Love your leather & it will love you back
Care for your leather as you’d care for your skin. (Or in my case, much to my wife’s chagrin, better than I care for my skin.) Because leather is tanned animal skin, it can dry, crack, and warp if it is not taken care of periodically. This doesn’t mean that you need to be too precious with your Rivers & Roads leather goods, which are made for regular use. But you should clean and condition occasionally.
Don’t overthink this. Simply:
Wipe down leather with a damp cloth periodically to remove surface dirt and dust.
Condition leather when it appears dry (or every 3-6 months, if you are the type of person that likes a schedule.)
Waterproof annually -- but only if your lifestyle, pattern of use, and/or environment call for it.
If you are looking for a little more guidance, here’s what we can offer:
Clean your leather goods with a damp cloth to remove surface dust, dirty, and grime. Do not submerge them in water or douse them with a dripping wet sponge. By removing surface dirt you’ll reduce the chances of premature aging and accelerated wear, especially in areas that see a lot of friction.
Conditioning: Approach leather conditioning flexibly. There’s no correct schedule for conditioning. Simply apply when dry. You can generally tell that it's time to condition when the surface of your leather goods seems a little ashy and is marking more easily than you’d like. Conditioners help to keep the fibers in the leather pliable, increasing both softness and resilience. Favor conditioners that are rich in natural oils and emollients, including beeswax, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, and castor oil (if you want some shine). Avoid those with synthetics.
Because conditioners add oils and fats to the leather, they will often darken the tone of your piece. You may wish to spot-test your conditioner on a less-conspicuous surface before spreading it all around. Also, there’s no need to overload your leather with gobs of conditioner -- a little goes a long way. The hide will soak up the conditioner, just like your skin would soak up a moisturizer. You can add more if needed, but once it’s on, it’s on.
While you should always follow the instructions supplied by the manufacturer, we generally like to apply with a clean, lint-free rag using circular motions.
If you prefer that your leather more rugged or rough -- and you really want it to tell your story in a loud voice -- you can allow long stretches (e.g., 6-12 months) between conditioning. This will almost guarantee that your piece will get and hold some scuffs, scratches. But even if you really like the lived-in look, we recommend that you condition annually to prevent cracking and preserve the integrity of the piece.
Water-Resistance: To increase the ability of your piece to repel water, consider coating it with beeswax or spraying it with a commercial waterproofing spray. Personally, I like to soften the leather by aiming a hairdryer at it for a few minutes (from a few inches away) to gently warm it and open the fibers up. Then, I spread a thin coat of melted beeswax on with a clean, lint-free cloth and set it aside until it is completely dry. Once dry, I wipe the piece with a new clean cloth to remove any excess. Waterproofing, like conditioning, is also likely to darken your piece.
Storage: If you aren’t going to use a leather good for a spell, be sure to store it in a cool or moderate place that isn’t too damp. Avoid direct sunlight as it can cause rapid discoloration and brittleness. Allow your leather to breathe -- don’t keep it tightly sealed in plastic.