You know what trouble you have when it rains or snows when you have good leather luggage. You have to get into car parks without your footwear being fully drenched, and you swore that just ten percent of the rain was scheduled to be that day. And once you get home, you have to evaluate the damage to determine how wet it is and whether you have to shine it again before wear it next time. Fortunately, shoes are durable, and shoe polish hides a host of faults, but when it comes to leather bags water can cause a lot of damage, that’s why you need to know how to waterproof your leather bag.
You could have questioned yourself how important is leather care if you have high-quality leather luggage. Must you polish it? Must you make it washable? The answer varies, of course, on where and how you live. When you reside in a very arid region of the planet, your major objective must be to make the leather dry from time to time. But you have to consider waterproofing your leather if you reside in a region that tends to be highly wet (and want to take your bag outside).
One thing you need to know is that tanned vegetables must keep away from the water. There's nothing wrong here and there, but you don't want it to get swept, because it might suffer shrinking and leather damage. The same goes for leather from Bridle or most leathers from Italy. Fortunately, there is an easy solution regardless of whether you need to condition or waterproof your leather.
Would you want to carry your favorite leather purse for the rainy days? Well, never could the leather be a good water companion. Since we know that leather is a natural material and very porous, it is of course waterproof, but never 100% waterproof. However, there are various techniques to preserve leather from water, to improve its inherent characteristic of water resilience, and to virtually make it waterproof. Let's examine some waterproofing DIY techniques and prepare your favorite monsoon leather items.
Is Leather Waterproof or Water-Resistant?
Yes, the water is resistant to leather, but too much water contact will make it wet - because of the porous nature of the material. Let's examine how water affects actual leather before going to weatherproof techniques. It is a highly porous substance and hence not entirely water-proof aside from being inherently water-resistant.
The water interacts with the oil leather molecules when the leather becomes overwet, and it dries out and loses the natural oils with water. This oil loss leads to the loss of moisture, elasticity, and flexibility of leathers, making it rigid and difficult. It may also begin to deteriorate if your leather is damp long enough.
If you are asking "is waterproof leather?" or “how to waterproof leather your bag?”The answer also depends on the leather kind you are discussing. Each type of leather is water-resistant to varying levels. For example, Faux leather is comprised of a naturally waterproof plastic basis, and therefore fake leather is without any additional coating already waterproof.
Unlike counterfeit leather, full-grain leather and top-grain leather are the longest-lasting leather but are not in their crude form waterproof. To some extent, they are water-resistant but have to be coated with a water-resistant coating and spray to maximize their resistance to water.
It depends on the Leather
Faux Leather
It's a widespread misunderstanding that faux leather is manufactured from one kind of plastic - polyurethane leather - and has the same characteristics as real leather. Water-resistant leather basically places a layer of synthetic plastic between your leather and all water. Since fake leather is produced with plastic it is waterproofed already.
Synthetic Leather
Synthetic leather is generally lighter and cheaper than real leather and quickly absorbs water like real leather. This implies you have to apply a synthetic spray which creates a water-resistant obstacle between the water and the synthetic layer to make it waterproof.
Nubuck Leather
Nubuck leather is like an extremely fine yet durable suede, a polished form of full-grain leather. Like leather, Nubuck is water-resistant to a small amount of water but requires additional spray waterproofing.
Suede Leather
Water that produces stains on its surface is extremely quickly destroyed by suede. A few of Suede leather boots can even be ruined by a rain shower. But the delicate nature of suede implies that you have to take care of how you are water-resistant since anything like wax cannot be rubbed on its surface. Instead, suede should not quickly be subjected to large quantities of water using waterproofing sprays.
Full-Grain and Top Grain Leather
Full-grain or leather of top grain is formed of the strongest section of the leather hide and so makes leather the most durable and waterproof. To waterproof leather bag of full grain, you should also treat it with a wax or spray to increase waterproofness, as with other leathers.
Most of our bags are made of full-grain leather which has a certain inherent resistance to water. However, we advocate the use of a wax-based product. You might desire to improve this further. We recommend to waterproof leather bag using a waterproof spray solely for our items in vintage leather.
What are some methods for Waterproofing Leather?
