Taking Good Care Of A Real Leather Belt
by Maas Roelvink
You probably spent a lot of time choosing the perfect leather belt for your wardrobe. You thought about the best width and color. Now that you have that perfect belt, though, it is important to take care of it. A wider leather belt, such as a 1.5 inch leather belt, should be strong enough to last a lifetime with the proper care. So, here's a look at what that care entails.
Store it in a place with moderate humidity.
Temperature is not so vital when storing leather. It will be okay in a hot, cold, or lukewarm space. What is important, though, is the humidity of the space where you're keeping the belt. If it's too humid, the leather will mold. And while you can clean the mold off, it will often discolor the leather. If it's too dry, the leather belt will crack, and you really can't fix cracks. (They may even cause the belt to break right through, eventually, if you pull on it.) If you keep your home humidity between 45 and 55%, your belt should be just fine.
If you don't have air conditioning or a dehumidifier and your home gets really humid in the summer, then consider storing your leather belt in a box, with a few packets of silicone desiccant. The desiccant will absorb the moisture so your belt does not.
Clean it with leather soap.
Belts don't get to get that dirty. But, if your belt does get splashed with mud or is otherwise soiled, make sure you use leather soap to clean it. Classic, glycerine leather soap that comes in a bar works really well, and there are also liquid soaps you can use. These leather soaps don't penetrate the leather and add as much moisture to it as some soaps will. They also tend to leave a light, protective, outer film on the leather.
Condition your belt.
About once a year, or maybe more often if you live in a dry climate, give your belt a quick cleaning. Then, once it is dry, apply a good leather conditioner. Anything with mink oil tends to work well. Apply the conditioner, give it about a half-hour to soak in, and then wipe away any excess. This should leave the leather more supple and moist to prevent it from cracking, and it should also give your belt a fresh sheen.
Taking good care of a leather belt is not that difficult. It really comes down to the three key steps listed above.
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About Me
After burning through several pairs of cheap earrings, I decided one day that it might be in my best interest to look into buying some better pieces. Instead of visiting little accessory shops, I started saving my money and frequenting high-end jewelry stores. I quickly realized that by investing more money into jewelry, the items would last significantly longer and look a lot better when I wore them. It was amazing to see how much better I looked with the better items. This blog is all about investing in better accessories so that you can take better pictures or enjoy a renewed sense of self.