How to Protect Leather Bags During Rainy & Humid Summer: A-Z

Now that summer has begun and the rainy season is here, many people are starting to pay closer attention to leather bag care. This season in particular brings the kinds of conditions that can seriously damage your leather bags, like moisture, stains, or mold.

That’s why leather care isn’t optional — it’s essential.

In this post, we’ll walk you through some key tips for keeping your leather bags in great shape, even during this challenging time of year.

Point 1: Leather should be maintained regularly

This can’t be emphasized enough: leather bags need consistent care. If you’re thinking something like, “It’s expensive and high quality bag, so I probably don’t need to do anything,” or “Are you just saying this to sell more products?” — I hope you’ll reconsider. There’s a reason every leather workshop has leather care products on hand. It’s not just for show.

“Uncoated full-grain leather needs leather care — no exceptions.”

Especially during humid summer months, uncoated leather needs to be cared for in advance to stay protected and safe. Let’s first talk about why leather needs care at all.

Leather is, essentially, well-dried skin. And like our skin, the protein fibers in leather need a certain level of oil to stay elastic and durable. Just like we apply lotion to our skin daily, leather also needs oil-based conditioning. These oils help reduce friction between densely packed fibers, allowing the leather to bend, stretch, and move without damage — all while keeping it soft and supple.

But even oil evaporates — slowly, yes, but continuously. That’s why regular conditioning is necessary to keep leather in its best state.

You can actually observe oil loss in leather indirectly — for example, through sun exposure. In early leathercraft days, people used to sun-dry their leather to darken the color — a kind of “tanning.” But what was really happening was that the surface oil evaporated due to the heat, and deeper oils from within the leather rose to the surface. Over time, this dehydrates the leather, and UV rays weaken the structure, fading the color and stiffening the surface.

Leave a leather bag in strong sunlight for a few weeks — or just a few days in peak summer — and you’ll probably start to see color changes. I’ve personally experienced this with a bag I carried all summer — its color noticeably faded. So try not to leave leather bags in direct sunlight for too long.

Another big reason to use leather care: to protect against water (rain, sweat, etc.). Under a microscope, leather looks almost sponge-like, which means it absorbs liquid very easily. Unfortunately, when leather is repeatedly exposed to water, it stiffens and breaks down.

That’s why it’s best to apply leather care products as soon as you get a new bag. Mineral-based care products are naturally water-repellent, since they don’t mix with water. Applying one in advance helps make the leather more resistant to moisture absorption.

A well-maintained leather bag can actually handle some rain surprisingly well.

TORRI leather care doesn’t let water pass through, but penetrates deep into the leather

Point 2: No matter how good the leather is, it means nothing without care

Some people avoid using conditioners because they don’t want the leather to darken. That may be somewhat okay for small items like wallets, which are regularly exposed to the oils in your hands or makeup — but larger bags are exposed to all sorts of contaminants and have no protection if left untreated.

If leather hasn’t been cared for at all, a single drop of water can leave a permanent stain. And if it sits too long, the leather won’t just stain — it’ll swell from inside. That’s not a flaw in the leather; it’s just the nature of the material.

Leather types like Tosca, vacchetta, and bridle are often considered “good leather” — but these have already been treated with oils or waxes by the tannery. That’s why they seem more water-resistant at first. But if you keep using them without maintenance, they will eventually dry out. Even the most expensive bridle leather can be damaged by a small splash if not cared for properly.

Not all high-end leather is the same, either. Some types, like nude saddle leather or uncoated natural leather, are sold in their raw, crust form with no oil or wax at all. These can still be made from excellent hides and tanned beautifully, but without added oils, they’re extremely vulnerable to moisture.

In other words, the term “high-quality leather” doesn’t automatically mean “maintenance-free.” And just because a leather is made from a great hide doesn’t mean it has the surface protection to handle daily life. If it’s uncoated, it absolutely needs leather care. And even if it’s coated, it still needs regular care to keep it from drying out or fading.

When Your Leather Gets Wet

A properly conditioned bag usually won’t have much trouble with splashes or light rain — TORRI, for example, provides basic water repellency thanks to its mineral barrier. And even when leather gets wet, the conditioned fibers are protected, and the bag usually returns to normal once it’s air-dried.

That said, even well-maintained leather shouldn’t be exposed to water for long periods. Water can still seep in through thinner areas or stitching holes if left too long. Especially during the rainy season, it’s a good idea to apply leather care before going out.

Important: Don’t rub the wet area or use artificial heat (like a dryer or heater) to dry it. Wet leather is more fragile and can deform easily. If your bag gets wet, blot it gently with your hand, a dry cloth, or tissue. If the water’s already been absorbed, just let it dry naturally. Do any additional care only once the leather is completely dry.

Please Avoid Leather Cleaners

Especially with full-grain or uncoated leather, we strongly recommend avoiding leather cleaners. Perfectly cleaning leather is basically impossible — and properly washing leather at home is extremely difficult to do safely.

The idea of “leather cleaning” came from the old term “saddle soap,” but this isn’t soap in the usual sense. We’ll go deeper into this topic in another post soon.