Winter is right around the corner, which means the temperatures will begin to drop, the air will become drier, and some areas may soon receive snow. The combination of these elements can wreck havoc on certain fabrics and materials, including leather. So if you own any leather garments or accessories, there are a few steps you should take to better protect them from damage this winter season.
Watch the Indoor Humidity Levels
We’ve talked about this before on the LeatherCult blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that dry air may damage leather, causing it to dry out and even crack in severe cases. Unfortunately, dry air is an all-too-common problem during the winter. When the temperature drops, the air becomes less dense and is therefore unable to hold as much moisture.
To protect your leather garments and accessories from dry air, it’s recommended that you install a humidifier in your bedroom (or wherever you store the leather). Humidifiers will regulate the humidity level by releasing moisture vapor when needed.
Protection from Rain
Check the weather forecast before venturing outside with a leather jacket or other leather garment. While short-term exposure to rain shouldn’t cause any problems, constantly wearing your leather garments or accessories in the rain day after day will eventually cause damage. The moisture from the rain will settle down within the leather’s pores, promoting the formation of mold and mildew (never a good thing!).
It’s bound to happen sooner or later, so when your leather garment becomes soaked in rain, dry it in a timely manner. All it takes is a couple of minutes to wipe it down with a clean towel or washcloth, at which point it should remain protected.
Condition Your Leather
If there’s one step you don’t want to skip when preparing your leather for the winter season, it’s conditioning. Far too many people overlook this step, assuming their leather products don’t need any additional help. As a result, however, the winter weather begins to damage their garments and accessories.
Unless you are willing to risk to damage to your leather garments and accessories (hint: you shouldn’t), it’s recommended that you use a leather conditioning product on them. Saddle Soap is an excellent product that will works to moisture leather while adding a barrier of protection between it and the elements.