A Guide to Cleaning and Restoring Thrifted Leather Bags

There is something so rewarding about taking something old and worn and breathing new life into it. I particularly love working with leather. Purses made of real leather are durable and more likely to last for years. Some clean-up – and regular maintenance – are key to keeping your thrifted leather bags looking their best.

I was out thrifting last week and spotted this Fossil leather purse in a sad state. Usually my thrift stores mark up Fossil but I purchased this for $10.16 all in at a local Value Village.

Here’s a picture of the front before I began basic restoration:

And here’s a photo of the back:

The back didn’t seem too bad in comparison to the front but it still had a lot of marks and discolouration. What I was most concerned about was the water stain at the left side under the zipper.

The bottom was probably the worst, showing the most scratches. I figured if that was the worst, at least it was the bottom!

As you can see, this bag had it all; fading, scratches, and water stains. BUT it was a nice medium size, had a crossbody strap, was clean inside and all zippers were functioning perfectly. The thought that it might end up in the incinerator behind the store was killing me. I knew I could give it a makeover and help it find a home.

INITIAL CLEANING

At home, I started by wiping it down with a damp cloth to remove any surface dirt. Then I gently brushed it with just a touch of saddle soap using a damp brush with very little pressure in circular motions.

The products I used are leather care basics. I like Fiebing’s Saddle Soap; it’s a trusted, inexpensive staple that has been around for decades. The brush is made of horsehair, a natural fiber that is tough enough to clean and work polish into the leather, but delicate enough not to cause any further scratches. This particular one is made by Moneysworth & Best.

TREATING AND CONDITIONING

After cleaning I came to the longest part of the work (which still only took about 10 minutes!). Using Leather CPR, I followed the instructions to clean and condition the leather. With a sponge, I worked the product into the leather in circular motions for minutes at a time. I could see the beautiful caramel color coming back almost immediately and the scratches vanishing. I did a few rounds of this treatment for the worst parts like where the water stains were.

Leather CPR is an all-in-one conditioner that can be used on multiple types of items so it’s great to have handy. One thing to note – if you’re in Canada, it seems more expensive and harder to get (like many things!). I personally think it’s worth it as it’s one of the best leather products I’ve tried.

PROTECTING FOR THE FUTURE

After letting the bag dry after this, I did a final step of applying a light layer of mink oil using a sponge to protect what I had accomplished. This needs to dry for 24 hours.

I chose this mink oil simply because it was the most cost effective, and I love it as a final touch! Bonus – it takes very little to make a difference and I’m convinced it will last me years!

THE RESULTS

Once the bag was finally dry, I was absolutely thrilled with the results! I think it looks so much better and will live a much longer life. I listed it for sale and sold it within two days for close to a $20 profit. I was happy to make a little bit of money to cover my time and materials; this particular purchase wasn’t about turning a huge profit, but more to salvage a great piece!

The purse now has what I call “curb appeal” and can be proudly worn.

The back now has a more rich, uniform color and that water stain is barely noticeable!

The bottom looks so much better doesn’t it?

What do you think about the transformation? Let us know in the comments below!

CONCLUSION

Leather purses and bags are made to last. With regular cleaning and conditioning, you can keep your thrifted leather bags looking their best for years to come. I hope you found the tips in this demo helpful and that in the future, you’ll be more excited to rescue some leather bags that may be overlooked in thrift stores!