Care and Maintenance

Jack Georges items are an investment. Each style is created to last a lifetime when properly handled and maintained. Whether for business, travel, or everyday use, leather needs to be cared for properly and may need some occasional maintenance to prolong its life. Hardware should be used as intended to avoid damage.

 

Keep your leather dry. When your leather item is exposed to rain, snow, or excess moisture, use a clean, colorless, dry cloth to blot, not rub, wet spots as quickly as possible. Do not place your leather bag near a heat source or out in the sun to dry, especially if it is a coated leather. Also, never put a leather briefcase, tote, or handbag on wet ground or a snowy surface. Remember moisture from winter weather may contain ice melt or salt-based products that are harmful to leather and should be blotted with a slightly dampened cloth and allowed to air-dry.

Heavy rain can be harmful for any leather. In the event that your bag gets soaked in pouring rain, let it air-dry slowly. Lay the bag on the floor or a table so that it is flat – this will avoid drooping, slouching, or wrinkling. Do not place it near a radiator, heater, or in the clothes dryer, as excess heat will damage the leather. If you’re drying a briefcase, tote, or handbag, it is best to stuff it with a dry cloth to help it maintain its shape and draw out moisture from inside of the bag. Soaked leather may cause the natural oils inside of the leather to come out. This can cause dry-rotting. In such cases, repeated use of a natural balm lotion will help the leather to regain its softness and flexibility. Please keep in mind that on naked leathers, this may cause darkening, especially with Tan colored Belting.

Keep the inside of your bag clean. Wipe the inside of your leather bag or briefcase once a month. Use a slightly damp cloth to wipe down the lining of the leather bag to remove any dust and residue that may have been left there from items carried inside. Then prop the bag open and allow the interior to naturally air-dry. Do not sun dry or use a blow dryer which may cause permanent damage.

When storing your leather item for a long period of time, be sure to clean it first and keep it in a cool, dry, clean, and well ventilated location without direct sunlight or high temperatures that can harm the leather. Bags and briefcases should have the straps tucked inside the body to avoid any markings that can be caused by pressure from other items surrounding the bag. Always avoid placing leather items next to a heat source, such as a radiator or furnace/heating vent, and areas that are prone to high humidity or mold as they will damage leather and shorten its life.

 

Leather Care

Regardless of which Jack Georges collection your item comes from, all leather needs to breathe and to do that, its pores should be clean. Every so often, use a soft, clean, non-abrasive colorless cloth to gently wipe away any dust and dirt that may clog those pores.

Coated leathers, such as those used to make our Elements and Milano collections, can be cleaned and conditioned with a clean, soft, colorless cloth and natural balm leather lotion that you should be able to find at your local leather shop or you can use Jack Georges Leather Lotion. For uncoated leathers, please see instructions for individual collections below.

 

 

 

Proper Maintenance of uncoated leather will depend on the finish of the leather itself. Please read the information below carefully.

 

Arizona Collection

The Arizona collection is made of a naked buffalo leather with a hunter finish. This leather builds a beautiful patina with time and use without the need for any treatment. To clean, simply use a soft, clean, dry, colorless cloth to gently wipe away excess dust or debris. You can clean stubborn soiled spots by using a soft-bristle brush and working it in a circular motion to avoid marking the leather. We do not recommend the use of lotion as it would be absorbed by the leather, leaving uneven blotches. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

Belmont Collection

The Belmont Collection is made from vegetable re-tanned American bullhide. The leather is semi-finished so that it will build a patina but it has some protection against the elements. We recommend using a natural balm lotion to clean and moisturize the leather every six months or every two months in more arid climates. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

Belting Collection

The Belting Collection is made from a naked vegetable tanned cowhide leather that does not have a protective coating. This allows it to build a rich, beautiful patina as scratches, stains, rain drops, and oils from your hand accumulate add to its character. Every mark accumulated on the leather becomes a part of its story. We do not recommend the use of lotion, especially on tan belting leather, as it will darken the leather and if not used evenly, the leather will look patchy. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm this leather and shorten its life. To clean, use a soft, clean, colorless cloth to gently wipe away excess dust or debris. Do not put pressure or the leather will darken and develop shiny spots on the surface.

