Due to the material that the leather bags have water doesn’t mix well with them, although leather has some natural resistance to water.
Water and Waterproof Bags
It's fine if it comes into contact with a small amount of water (like a little rain), but since genuine animal skin is a porous material, it will never be 100% waterproof.
Excessive exposure to water leads to wetting of the material due to the permeability of the skin.
The fibers dry out as the water evaporates. This explains why the skin eventually becomes hard and tough when water is poured on it.
Leather can also rot if the water doesn't dry fast enough, as the fibers are weakened and more easily broken down due to the lack of natural lubricants.
It is because of these weakened fibers that dry, rotten skin looks cracked and can sometimes crack a little.
Water-Repellent Properties of Different Types of Leather
The degree of water resistance really depends on the type of skin.
This can also be affected by specific skin treatments.
While genuine leather has some degree of water resistance, it cannot withstand excessive exposure to water.
Being a porous material, it can absorb liquids.
However, most synthetic leathers are waterproof because they are made from petroleum-based plastics.
A good quality leather bag is an investment and you don't want it to be a tanning bag so you want it to be waterproof.
The most important steps for waterproofing your leather bag:
- Clean the bag
- Revitalize the skin
- Waterproof bag
Below we will go through these steps one by one.
Clean out your bag.
To clean a leather bag, you will need a special leather cleaner.
- Add a few drops of the skin cleanser of your choice to ait towel and gently massage into the skin.
- This is done so that later dirt or dust does not remain on the skin.
- The bag may darken at first.
- Let the bag dry overnight on a clean towel.
Revitalize your skin
Conditioning your skin helps keep it supple, remember that skin is skin after all.
- Apply leather conditioner to the fabric.
- Massage the balm into the skin.
- Let dry for at least 3 hours.