Today, we’re talking about how to clean thrifted leather.
Like many of you, I’m sure, I’m committed to slow fashion and building my dream wardrobe sustainably. That means thrifting high-quality pieces and putting time into taking good care of them.
Welcome to Murder She Knit, a blog where we craft a wardrobe inspired by Jessica Fletcher, the heroine of Murder She Wrote portrayed by the beloved Angela Lansbury.
How will we do this? One episode at a time – finding thrifted treasures, searching deep in our closets, and making some of her memorable pieces by hand.
Disclaimer: Murder She Wrote and the character Jessica Fletcher belong to their respective owners. This blog is a fan project and I do not claim any ownership of their intellectual property.
I was inspired by the beautiful leather bag that Jessica Fletcher carries in Season 1, Episode 1 to thrift myself a satchel-style handbag.
Read more about this splurge (for me) purchase here:
I found this beautiful Dooney & Burke online. It’s in fantastic condition – just a few scratches and one watermark on the back. Before it becomes a staple in my wardrobe, let’s clean and condition it.
I like Leather Honey leather cleaner and conditioner. It’s available on Amazon or you may find it at a local auto supply store.
Clean thrifted leather in two steps.
With a clean, lint-free cloth (I used microfiber), wipe down the leather item with the cleaner. Start with a little and add more to your cloth as needed. This is leather, so we don’t want to over-saturate.
Once the cleaner is completely dry (for me this was just a few minutes), repeat the process with a new cloth and the conditioner. Use plenty this time – you’ll wipe off any excess after it sits overnight.
And done! This beautiful bag is clean and in great shape, and it will be a treasured piece for years to come.
I hope this tip on how to clean thrifted leather gives you the confidence to try thrifting high-quality pieces like handbags for your wardrobe. Let me know how it goes!
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