Storing leather clothing correctly

Incorrect storage is one of the most common causes of mould, stiffness and discolouration in leather clothing, and one of the easiest to avoid. Three basic rules are enough.

Airy rather than cramped

Leather clothing should be stored hanging up and with sufficient space, not compressed in a full wardrobe. Tightly compressed leather develops storage creases and may become stiff at the crease lines over time. Shoes also benefit from air: stored with shoe trees, they retain their shape and the leather dries more evenly.

Never airtight or damp

Never store leather in plastic bags or damp places, for example in a cellar or poorly ventilated garage. Without air circulation, moisture cannot dissipate and leather begins to develop mould surprisingly quickly. The result is a persistent, musty smell that is often difficult to remove completely. Read more in our article on treating mouldy leather.

Store light and dark leather separately

Do not store light leather items directly against dark ones. In close contact, especially in moisture or heat, dyes can transfer from dark to light leather and leave permanent discolouration there.

Alternatively: put on the garment while it is still slightly damp and stretch it through movement. Finally, tumble it in a dryer on cold air and brush it up with the leather brush.

Before putting it into storage

Anyone storing leather clothing for a longer period (for example, seasonally) should clean and care for it beforehand. Embedded soiling can become set during storage and is then harder to remove. Brief care with Colourlock Care & Waterproofing Oil (smooth leather) or Colorlock Aniline Protector (suede leather, aniline leather) before storage keeps the leather supple and protects it during the storage period.