Why does moisture ruin leather

After doing so, gently wipe off the excess water. Do not rub the leather vigorously, otherwise, it might leave unwanted scratches. Do not apply artificial heat, such as a blow dryer and other artificial heat sources, because it could easily damage the leather. Be patient and just air-dry it. For a leather jacket, hang it on a wide hanger and air-dry. For wallets , make sure to close it while drying; otherwise, you will have difficulty in closing it if it hardens during the process.

For leather shoes, bags, and other leather accessories like our The Wanderer Toiletry Bag , you could elevate it and stuff it with crumpled papers. This will help the leather retain its shape, and absorb the moisture from the inside.

After wiping off the excess water, apply a good quality leather conditioner on the material. A good quality leather conditioner contains nourishing ingredients that are easily absorbed by leather. Moreover, it seeps deep into the material and replenishes the lost moisture that was stripped away from water evaporation. This helps prevent the leather from cracking and other damages. After conditioning, leave the conditioner on the leather overnight and let it work wonders into the leather.

If there are still dry patches on your leather apparel, apply extra conditioner. Once the conditioner has dried, carefully buff the entire surface of the product with a dry cloth.

You have successfully prevented water from further damaging your favorite leather apparel. However, taking care of your favorite leather apparel should not end there.

You have to be prepared of protecting your leather apparel from future water damage. Our leather experts suggest a fourth step to prevent your leather apparel from getting wet and from damaging it easily.

Although some good quality leather conditioners already contain ingredients that protect the leather from water penetration, you can also opt to apply another layer of product such as beeswax cream.

On the contrary, it will actually prove beneficial, as it keeps the leather soft and comfortable. When leather is exposed to high-humid environments, however, it can cause it to rot. But low humidity can prove equally as damaging to genuine leather goods.

Low humidity — or exceptionally dry air — will cause leather to dry out and crack. Again, this is due to the fact that the dry air absorbs moisture from anything it can, including leather. It may feel rough at first, and if exposed to dry air for long enough, the leather will crack open.

The wetter the leather, the less resistance there will be. By making rapid moisture checks in leather products throughout the tanning process, tanners can make sure that their goods are at the right moisture content to maximize quality and prevent issues such as mold or bacteria growth during storage. Once this is done, the meter will give the user a measurement of the moisture in the leather that can be recorded and used to determine if the leather is too wet, too dry, or just right.

For this task, a specialized device such as a thermo-hygrometer is typically used. To take a measurement of relative humidity in the tannery, simply turn the hygrometer on, place it in a spot with good air flow, such as near the center of the room, and activate it. The chemicals given off by tanning vats can cause damage to an RH sensor over time—which would make readings less accurate.

Want to maximize the quality of your leather products by monitoring and controlling their moisture content? Contact Delmhorst today to learn more about measuring moisture in leather, or to find a leather moisture meter distributor near you! Subscribe to Email Updates. Recent Posts. Moisture Meters. Follow Us On:. Newsletter Sign up now to receive updates on our latest blogs and news.