How to Waterproof Your Leather Bag?

A good-quality leather bag is an investment, and you don't want it to be a fair-weather-only bag, so you want it to be waterproof.

The critical steps to waterproofing your leather bag are:

1. Clean your bag
2. Condition the leather
3. Waterproof the bag

Below, we'll go over those steps 1 at a time.

Clean Your Bag

• Add a few drops of your chosen leather cleanser onto a terry-cloth towel and gently massage it into the leather.
• This is done to prevent you from sealing dirt or dust into the leather later.
• It may initially make your bag look darker.
• Leave your bag to dry on a clean towel overnight.

Condition Your Leather

• Use a thin microfiber cloth.
• Massage a thin, even layer of cream to the bag using circular movements.
• Leave it to dry naturally for at least 3 hours.

We recommend this Premium Leather Cream - here's how to apply it:

Waterproof Your Bag

• If using a spray-based waterproofer, spray evenly over the leather, ensuring every part is coated.
• If using a cream or liquid based waterproofer, use the same technique as used for cleaning or conditioning your bag.

You can also make your own waterproofer using beeswax. Simply add 2 parts beeswax and 1 part olive oil into a glass container, and heat it in a pan of water while stirring. Leave to cool while stirring to ensure the wax has melted.

Before applying anything to your leather bag, spot-test it in a discrete area first to ensure you're happy with the appearance and feel before you apply it to your entire bag.

How often should you repeat the process?

To ensure your bag stays clean and undamaged, you should repeat the cleaning, conditioning, and waterproofing process every six months.

Learn more about if leather is waterproof already here.

Is leather naturally waterproof?

Leather is naturally "water-resistant", but is not fully waterproof. Water-resistant means that it's partially resistant to water permeation (eg if it's splashed or caught in a rain storm), but wouldn't handle being sumerged in water.

This is because leather is a natural product that's breathable, and so if air can get through it, then so can water.

This applies to all types of leather, even full-grain leather.

If it does get excessively wet, see our guide on how to remove a water stain.

Conclusion

So a leather bag can be waterproofed by cleaning it, conditioning it, and applying a waterproofing agent.

Need a new laptop bag? We have a range for men here, and for women here.