Is your leather or imitation leather bag cracked and peeling? Find out how to fix it

In the world of fashion, the materials most often used to make bags and similar goods are genuine leather and imitation leather. Animal leather of all kinds have always been a durable and precious material - although over the years its popularity has decreased due to issues of eco-sustainability and cruelty towards animals; synthetic or vegan leather, on the other hand, has gained a lot of support due to its greater convenience and, if not made with plastic materials, it is a truly eco-sustainable option.

We end up wearing and using these accessories for a thousand occasions, which inevitably leaves its mark: both real and fake leather can crack and even peel. However, it is not true that we cannot intervene to repair and restore our favorite leather accessories (like a leather handbag, for example).

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For genuine leather bags:

• Remove all dirt with a clean sponge or soft cloth soaked in a detergent suitable for leather.
• Then apply a layer of wax - there are some that are specific for leather - otherwise there are those who also use saddle soap.
  
  Alternatively:

• Use a lotion that you use on your skin - even one with a protective function. When comparing DIY remedies based on using cosmetic creams or similar, leather products are more capable of rehydrating and being restored to their original softness by using these products.
• Then protect the bag with a little leather conditioner (even neutrally colored conditioners used for shoes are fine).

For synthetic leather bags:

If the bag has not yet cracked but has only lost its original sheen, you can also use polishing products for leather on it, in small quantities. If, on the other hand, it is cracked and lifting, then you can alternatively try:

• Use a hot air gun (hairdryer) on the area, and as soon as the material softens, with the help of a pair  of tweezers, take the flap that was raised by the crack and push it back onto the bag, to make sure it adheres and covers the exposed part.
• Thoroughly clean the bag of any dirt even with a fine and soft bristle brush. Use a leather cleanser with a soft cloth to wipe down the whole bag (saddle soap is fine too). As a third step, use a leather conditioner, which you should gently rub onto the cracked piece which is  lifting, pushing it back onto the bag as much as possible. After ten minutes, use a dry cloth and wipe it all over the bag. Wait 24 hours and then apply shoe polish (pure rubber versions are most recommended). Wipe off with a soft cloth like for polishing, so as to smooth out the pieces of the bag that were cracked, and you should be able to remove the most noticeable marks.

What to do in the case of cracks in genuine leather bags? Here are some possible remedies:

• Mix hot water and a little soap, then add a few drops of glycerin. Apply everything onto the crack and let it dry.
• Dilute some saddle soap in hot water - just enough to make it fluid enough and fill in the cracks. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat this operation several times.
• In deeper cracks, it may be helpful to apply a little leather conditioner mixed with a leather dye to hide the damage.
• There are also so-called filler products designed specifically for this type of repair job.

In short, there are many ways to restore and repair a damaged leather bag - real or synthetic!