How to clean your leather wallet in 7 steps

Tricks of the trade

These days it is so important to wipe down the surfaces of all the things we touch; whether it’s the kitchen, bathroom, our cellphones (which lets be honest we all often forget to do), door handles and especially our hands.

In order to protect homes from germs we may have come into on the outside, a good practice is to wipe everything with either disinfectant wipes, sanitizer or good old fashion water and soap.

Another article most of us are guilty of forgetting about is our wallets. When at the grocery store, pharmacy or at appointments, our hands tend to touch so many surfaces and then get transferred onto our wallets as we go to pay and leave.

On top of staying sanitized, it is important to keep a leather wallet clean to ensure that it maintains its durability. A good quality leather needs wears good over time but it still needs to be rid of any residue.

Here are 7 easy steps to cleaning your leather wallet so it can stay with you for the long haul.

1- Empty it

Taking everything out including cards, money, and change makes it easier to clean and you don’t risk wetting anything.

2- Use a disinfectant cloth

Once emptied, softly clean every surface with a disinfectant cloth or wipe to eliminate germs. Go over all your cards with the wipe as well. We use our credit or debit cards so often and it’s important to keep those germ free as well.

3- Remove wet spots with rubbing alcohol or talc

If you notice stubborn stains or damp marks, take a cloth, dampen it lightly with rubbing alcohol and rub gently on the targeted areas, after having wrung them out with a paper towel. If an oily stain persists, a damp paper towel and talcum powder will be able to take care of the more stubborn stains; gently dab the targeted area.

4- Use a leather cleaner

A leather cleaner is the ideal tool for cleaning your leather wallet. It is available in most supermarkets: be careful to choose the product according to the leather of your wallet. Just apply it to a cloth and rub gently. Avoid going too hard and alternate between place and pressure.

5- Let it dry

After you’ve cleaned it, it’s time to let it dry. Wipe it down one last time to be sure to remove any residual humidity. Let it dry in open air but be sure not to leave it in the sun. Exposure to the sun can dry out the leather and damage its quality.

6- Apply a leather conditioner

Give your leather a little love with some specialty leather conditioner. Like for your hair, conditioner will restore shine and suppleness to your leather.

7- Put it all back together

Now that it’s dry and conditioned you’re ready to put all your personal effects back in and you’re ready to go! Just remember it’s always good to give your wallet a good wash every 2-3 months.

Here once again is a reminder of the steps for a good cleaning:

1- Empty out your wallet

2- Wipe it down with a disinfectant cloth

3- Remove wet spots with rubbing alcohol or talc

4- Use a leather cleaner

5- Let it dry

6- Apply a leather conditioner

7- Put it all back together and repeat every 2-3 months

We hope these steps help give your leather wallet a long (and useful) life.

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