Before using a cleaning method on your piece of luggage, try it on a small section of the bag first to ensure that the color will remain intact and that you will not damage the entire piece.
To clean your luggage, purchase leather cleaner from a retailer or use a mild soap such as a gentle body wash. Moisturizing soaps work best for leather; harsh soaps may damage it.
Use plenty of water with the soap and work up to a foamy lather. Dampen a cloth with the soapy water and ring out all of the excess water. Do not get too much water on the luggage. Wipe down the luggage with the cloth, and do not rinse it off; water can damage leather if you use too much.
Dry off the bag as soon as you finish wiping it down.
Condition leather luggage immediately after cleaning. Leather conditioners for shoes work perfectly fine for your leather luggage. The conditioning will restore the oils to the leather and keep it looking soft and buttery.
Work the conditioner into the leather until it does not feel slick or oily. The conditioner will keep the leather from drying out and cracking. Sun and extreme temperatures can damage leather and cause it to dry out.
To keep your leather luggage in perfect condition, keep it away from a few things---water, for example. Only use a damp cloth to keep it clean, and never soak the luggage. Protect your leather bags from the rain and wipe them down if you do get caught out in a rainstorm with your luggage.
Store your bags in a dark place that does not experience extreme temperature changes. Direct exposure to sunlight will dry out the bag and could fade the dye. Keep your bags out of the sun as much as possible. Following these cleaning techniques will keep your bags looking elegant for years.
