The Care Library
Clean at home or send it away?
1 minute read
Good care at home covers most of a bag's life. Knowing where that ends is just as important, and it is what saves the bags that matter most.
Safe to do at home
- Dusting, brushing and light surface cleaning.
- Conditioning smooth leather that is dry but intact.
- Lifting small, fresh marks from suede with an eraser.
- Proper storage and regular airing.
Send it to a specialist
- Colour loss, scuffed corners or worn edge paint.
- Set-in ink, oil or denim transfer.
- Water marks on vachetta or unfinished leather.
- Mould, torn stitching, broken hardware or lining damage.
- Any bag whose value, to you or at resale, you can't afford to risk.
Choosing a specialist
Ask to see work they have done on similar leathers, and ask how they would test before treating your bag. A good restorer will tell you what can't be done as readily as what can.
Always test any technique on a hidden area first. If a bag is valuable, delicate or already damaged, take it to a professional.
The bags and labels in our photographs are illustrative: Currier & Bloom is independent of every maker, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them.
From the house
Keep this to hand.
Join the Founding Keepers for the Keeper's Care Card, a letter each month and early access when the house opens.