 

Buffed Collection

Our Buffed Collection is made from a naked buffalo leather that is individually hand-waxed on the surface. The leather is fairly resilient and needs minimal care.  We recommend using a natural balm lotion to clean and moisturize the leather every six months or every two months in more arid climates. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

Genuine Alligator

Jack Georges’ Genuine Alligator leather is polished for a beautiful shine. Clean the leather with a very soft, non-abrasive, colorless cloth to gently wipe away any dust and dirt without scuffing the surface. We do not recommend the use of any lotion as it would dull the surface. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

  

Hair on Hide

The leather used in the Hair on Hide collection is delicate. Avoid getting it stained by coffee, wine, oils, etc. since it is not possible to clean as any rubbing of the surface will pull hair from the follicles on the skin. For the same reason, always carry the bag so that the hair side does not contact your hip, or other part of your body. The rest of the bag can be cleaned with a soft, clean, colorless cloth to gently wipe away excess dust or debris. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its life.

 

Hand-brushed Croco

The Hand-brushed Croco Collection is made from hand-stained and brushed cowhide with a croco emboss. Clean the leather with a very soft, non-abrasive, colorless cloth to gently wipe away any dust and dirt without scuffing the surface. We do not recommend the use of lotion - while the lotion will not harm the leather, it is difficult to remove excess lotion from crevices. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

Hornback Croco

The Hornback Croco Collection is made from embossed hand-stained buffalo leather. This leather needs minimal maintenance and has self-healing properties when its surface is scratched. Clean the leather with a very soft, non-abrasive, colorless cloth to gently wipe away any dust and dirt. We do not recommend the use of lotion - while the lotion will not harm the leather, it can be difficult and time consuming to remove excess lotion from crevices. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

Platinum Collection

The Platinum Collection is made from American steer hide. This leather is fairly low-maintenance.  We recommend using a natural balm lotion to clean and moisturize the leather every six months or every two months in more arid climates. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

Sienna Collection

The Sienna Collection is made from embossed hand-stained vegetable-tanned Italian leather. The leather is only finished on the surface so avoid tape or other adhesives that will lift the finish.  We recommend using a natural balm lotion to clean and moisturize the leather every six months or every two months in more arid climates. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

SOHO Collection

The SOHO Collection is made from a tumble-milled cowhide. This leather is fairly low-maintenance.  We recommend using a natural balm lotion to clean and moisturize the leather every six months or every two months in more arid climates. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

University Collection

The University Collection is made from American steer hide. This leather is fairly low-maintenance.  We recommend using a natural balm lotion to clean and moisturize the leather every six months or every two months in more arid climates. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

 

Voyager Collections

The Voyager Collection is made from hand-stained buffalo leather. This leather needs minimal maintenance and has self-healing properties when its surface is scratched. Simply rub the area of the scratch to help massage the oils to fill in the scratched area. We recommend using a natural balm lotion to clean and moisturize the leather every six months or every two months in more arid climates. Avoid oils, waxes, alcohols, water repellents, and chemicals as they may harm the leather and shorten its lifespan.

For Voyager Floral and Voyager Woven Collections, clean the leather with a very soft, non-abrasive, colorless cloth to gently wipe away dust and dirt. We do not recommend the use of lotion - while the lotion will not harm the leather, it can be difficult and time consuming to remove excess lotion from crevicesof the floral or woven prints.

 

 

Hardware, Handles, and Wheels

 

Hardware

Scratches on hardware are to be expected with normal use. Do not oil locks or hinges as the oil may leak and stain leather, lining, or clothing.

 

Telescoping Handles

Telescoping handles are for pulling your bag, not for lifting it. Never carry a bag by its telescoping/pull-out handle or the handle extensions may bend from the weight of the bag and the items in it, making it difficult or impossible to open or close. Bent handle frames cannot be repaired under warranty and must be replaced.

 

Wheels

We generally use inline-skate wheels for our carry-on bags. These wheels are more durable and less fragile than others. If dust and dirt get inside the bearing area, clean with a brush or an air can if possible to avoid damaging the bearings. Do not use oil or silicone unless absolutely necessary. If used, be sure to wipe off all excess oil and silicone and make sure nothing drips onto leather, lining, or material thereby causing possible stains or damage. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact us at jgi@jackgeorges.com.