How to Condition A Leather Wallet - Mr. Lentz Leather Goods (2024)

I, Mr. Lentz, believe that high-quality leather deserves high-quality care. This is exactly why I provide a free tin of my own handmade all-natural leather conditioner with every leather goods purchase. It is important to know how to properly maintain and care for leather so that it will last you the better part of your lifetime. After several emails asking how this is done in practice – I decided to make a short video and write this post to bring light to a very simple and quick process that will keep your Mr. Lentz goods looking great.

The first thing to note is the importance of conditioning leather.

My goods are made with the highest quality full-grain vegetable-tanned leather you can buy in the U.S. This leather contains a bit of natural oils in it already – as well as a bit from the tannery. After I cut, brand, stamp, edge, wet, dye, and shape the leather…it tends to lose a bit of its oil and therefore needs some replenishing. I hand rub every piece with the same oil/wax conditioner that is in the tin – my own Mr. Lentz Spiff N’ Shine. This tends to darken the piece slightly and gives it some pliability and softness before I ship them out. Leather conditioner also allows the fibers in the leather to be more durable and less likely to dry out and tear. If your leather purchase seems a little stiff or dry after several months to a year, its probably time to apply a bit of Spiff N’ Shine.

• Mr. Lentz Spiff N’ Shine leather conditioner works best on vegetable tanned leathers. All goods made by Mr. Lentz are vegetable tanned.

• Typically you will not need to apply any conditioner within the first 6 months of use up to a year. It all depends on how you use the goods. For example if it is in your pocket every day and being handled a lot it may be fine for quite some time because it tends to absorb the oils from your skin. If the goods get wet – this may flush out some of the oil and it could be time to apply some Spiff N’ Shine.

• To apply, simply take a very light coat on your fingers or soft cloth and gently rub into the leather on the smooth side of the surface. You can rub it into the rough back (flesh) side, but the oil will absorb quicker and may not be as even.

• Make sure to apply to all edges, creases and slots as well – and anywhere where the goods get a lot of wear and tear action.

• If you let it sit for a few minutes to 20 minutes the oil should absorb completely. If a heavy coat was used it may take a day or two for the oils to spread out evenly in the goods.

• Since Mr. Lentz Spiff N’ Shine contains beeswax as well, you can buff the leather with a soft cloth after the conditioner has dried for a subtle shine. Otherwise, you should be all set.

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I spend most of my free time creating tutorials like this to help those like yourself get into leatherwork and woodworking, or get better at it. If you'd like to support my efforts, consider checking out my handmade leather goods shop and purchasing a gift for yourself or a loved one. It's readers like you that help keep a small U.S. business like mine going strong, so -thank you!

If you need a refill of Spiff N’ Shine at any point be sure to check the shop, or if unavailable contact me and I will get you going.