Today is the first day of Autumn but it’s still HOT, HOT, HOT in Indianapolis.
If you broke out your leather jackets last week when it cooled down, you’re probably not going to wear them for a while per this heat wave. Here’s how you should store your leather jackets (and your leather handbags, brief cases and shoes) when not in use for a long period of time.
Be aware of the humidity in the room or part of your home where you are storing your leathers. Humidity — the amount of moisture vapor in the air — can wreck havoc on leather, saturating it to the point where it begins to rot. This rarely happens, however, unless the leather is stores in a highly humid area, such as the attic or basement.
Before storing your leathers, you should wrap them in acid-free paper. What’s the purpose of this? Well, there are a few benefits to using acid-free paper, one of which is the simple fact that it serves as a barrier of protection against moisture, dust, dirt and bugs. Furthermore, wrapping your leather jacket in paper will help to retrain its shape.
Leather garments should only be stored in some type of breathable container or bag. You can use a special leather jacket storage bag, or you can create your own “breathable bag” by poking holes into it. The bottom line is that air must be able to pass through it.
As long as your leathers are placed in an environment that’s not too moist but not too dry, they will be fine. Try using a spare bedroom closet or roomy coat closet where your leather items won’t get knocked by other clothing and items.
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to layering in true Autumn fashion. Until then, I’ll enjoy the last few days of summer weather and double check the condition of my leather items.
If you discover you have a few leather jackets, handbags, briefcases and/or shoes that need a little TLC, we can help!
– S.O.
