Leather Care: How to Clean a Leather Wallet
2021-12-21
A leather wallet is one of the most worthy investments you could have. As you probably know, quality leather can last for a long, long time. It can outlast just about any other fabric available, especially if it is regularly cleaned and conditioned.
Thus, to make the most out of it, knowing about proper leather wallet care is important. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps on how to clean a leather wallet at home.
Leather Wallet Everyday Care and Maintenance
Leather wallets require some TLC every day to keep them from deteriorating quickly. Even though leather is one of the most durable materials, it isn't prone to wear and tear especially if you don't take care of it properly.
Remember that leather is essentially animal skin. Thus, it can stretch when you overfill your wallet often or scratch when it gets in contact with sharp surfaces.
Luckily, daily care and maintenance of leather wallets aren’t hard to do. Follow these tips:
Clean with a soft brush or cloth
Especially if you came home from a hike or somewhere dusty. Your wallet will be most likely dirty from daily use. Make it a habit to wipe away dust and spots with a soft cloth or brush.
Don't overstuff your wallet
To ensure that your full-grain leather wallet will keep its original fit and flat shape, avoid overstuffing it. Make it part of your routine to take off old receipts and unimportant documents from your wallet every two weeks.
Only reserve your wallet for essentials. Also, if you have many cards, consider getting a separate cardholder.
Protect it from direct sunlight
Ultraviolet rays and heat can cause discoloration or fading of leather, as well as drying and cracking.
Sure, you don't want that. If you like to keep your wallet in your back pocket, consider wearing pants that have zippered pockets so your wallet doesn't get exposed to sunlight when you're walking outdoors.
Don't sit on your wallet
Not only is it uncomfortable for you to sit on your wallet, but the added pressure can put enormous stress on the precious leather.
Avoid contact with sharp objects
If you’re placing your wallet in your bag, make sure it doesn’t come in contact with sharp objects like jewelry, pens, IDs, or scissors.
Apart from the everyday care and maintenance, you also want to spend more time at least once a month deep cleaning a leather wallet. This extra step involves the interior and exterior parts of your wallet. Let’s discuss them in detail in the next sections.
Interior Cleaning
- First, remove all contents of your wallet.
- Shake out any loose dirt that may have collected inside.
- Use a straw to blow away any lint or dust. Alternatively, you can use a soft bristle brush to remove any tough dirt stuck in there.
- Take a soft cloth and wipe the interior of your wallet using a leather cleaner. If your wallet has an inner fabric lining, clean it with a damp cloth only.
- Work the cleaner into each of the slots of your leather wallet.
Exterior Cleaning
- Take a cloth and add a saddle soap onto it.
- Wipe the exterior surfaces of your leather wallet using the cloth. Or, use a leather cleaner.
- Dry your wallet naturally. Leave it on your table or somewhere in the room at room-temperature to dry for several hours until it dries completely. Best if you can leave it to dry overnight.
Conditioning Your Leather Wallet
Should you condition a leather wallet? Yes, of course. Applying conditioner to your leather wallet after deep cleaning helps keep it in great shape.
Don't forget to test it on an unnoticeable spot before applying entirely on your wallet as conditioning can slightly change the color of the leather. Then, follow these steps:
- Apply the conditioner on a clean cloth.
- Gently rub it over the entire wallet, taking extra care around any embellishments.
You can apply conditioner to your leather wallet twice a year or at once a month. Now, you might wonder, “Can I use hair conditioner on leather?” Yes, you can. You can also use various oils like coconut or baby oil as a substitute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use alcohol to clean your leather wallet? Is rubbing alcohol bad for leather?
Yes, but only for removing tough stains like ink or makeup. When cleaning a stain, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover and lightly blot the spot. Avoid rubbing or you could make the stain spread.
Is vinegar safe for leather?
Vinegar can be used for leather, although it can be a strong cleaning agent and can dry out your wallet. Mix it with equal portions of water to lessen its drying properties.
Is vaseline good for leather?
Yes, vaseline works great on leather wallets too. Not only does it soften the leather but it also prevents it from cracking.
Does sweat ruin a leather wallet?
Yes, sweat can actually stain a leather wallet. Regularly cleaning your wallet is a great way to prevent stains caused by sweat.
What is a good homemade leather cleaner?
If you run out of a leather cleaner, don't worry. You can make some using some ingredients you have at home. Some of the best homemade cleaners are coconut oil or olive oil.
Add a teaspoon of Castile soap and mix with four cups of warm water. Transfer the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz your wallet. Then, wipe clean with a soft cloth.
How to remove stains from leather wallets?
As mentioned, you can use rubbing alcohol to get rid of tough stains. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, depending on the severity of the stain. For best results, you can use a specially formulated stain remover. Once the stain is removed, apply some leather conditioner.
Final Words
Taking good care of your leather wallet is the secret to keeping it beautiful and durable for as long as possible. Thankfully, you only need a few items to clean your wallet. These are a piece of cloth and a leather cleaner or a homemade alternative.
Don’t forget to keep in mind the daily care tips we mentioned above to prevent any major issues like stains, overstretching, and scratches.
Mariam Simmons
Mariam Simmons is a fashion enthusiast and Content Manager at Alpine Swiss. She loves traveling to the world’s top stylish destinations and gets inspired to create helpful fashion and lifestyle guides. With over a decade of writing experience, her main goal in creating content is to ensure readers learn something useful and provide value instead of noise.
