over the entire surface.
When applying the cream with a brush, it is recommended to use a boar bristle brush.
Also, since it is difficult to spread the cream with just a brush, it is important to use a cloth as well to spread it evenly over the entire surface.
For leather wallets, a pearl-sized amount of cream is sufficient.
First, apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area and blend it in quickly.
3. Blend the cream and wipe it dry
After applying the cream to the surface of the leather, blend it in with a boar bristle brush. It is important to spread it evenly over the entire wallet.
After blending it over the entire surface, finally wipe the entire leather wallet dry again to remove any cream remaining on the surface.
You can use a leather cloth, or even a scrap of a white T-shirt as a substitute.
If you use a horsehair brush or a boar hair brush at this point, you can give your leather wallet an even shinier look. In that case, brush it to your desired shine.
If you feel that the shine is not enough or that it is dry after you have finished cleaning, we recommend adding more cream to make it wetter and shinier.
Can leather wallets be cared for with hand cream?
When you search the internet for how to care for your leather wallet, you will find several articles that say you can care for leather with hand cream, which may make you wonder if it is really okay to use hand cream.
However, hand cream is only meant to moisturize human skin, and is not suitable for caring for leather products.
We recommend using special oils and creams to care for leather products.
In order to keep your favorite leather wallet in good condition for a long time, it is important to care for it with the right products and methods.
What should I do if it's badly stained?
Severe stains such as black spots on leather wallets can be easily removed by using a leather cleaner or cream.
After using a cloth to remove dust and dirt from the surface of the wallet, apply an appropriate amount of cleaner to the cloth and spread it evenly.
Once the cleaner has dried, apply leather cream to finish. If the cream is sticky, try wiping it dry with a cloth.
For more information about BONAVENTURA's leather cleaner, please see the page here.
The coin purse of a leather wallet is particularly prone to getting dirty.
Oxidized coins cause rust, which then stains the leather wallet.
You can remove dirt from your coin purse by first using tissue to remove some of the dirt, then wiping it thoroughly with a cloth soaked in leather delicate cream.
In addition, dirt that has been there for a long time may have soaked deep into the leather, so an eraser used to remove surface dirt may not be able to be used to remove it.
We recommend that you do not try to remove dirt that will not come off by force, but instead consult a leather maintenance specialist.
If you use a BONAVENTURA product, please contact us using the repair reception form here.
BONAVENTURA genuine leather products are treated with a water-repellent coating called nano-glass coating, which not only repels water but also makes the products less likely to get dirty.
BONAVENTURA offers a wide range of items that you can use safely every day, including leather wallets.
For more information about nano-glass coating on BONAVENTURA products, please see the page below.
How often should I care for my leather wallet?
It depends on how often you use it, but as a general rule of thumb, leather products should be maintained about once a month.
Also, if the leather starts to dry out and lose its oil content, this is also a sign that care is needed, so it's important to check the condition of the leather regularly.
However, applying too much cream can cause discoloration, color transfer, and mold.
It's also important to be careful not to over-care for the leather, as it can make it too soft.
BONAVENTURA's recommended leather wallets
If you are looking for a leather wallet that you can use for a long time, we recommend BONAVENTURA's leather wallets, which use high-quality genuine leather from a prestigious, long-established tanner with over 150 years of history.
Here, we will introduce three particularly recommended items from BONAVENTURA's leather wallets.
Small Wallet Series
BONAVENTURA's best-selling item, the Small Wallet, is a compact tri-fold wallet with a functional and well-designed design. Its large storage capacity makes it easy to forget it's a mini wallet. Choose from a wide range of colors and three types of leather.
Mini Zip Wallet Series
BONAVENTURA's Mini Zip Wallet Series is a fragment case type wallet that is perfect for the cashless era.
The lightweight and slim size makes it perfect for trendy mini bags. It has a gusset so you can store not only coins but also slightly thicker items such as keys.
Belted Series
The bicolor and belt design are the highlights of this Belted Series wallet.
This item is made with luxurious shrink leather, even on the inside, allowing you to enjoy the high-quality texture and beautiful coloring of the leather. Choose from a long wallet with plenty of storage space or a compact bi-fold wallet.
Maintain your leather wallet regularly to keep it in beautiful condition
You can keep your leather wallet in beautiful condition by using the tools introduced here and caring for it in the right way and frequency.
In order to use it for a long time in a beautiful condition, it is important to check the condition of the leather and take care of it regularly.
If you are looking for a leather wallet that you can use for a long time, we recommend BONAVENTURA leather wallets, which use high-quality genuine leather from a prestigious, long-established tanner with over 150 years of history.
Why not find your favorite item on the BONAVENTURA official website?
