After cleaning the mildew spots on the leather bag, the core precautions are to dry it thoroughly, maintain it well, and store it correctly to avoid the recurrence of mold and repair the slight damage to the cortex during the cleaning process. Specifically it can be divided into these three steps:
Dry thoroughly in the shade and avoid exposure to sunlight/high temperatures
The cleaned leather bag must be placed in a ventilated, dry, cool and dark place to dry naturally. It must not be exposed to the sun, blown directly with hot air from a hair dryer, or near the outlets of heating or air conditioning.
High temperature and exposure to the sun will cause the cortex to lose moisture quickly, causing it to harden, crack, and fade. If it is suede/suede, it will also cause the villi to clump and lose texture.
During the drying process, you can gently turn the bag to allow the inside to be fully ventilated until there is no moisture to the touch inside or outside.
Maintenance based on materials to repair the cortical condition
The alcohol and detergent used during cleaning may take away the oil of the leather itself. After drying, care should be taken in time to restore the softness and luster of the leather bag.
Smooth leather (genuine leather): Use a clean soft cloth to dip a small amount of leather care oil, lanolin or hand cream, and gently apply a layer along the leather texture. After leaving it for 10-15 minutes, wipe off excess oil with a dry cloth to prevent the leather from drying out.
Artificial leather (PU/PVC): You can apply a layer of artificial leather special care agent or a small amount of hand cream to prevent the material from aging and hardening.
Suede/Suede: Use a special suede brush to comb along the direction of the pile to restore the fluffy feel. You can also spray a layer of waterproof and anti-fouling spray to improve the anti-fouling ability.
Canvas/nylon bag: shake it out after drying to smooth out wrinkles, no additional oiling is required.
Proper storage to prevent mold from the root cause
This is the key to avoid mold growing again. Please pay attention to the following points when storing:
Before storing, make sure the inside and outside of the bag are completely dry. You can put desiccant, mothballs or activated carbon bags inside the bag to absorb moisture and odor.
When storing empty bags, cover them with dust-proof bags, or stuff them with clean old newspapers or cotton balls to prop up the bag body and prevent deformation.
The storage location should be in a cabinet that is dry and ventilated, away from wet corners, not close to the wall or floor, and not placed together with wet clothes and shoes.
For leather bags that have not been used for a long time, it is recommended to take them out for ventilation and replace the desiccant every 1-2 months.
Extra reminder
If there is still a slight musty smell after cleaning, you can put the bag and a few packs of activated carbon into a sealed bag and let it sit for 2-3 days. The smell will slowly dissipate; if the musty smell is strong and the leather has softened, it means that the mold has penetrated inside, and it is best to send it to a professional care shop for treatment.