New Leather Products: What to do before using them? [New Items]

To keep your leather products beautiful for a long time. Introducing basic care methods💁‍♀️

Your favorite leather bags and wallets.

Since you've gone to the trouble of getting them, you want to use them for as long as possible in the best condition, right?

"Should I apply cream even if it's new?"
"Is a waterproofing spray necessary?"
"What should I do if it gets dirty?"

In this article, we'll introduce the maintenance methods recommended by Cats of Philosophii for caring for leather products😽♪

This time, we will introduce the basic care method to perform when you first get a new leather product:

"Leather Care Cream → Waterproofing Spray"

Let's take a look🐈

Good to know first! Leather products should generally be kept away from water

Genuine leather is essentially a material sensitive to water.

If it gets wet from rain or other sources, water stains or color unevenness may remain after it dries💦

Once it gets stained, it is quite difficult to restore it to its original state.

Therefore, rather than worrying about "what to do after it gets wet," it is important to take preventive measures before it gets wet☝️

That is why we recommend applying leather care cream and waterproofing spray before you start using it.

[For New Items] Care before you start using them

"Should I apply cream even though it's brand new?"

You might be thinking that, but for the sake of using them for a long time to come, we recommend giving them some care before you start using them.

STEP 1 First, nourish with leather care cream

Leather care products are generally divided into:

① "Leather care cream" to nourish the leather and prevent drying

② "Cleaner" to remove dirt from the leather

Since new items don't need cleaning yet, start by using ① leather care cream.

If you are using a commercially available cream, colorless (neutral) cream is recommended for bags and wallets☝️

Colored creams might transfer onto your clothes, so colorless ones are easier to handle for everyday leather items.

Why does leather need cream🤔?

As time goes by, leather gradually loses its natural oils and dries out.

As it dries, the leather can feel rough or even crack on the surface.

This is why we replenish it with moderate oils and nutrients using leather care cream.

Think of it as:

applying lotion or moisturizer after a bath😊

Just like human skin, leather needs to be cared for so it doesn't get too dry.

The key is to apply the cream "thinly"

Take a small amount of cream on a soft cloth and spread it thinly over the entire leather surface.

The key is not to apply a thick layer at once, but to apply it thinly and evenly in small amounts.

After you have finished applying it to the whole piece, if any areas still feel dry, apply a little more to those specific spots.

Once you've finished applying the cream, let it dry thoroughly.

STEP 2 Finish with a waterproofing spray

Once the cream is dry, the next step is the waterproofing spray.

Spray the leather-safe waterproofing spray evenly over the entire surface from a short distance away.

If you want a more secure waterproofing, we recommend applying it in two steps:

Spray once → Let dry thoroughly → Spray again

Apply the second coat after the first one has dried completely✨

※ Note that even with a waterproofing spray, it will not become completely waterproof, so please still try to avoid getting it wet as much as possible⚠️

How often should I use the waterproofing spray🤔?

It's not a one-time thing you do when you first start using the item.

Since the waterproofing effect gradually wears off, we recommend reapplying the spray once every few months☝️

This will vary depending on usage frequency and exposure to rain, so perform maintenance while checking the condition of the item.

Of course for bags, but

"I want to keep my wallet beautiful too!"

For those people, we recommend applying waterproofing spray to your wallet as well✨

The effect of the waterproofing spray is not permanent. Depending on the usage, it is recommended to reapply it approximately once every few months.

Let's try maintaining our leather together while watching the video🐈

"How much cream should I apply?"
"How do I use the waterproofing spray?"

Some parts might be a bit difficult to understand through text alone.

On the Cats of Philosophii YouTube channel **"Life of a Leather Craftsman Leona"**, we also introduce leather maintenance methods through video🎥

Please take a look at the actual maintenance process and try it along with us.

Watch the leather care video here👇

We would be delighted if you could use your favorite leather products often and enjoy them for a long time to come🐈✨

When you start to notice dirt or dryness while using them, it's time for some "maintenance."

In our next blog post, we will introduce daily care methods, from removing dirt to applying leather care cream and waterproofing.