Caring for Leather Goods and Accessories

Leather is a noble material that only gets better with the years if you care for it properly. Wallets, belts, bags, and footwear made of genuine leather need attention, otherwise the material dries out, cracks, and irreversibly loses its look. Let’s go over the basics of care step by step, so your accessories serve you for decades.

Types of Leather and Their Characteristics

Before reaching for any product, determine the type of material — your entire care strategy depends on it:

• Smooth leather — the most common and easiest to care for, it takes conditioners well.
• Patent leather — needs only wiping with a soft cloth, no greasy creams, as they leave marks.
• Nappa — soft and thin, only gentle products without solvents.
• Aniline leather — absorbs moisture and stains, requires especially careful handling and protection.
• Waxed and crazy horse — have a living character, where small scuffs are part of the aesthetic.

Always take the material type into account and be sure to test any new product on an inconspicuous spot.

Regular Cleaning

Consistency matters more than intensity — a little and often beats once a year and aggressive:

• Once every 1–2 weeks, wipe items with a dry or slightly damp soft cloth to remove dust and dirt.
• For deeper cleaning, use a dedicated leather cleaner, applying it in a thin layer to the cloth rather than directly to the item.
• Avoid excess water — it leaves stains and streaks.
• Don’t use household chemicals, alcohol, or acetone — they destroy the protective layer.

Browse accessories in the POGO store.

Moisturizing and Nourishing

Leather is essentially a dried material that needs nourishment with oil or conditioner, otherwise the fibers become brittle and crack. Once every 2–3 months, apply leather conditioner in a thin, even layer, let it absorb for 15–20 minutes, and buff with a dry cloth. This restores elasticity and prevents cracks at flex points. Don’t overdo it — excess product makes the surface sticky, attracts dust, and can darken the color. For overly dried items, you can repeat the procedure, but with a few days’ pause so the leather can absorb the product.

Protection from Moisture and Sun

Prevention saves leather from the most common types of damage:

• Treat items with a water-repellent product, especially before the rainy season.
• Avoid prolonged exposure of leather to direct sun — UV light fades the color and dries out the material.
• Dry a wet item naturally at room temperature, away from radiators and hairdryers.
• Don’t store leather goods while damp — it’s a direct path to stains and mold.
• In winter, protect leather from de-icing agents and salt, which leave white streaks.

Proper Storage

How to store an item when it’s not in use for a long time:

• Keep accessories in breathable fabric covers, not in polyethylene — plastic doesn’t let air through and promotes mold.
• Stuff bags with paper or special inserts to maintain their shape.
• Don’t hang heavy bags by the handles for long — they stretch and deform.
• Store away from heat sources and direct light.
• Periodically take out and air items that sit idle.

Look for premium leather models in the clothing and accessories section.

How to Remove Stains

It’s better to react to stains right away, while they’re fresh — old soiling is much harder to remove:

• Grease stains — sprinkle with talc or starch, leave for a few hours, then brush off and wipe.
• Ink — only dedicated leather products; no alcohol, which eats into the coating.
• Water and streaks — let it dry naturally, then treat with conditioner for evenness.
• Salt streaks in winter — carefully wipe with a weak solution of water and vinegar (1:1) on a cloth.

Always test any product on an inconspicuous spot and work from the edges of the stain toward the center to avoid leaving a ring.

Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t dry wet leather near a radiator or with a hairdryer, don’t store items in polyethylene, don’t apply excess greasy creams, and don’t use household chemicals. Each of these habits slowly destroys the material, even if the result isn’t immediately visible.

Summary

Regular cleaning, periodic moisturizing, protection from moisture, and smart storage — and leather will serve you for decades, developing a noble patina instead of cracking. Have questions about caring for a specific item? Reach out via contacts — we’ll suggest the best solution for your material.