Sometimes maintaining faux leather wallets can feel like a waste of time because the whole charm of faux leather is that it’s easier to care for. Is that true? Partially. They don’t need the same maintenance as leather wallets, but neglecting them completely will result in a wallet that looks worn, and shabby, and is in desperate need of some faux leather care.
Fortunately, it’s actually really easy to avoid and all it takes is a tiny, tiny, TINY bit of care. The good news even more good news is that you probably have everything you need in your kitchen cupboards.
Knowing What You Are Working With
Let’s discuss the basics of faux leather before we go into the details of the practice. Most of today’s faux leather is made of a type of plastic called polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Each of these tries to look and feel like the real thing. They also don’t have the same breathability as actual leather, meaning they all react differently to moisture, heat, and everyday use.
This is also important to note because treating faux leather as if it is real leather can damage it. You wouldn’t use leather conditioners, for example, on synthetic leather. It’ll just end up absorbing a sticky, slimy mess.
Cleaning Makes a Difference
The single most effective thing you can do to keep faux leather wallets and other similar faux leather products looking good is cleaning them on a regular basis. This does not have to be a major undertaking. All we’re talking about is to just a quick wipe down every week or two, and it will go a long way.
To clean your wallet, get a bucket and mix a little bit of mild dish soap with water. Get a cloth, and dampen it and wipe your wallet’s outside and inside. Just make sure you aren’t soaking the wallet, and be sure to focus on the parts that get touched a lot, as they gain a lot of dirt and oil throughout time.
After that, you have to get another cloth and wipe the wallet with just water to rinse off any soap. It’s very important that you dry off the wallet with a towel. Don’t just let your wallet dry by itself, as that could make it dry in a bad way and get stiff.
Almost Everything to Avoid If the wallet is faux leather then watch out. It’s definitely the most heat sensitive wallet. Don’t leave it out in the sun, on a heater, or anywhere with a lot of heat. It could get very damaged, to the point of being broken a lot beyond recovering from it.
Old wallets should be replaced if they become remediated or are scratched due to abrasive interactions. Pre-existing hardware interactions and enclosed routines need to be avoided. Take enlarged storage solutions to place in lone/separate pockets or compartments of bags in transport. Unlike real leather, which gains a unique appeal over time, faux leather simply grows tired over time. Scuffs can be removed with petroleum jelly to buff and remove abrasions. Minor damage such as scratches will be mirror cosmetic work and will be done and be satisfied on friable leathers. Outer pockets of bags work. All you need to clean faux leather wallets are a few basics: soap, water, and a microfiber cloth.
Leave the storage fully enclosed to prevent damage from other hardware. Durable but lower cost, faux leather also does much better than real leather in rain and traceable moisture, and does much better than leather in intense UV rays. This makes faux leather much better than real leather as a material for bags. Also, unlike real leather, faux leather can also be easily assembled in much lower time. Faux leather does much better than real leather in abrasive interactions due to its crush-strength. Faux leather also weighs much less than real leather but feels heavier, making it much more portable.
How and where you store your wallet makes a difference.
When you aren’t using your wallet, store it somewhere cool and dry where it won’t get direct sun exposure. If you plan to store it for a while, lightly stuff it with tissue paper to hold its shape. But make sure you don’t stuff it too firmly, as that could stretch the wallet and pull the seams apart.
The truth is, faux leather wallets won’t last forever. But with some basic care, like cleaning it regularly, storing it smartly, and being careful with high-impact activities, you can add some years to your wallet’s life. Especially considering the cost is only a fraction of real leather and it doesn’t need any special care set.
