A leather wallet is one of the most used personal items in your pocket. It carries all your daily essentials. You take it out multiple times a day and throw it around carelessly without a second thought. After months or even years of such abusive use, your wallet starts to pick up stains and dirt and is now calling for your attention. Read on to find out how to clean a leather wallet effectively.
Why do leather wallets get dirty
Before we discuss how to clean leather wallets, let’s see why and how our wallets get so ‘dirty’ in the first place. When you open your wallet every morning, you’ll usually find receipts that were placed inside it loosely or credit cards that are hidden under other cards. You might even find random pieces of paper with names and numbers scribbled on it.
Now, where do all these come from? Most of them come from the pockets of your jeans or cargo pants which you usually place your wallet into. If you’ve been wearing these for a few months, chances are that they have picked up some dirt from inside your pocket.
And when you shove your wallet into the same pocket, you end up transferring all that dirt onto it. The leather wallet starts to look dirty and stained which is why you should clean it.
Best Way To Clean A Leather Wallet?
If your leather wallet is looking old, dirty, and stained, it calls for some cleaning. Follow these steps to clean a leather wallet effectively.
Step 1: Get rid of all the junk in your wallet
Remove all receipts, credit cards, business cards, etc from the pockets of your wallet. Now make sure that you don’t leave any dirt or stains inside.
Step 2: Clean and wipe the exterior of your wallet
This is the part where you clean off all dirt and eliminate any stains from its exterior. Use a damp piece of cloth to scrub away at your wallet’s leather. If you have a very dirty wallet, use some mild soap with water to help break up stubborn stains. Dry it thoroughly as you don’t want waterlogged leather as this can cause further damage.
Step 3: Get rid of the dirt from every nook and cranny
Once dry, flip your wallet over and examine it inside out for any residual dirt or stains that were not visible on the surface. Or, if you have used soap or a wet cloth earlier then just rinse them off now with water.
Step 4: Apply a leather conditioner
If you have a clean and well-maintained leather wallet, applying a thin coat of quality leather conditioner will help maintain it. Just apply the conditioner with your hand and let it dry for an hour or so before putting in your cards and cash into the wallet again. These simple tips should go a long way in keeping your wallet looking new, making it last longer too!
FAQ
My wallet has been stained from inside out, how can I reverse it?
You can try using some mild soap with water on the stain to see if this helps in getting rid of the color. But if it doesn’t work, you might have to try a leather cleaning solution they are available at stores that sell leather goods. Try dabbing this onto your wallet’s surface which should help get rid of the staining effectively.
Can I use my detergent or laundry soap for my leather wallet?
No, never! Doing so will damage your wallet and leave it with cracks. So keep away from household chemicals when cleaning your wallet!
How often should I clean my leather wallet?
Cleaning your wallet properly and regularly can help keep everyday dirt and grime away for a longer time. So one or two cleaning sessions every month should do it if you use your wallet daily.
Leather is one of the most used materials in manufacturing goods and accessories. It gives the product a classy and nice look, but in order to preserve its original nature, it is essential for leather goods to be cleaned regularly.
Leather wallets are also one of the most important accessories that need special care. Not only do they carry all your credit cards, money etc., but are also used almost everyday by almost everyone.
With constant use, leather wallets tend to get dirty and stained which can make them look unattractive. This is why it is important to clean leather wallets regularly.
Conclusion
Washing your wallet regularly is extremely important in maintaining its cleanliness. This will help keep dirt and grime at bay for a longer time, giving you more utility out of your wallet.
