Keep it cool, dry and out of the light, stuffed lightly and covered with breathable fabric. Avoid radiators, damp rooms and sealed plastic.
You are putting a favourite leather bag away for the winter and want to know where and how to keep it so it comes out in good shape.
Store it in a cool, dry, ventilated place out of the light, lightly stuffed, and wrapped in a breathable cotton cover. Keep it away from radiators, damp basements and sealed plastic. The Canadian Conservation Institute describes these conditions for leather in museums.
What the CCI says
- The recommended environment is a stable relative humidity of 45 to 55 per cent and a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees Celsius.
- Very dry conditions below 30 per cent cause embrittlement, and humidity over 65 per cent encourages mould.
- Leather should not be stored over radiators or furnace pipes, in damp basements or near sweating pipes.
- Wrapping objects in acid-free tissue or cotton fabric helps reduce the effect of humidity swings.
- Pouches should be filled with polyester batting or rolls of acid-free paper, so they keep their shape, and sharp creases should be padded.
- Dust attracts water vapour and can carry pollutants, so cover items with cotton or polyethylene dust sheets.
- Store in the dark where you can, since light causes discolouration and drying out.
A practical routine
- Empty and brush the bag, then let it air.
- Stuff it lightly with acid-free paper or a clean cotton cloth.
- Pad any folds.
- Wrap it in a cotton dust bag or sheet and put it on a shelf.
- Look at it every few months.
If you have to keep a bag in a wardrobe that is not ideal, give it a little space on all sides, so air can move around it, and do not stack other bags on top, which can crush the shape and press creases into the leather.
Where this answer stops
The CCI note is written for museum leather. The environment for a home cupboard cannot match it, so aim for stable, dry and dark rather than exact figures.
Sources and further reading
Three more perspectives
Check on a stored bag every few months. The CCI recommends inspecting collections every three months, and a quick look at a bag in a cupboard is a small habit that catches problems early.
Choose a cupboard on an inside wall rather than one on a cold outside wall or near a pipe. A stable spot matters more than an expensive cover.
Take the bag out of use clean and dry. Empty the pockets, brush off dust and let it air before you put it away, since stored dirt and damp are what cause the trouble.
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