Leather Care & Cleaning
How to Store Leather Properly: Jackets, Bags, Gloves and Boots Between Seasons
To store leather, clean it and let it dry fully, then keep it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sun. Hang jackets and coats on a wide padded hanger, stuff bags to hold their shape, and cover everything with breathable cotton, never plastic.
This guide is part of our leather care and cleaning guide.
How to store each leather item
For chaps, follow how to fold and store leather chaps. Riding jackets, suits and boots are covered in how to maintain motorcycle riding gear.
| Item | How to store it | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Jackets and coats | Wide wooden, plastic or padded hanger, never wire; space to breathe | – |
| Bags | Stuffed so they keep their shape, in a dust bag; not hung by the handles | – |
| Backpacks | Upright, so the structure doesn't crease | – |
| Gloves | Flat in a cool, dry drawer, not in a plastic bag, only once completely dry | – |
| Boots and shoes | Shoe trees (cedar preferred) once completely dry, or stuffed with tissue | – |
| Chaps | Folded flat with the legs aligned; see our chaps guide | – |
| Faux leather | Dry, ventilated place; low humidity slows breakdown of the coating | – |
What you need
- Soft cloths for a final wipe
- A wide padded or wooden hanger for each jacket or coat
- Cotton covers, dust bags or white cotton pillowcases
- Acid-free tissue, clean towels or bubble wrap for stuffing
- Shoe trees for boots and shoes
- Optional: a humidity meter (hygrometer) to check the storage spot
How to store leather in 8 steps
- Clean it. Wipe off dust and marks first, so dirt doesn't sit on the leather for months. Blot any spills with a clean cloth. For a full clean, follow how to care for leather.
- Dry it completely. Let damp leather dry at room temperature, never in a dryer or next to a heater. Gloves must be completely dry before they go away.
- Decide on conditioning. Some makers suggest a light coat of conditioner before long-term storage, tested on a hidden area and left to dry. A US National Park Service conservation note says leather dressings have no preservative effect and can leave a sticky surface. Whether conditioning extends leather life is disputed, so if the leather isn't dry, you can skip this step.
- Stuff and shape. Fill bags with acid-free tissue, clean white towels or bubble wrap, without overstuffing. Stuff boots with tissue or soft fabric, or use shoe trees once they are dry.
- Hang or lay flat. Hang jackets and coats on a wide hanger; wire hangers can distort the shape. Give each item enough space that nothing is crammed or creased. Lay bags and gloves flat or upright instead of hanging them by straps.
- Cover with cotton. Use breathable cloth such as cotton sheets or a dust bag. Avoid dark pillowcases on light leather, as the dye could transfer.
- Pick the spot. Choose a cool, dry, ventilated closet; avoid attics and cellars. Keep leather away from windows, radiators, vents and fireplaces. One bag maker aims for 50-70°F (10-21°C) and 40-50% relative humidity.
- Check on it. Look at stored leather about once a month for mold or damage, and air it for a few hours now and then in a ventilated room out of the sun.
Should leather be stored in plastic?
No. Every source we read says to avoid plastic bags, but for different reasons. Leather Collection says plastic covers cause excessive drying. Two bag makers say plastic traps moisture and can lead to mold.
Vacuum-sealed bags and airtight boxes fall under the same warning.
Silica gel and newspaper: sources disagree
If you're unsure, acid-free tissue or plain cotton avoids both questions.
| Question | One view | The other view |
|---|---|---|
| Silica gel packs? | Latico: add a few to absorb moisture and musty smells | Tsuchiya Kaban: don't store leather with desiccants or insecticides |
| Newspaper as stuffing? | Tsuchiya Kaban: crumpled newspaper is fine if the ink doesn't touch the lining | Andar uses unprinted paper; conservators wrap with acid-free tissue |
Storing bags
Empty bags, brush off dirt, stuff them and put them in a dust bag. Don't hang a bag by its handles or straps, which can stretch them.
In this short video, a member of the Rebag team walks through four steps: clean the bag, stuff it, tuck chains and tags inside so they don't leave dents, then cover it in a dust bag in a cool, dry, dark place. The stuffing shown is paper towels or fabric; Latico also suggests acid-free tissue or clean white towels.
Storing faux leather
Faux leather is a plastic coating on fabric. The Canadian Conservation Institute says polyurethane breaks down by hydrolysis, a reaction with water, and that low humidity is better than high for all plastics. Chemical decay roughly doubles with each 9°F (5°C) rise in temperature. Keep faux leather cool, dry and ventilated, and see how to protect faux leather.
What goes wrong in storage
- Mold. Relative humidity above 65% favors mold on leather.
- Stiffness. Leather left unused for long periods may stiffen as it loses moisture.
- Fading. Light and UV fade colored leather.
- Creases and flattening. Crammed or poorly supported items can be misshapen or permanently creased.
- Red rot. Long storage in heat, humidity and pollution can cause red rot in vegetable-tanned leather, which is irreversible.
Delicate lambskin also goes in a breathable dust cover; see lambskin leather care.
Quick answers
Does leather go bad in storage?
It can. Damp storage risks mold, long disuse can stiffen leather, and red rot can develop in vegetable-tanned leather kept in heat and humidity.
Does Vaseline preserve leather?
Sources disagree on Vaseline for leather at all. See can you use petroleum jelly on leather?.
What is the best way to preserve old leather?
Stable, cool, dry storage away from light, with good support and breathable covers. For old pieces that have already changed, mumiay.com covers aged leather and how to care for it.
The Leather Collection leather care instructions give the store's own hanger, cover and storage-place advice.
hosob Editorial Team
hosob articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.