Cleaning and caring for vintage and greased leather bags

What is oiled leather / vintage leather?

Oiled leather, waxed leather and pull-up leather have a top colour layer made of coloured oil or wax. Their distinguishing feature is that scratching with a fingernail leaves a light-coloured line that can be polished out again by rubbing.

The leather changes visibly during use, developing signs of wear, darker areas and increasing shine on the contact surfaces. This is not a defect but a deliberately sought-after effect. Most owners appreciate this development. At some point, however, the marks become too pronounced.

Minor signs of wear

Polish out scratches and light-coloured areas with a soft, dry cloth. This redistributes the wax or oil and evens out the marks. For more pronounced marks, lightly dampen the cloth and use it to polish the leather. To be safe, always test on a concealed area first.

Lighten dark areas again by gently stretching the surface. Carefully dab fresh stains inwards with a kitchen towel.

IMPORTANT: Do not rub.

Heavier soiling

For clearly visible soiling, clean the leather with Colourlock Leather Cleaner mild. Apply the cleaner to a Viscose Cloth and clean from seam to seam. Take care not to use too much moisture or rub too hard.

For routine cleaning, it is sufficient to wipe the leather occasionally with a slightly damp cloth. Always treat both sides and all main surfaces evenly; otherwise the leather will develop an uneven character.

Care

Colourlock Elephant Leather Preserver is the most suitable care product for oiled and pull-up leather. It evens out more pronounced signs of wear while caring for and protecting the leather at the same time.

If you have questions about a particular item, please contact us. Oiled leather is available in very different qualities, and what works for one can produce undesirable results on another.