As some the leather types like synthetic leather and faux leather are known to be waterproof, however, true leather will of course be waterproof, but it will never be totally waterproof but there are some methods available on the market to protect and ensure that your leather products are waterproof. Waxing and conditioning are the two most prevalent procedures. Let's look at these approaches in simple stages one by one on how to waterproof leather bag.
Waxing
It is the best and easiest way to do so. You may produce wax in your home with a double boiling colorless beeswax combined with oil or any leather wax available on the market.
Step 1 – Cleaning the leather
It's very crucial to start with a clean area to ensure that the wax sets correctly on the surface of the leather. Remove any dirt or dust particles on the surface by washing the leather item, using a leather cleaner or saddle soap and a clean cloth. If not correctly cleaned, the dirt is retained inside the wax and it is difficult to work to remove it after the operation.
Before applying wax, make sure the leather is totally dry.
Step 2 – Apply the Wax
Take little wax on a clean tissue and evenly apply the wax to the leather. Do not put the wax on the leather immediately. Make sure that it is readily applied to the leather at the correct temperature, you may heat the wax to make it work, if necessary.
Repeat the process according to the need that the leather has a beautiful protective layer.
Step 3 – Let it dry
Allow the leather to dry in a cool and ventilated location naturally after applying the wax. It took around an hour or less. Do not tempt this process by using artificial ways to hurry it up or expose it to direct sunshine as it may harm the leather and distort it.
Step 4 – Buff off the excess wax
Once the wax dries down, wipe off the excess wax with a damp cloth to make the water, mink oil, and dirt shine and preserve it.
Waxing is a simple and practical approach to waterproof leather bag, but also to care for leathers to restore their flexibility and to ensure that leather is not cracked when they are old. Leather is also vital. Packaging not only renovates the appearance and waterproofing of a leather product.
Conditioning
Although the conditioning procedure is relatively easy, remember not to overuse it, as leather is known and used to keep the leather supple. Overdoing might lead to a loss of the form and strength of leather goods that we do not desire.
Step 1 – Prepare the leather
In contrast to waxing, moist leather is conditioned. As the water evaporates from the leather, the substance may be absorbed further into the leather. You don't need to dip leather into the water, but simply make sure the leather is moist before using the packaging material.
Step 2 – Apply the conditioner
Start with a piece of soft cloth or your fingers and put the conditioner to leather. Make sure it reaches every corner and fold.
Step 3 – Let it dry
Clean surplus surface materials and then allow them to dry naturally in a properly ventilated area. To speed up the drying process avoid the use of artificial means.
Note: Waxing and conditioning work only for some leather kinds. Waxing and conditioning will not be a smart idea in that situation if you have something in suede leather. It is possible, for suede leather and other this sort of leather to apply waterproofing sprays.
What happens to leather when it gets wet?
It is not an ideal scenario, but leather is to some extent only water-resistant, but when it comes into contact with excessive water, it is extremely necessary to stop water from entering the leather hide so quickly that it can be protected from further harm.
Then what occurs precisely when water is absorbed by leather? When the surface of the leather dries and evaporates, the oils are also drawn with the water molecules like the leather. This lack of natural oils results in a loss of softness, stiffness, and fragility. Water may also produce stains at the leather surface when colors are moved and areas are left. Therefore, quick action is the key to dealing with damp leather.
What to do if the leather gets wet?
Imagine if you're not waterproofed with the rain, briefcase, or leather shoes. We recognize that this is not an ideal scenario! Well, to your relief, if you solve the problem immediately, it's not a full loss. Let's examine what you have to do to prevent leather in this situation from being brittle.
1. Dry the leather
Wipe any water with a dry towel from the leather and let it dry naturally, to the point that it is moist and not totally dry. Do not apply artificial heat to dry it rapidly, just like a blow dryer. Store them in newspapers to keep their form for leather purses or shoes.
2. Condition
Apply a leather coat and allow it to dry for a few heats while the leather is still moist. The conditioner refills the leather oil with evaporating water and maintains the softness and flexibility of the leather.
