When creating bags at Baltajis Bilsas we make our best effort to produce highest quality products which would be set to withstand the trials of time. This effort involves use of quality materials such as durable vegetable tanned leather.

Nonetheless, even the most durable leather needs to be looked after. In order for your item to age beautifully, some simple care steps need to be taken. We came up with a short guide to help you during this process.

Things to avoid

Cleaning leather is pretty straight forward process, however it can still go disastrous if wrong methods are chosen. 

Do not use harsh chemicals, detergents, soaps not designed for leather, as they could damage ,dry out and affect color of leather surface. Hard bristled brushes should be avoided as they could scratch leather surface. All products used for conditioning and cleaning leather should dry out naturally and away from sunlight.

Before use

It is completely normal for vegetable tanned leather to darken over time as it forms it’s unique patina. No action can completely halt this process. However use of protectant can slow it down and help leather age more uniformly and resist stains. We recommend use of leather balm as a protectant.

Protectant application

Use beeswax base balm not containing synthetic paraffin. Be sure to read manufacturer instructions, test the balm you’re using on a less visible spot of leather. On initial use some balms may darken leather by a shade, this is completely normal for vegetable tanned leather. Apply balm using a clean and dry cloth smoothing it into surface from seam to seam. After balm application leather has to dry naturally and out of the sun. Do not heat drying leather with any outside sources, this might damage it. Balm should be applied every six months. this will keep your bag protected and prevent leather from drying out.

Cleaning of leather products

To get rid of light marks and scratches balm application process should be sufficient. If your product needs thorough cleaning, saddle soap can be used. Saddle soap is a glycerin based soap, specifically designed for cleaning vegetable tanned leather without damaging it. Apply light amount of saddle soap to a wet cloth and softly rub leather in circular motions. Do not rub excessively and avoid wetting leather too much, this might stain the surface. Once this process is done, use a clean, lightly damp cloth to remove soap from product until no soap is left. Lastly, wipe leather with clean dry cloth, wait for it to dry fully, then condition product with beeswax balm.