3. Prevent
Repeat the application technique if there are spots where the leather conditioner feels dry and brittle. Clean the surface of any surplus material. Consider putting water-resistant protection to your leather items, such as waterproofing wax, sprays, leather protector, etc., knowing how to waterproof your leather bag will definitely minimize future damage from water.
How dry a wet leather bag or purse
If your leather handbag is wet already, then you have to do a few things to bring it back to its original condition. The first step is to clear the water. A dryer or any comparable item may be tempting for you. Do not use these tools since they damage the leather at the end.
Instead, you should use a dry cloth with a high water absorption capacity for wiping. Fill the microfiber cloth inside the bag and leave for a couple of hours. The quantity of water the leather is absorbed will depend on how long it stays. The towel can be changed till your luggage is dry a few times. The bag should be positioned in a dry airy location throughout this period.
Do not under the sun. Do not place it. The whole water out of the leather could take a long while (perhaps a few days). Your leather is your final step. You can use a conditioner to soften the leather at least several times. Will the rain damage the leather? Yeah, but your handbag or bag is safeguarding power in your hands.
General leather bag care tips and tricks
Long-term storage
Keep the bags in your dust coverings, preferably in a closet or at least away from direct sunlight, that you do not use daily. Fill it with anything like bubble wrap or paper to maintain or recover the bag after using it. Make careful that newspaper is not used since the print might be frozen inside it. An excellent suggestion is to pack, complete, and keep your case when you are on vacation. Just treat it with a leather cream till you return to the workplace before you insert it into its powder cover.
Tips for women
Keep your cosmetics in a bag, so your bag's inside is covered when the lid comes off your lipstick or your blusher slides off. Actually, it's an intelligent concept to store every fluid in little cosmetic bags, as it's hard to remove leaky shampoos, etc.
Tips for men
You should store every personal effect, including styles, deodorant, and cell, in a different washbasket. Even the safest pen cap finally rolls off and dribbles a black or blue ink track.
In addition to our suggestions and methods on how to waterproof your leather bag, it is a nice leather cream and waterproofing spray paired with your bags' warmth that should always be necessary to take care of your beautiful leather cases, bags and accessories.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, we still state that leather is not good buddies and it is recommended that leather is kept good care of and that any leather accessories are not contacted with water. However, knowing how to waterproof your leather bag isn't always achievable and so it's a fantastic idea to avoid serious harm to your favorite leather fabric
It is recommended to perform a patch test in less apparent locations when using any waterproofing chemical to ensure there is no undesirability of leather color. Now that you know how to make water-resistant leather, try your leather products and do not worry about the rain.
FAQ
How exactly does water ruin leather bags?
The absorbed water destroys the flexibility of the leather overall. It makes the leather resistant to break. The leather bag can potentially degrade the surface treatment by flowing water from the surface. This contains color and lubricants that provide a soft, relaxed appearance to the leather. The essential element for mold and fungus on leather is moisture or humidity. The mold finally decolors your bag or bag and develops into tiny, hard-to-remove spots. In addition, leather with water might begin to release a foul odor and make the usage of your bag uncomfortable, that’s why it is highly recommended to know how to waterproof a leather bag.
Can vegan leather get wet?
A tiny bit. A little bit. Yep, there are several standards with vegan leather. Vegan leather is by nature considerably more water-resistant than real leather. As a result, you won't have so much to worry about the exposure of vegan leather to water. However, over a long period of time, too much water exposure can lead to damage and damage, so try to be aware.
What can I do when my vegan leather gets wet?
We nevertheless propose to use a clean dry towel inside your vegan leather backpack or bag so that you may dry off excess water before it becomes a problem. Contrary to a true leather rucksack, vegan leather just has to be washed up as soon as possible. Once more, you shouldn't use an outside heat source, such as a hairdryer, to dry up your vegan wool bag.
Need a Leather Bag? Check out Steel Horse Leather Co.
I hope that your leather bag or tote bag may be waterproof at an early stage and prevent contact with water or fluids. But if you have any problem with water on your genuine leather, we hope your queries will be answered by our care advice. Steel Horse Leather Co. offers amazing bags if you are in the market for a new leather purse or backpack. Discover the one bag that does everything for the user of numerous hats.
