If you are a proud motorcycle owner who likes to travel and enjoy outdoor camping and all kinds of trips, you must know by now how essential saddlebags can be. Starting from basic, we all know a motorcycle has no storage space, which means if you want to carry something with your, you need to put it in a case and hang it with your motorcycle. However, changing something as important as a document or as sharp as a tool means you are risking yourself or the object. To make it easy, companies now offer saddlebags that can be attached to your motorcycle, and you can carry anything you want.
However, there are different kinds of saddlebags, like leather saddlebags, hardcover saddlebags, universal saddlebags, street style saddlebags, and swing army style. All these are used differently according to the purpose.
However, most people opt for leather saddlebags. The main reason behind choosing leather saddlebags is the fact; they will not only protect whatever you want to carry but also complement the motorcycle.
Additionally, leather saddlebags provide a cushion for the biker, which helps in preventing any damage.
In short, your leather saddlebag will be your trusted partner for long boring trips, and you must know how to take care of it.
The saddlebags are hung outside, which means they will be taking a lot of beats. Your saddlebags will have to bear harsh sunlight and weather conditions and the most damaging thing, moisture and water splashes.
Most people avoid taking saddlebags everywhere, and once they are done using them, they simply pack the bag and store it in storage space.
This means if you own a pair of saddlebags, you need to be very careful. However, if your saddlebag has lost its original color and shape, you can always learn how to take care of your saddlebags; this will help you keep your saddlebags new for a longer time.
Here are some simple steps that can help you restore your old leather saddlebags, and you can save your money.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
While cleaning your saddlebags, the worst you can do is to clean them with some industrial cleaner. Industrial cleaners are harsh, and they include a chemical that can clean anything, but for leather, this will also mean losing the shine and charm that we all love so much.
Avoid Too Much Oiling
Yes, we recommend oiling for leather as this will help in nourishing it. However, smothering the leather with too much oil means you are blocking the pores altogether. Leather needs to be handled quite gently, which means you need to give some room for breathing. You can find different oiling materials for leather in the market.
However, it is up to you what you select. The best practice is to start by reading the ingredient because you don’t want something heavy like coconut oil or bee wax.
Remove Stain
The stain removal process is quite vital because this will set the basic canvas, and you want it to be clean. You might have few cleaners in the market, but it’s better to opt for something organic. Most people use alcohol base cleaners, which help in taking off the ink. However, using alcohol-based cleaners or thinners can dull the shine of the leather.
All these things collectively impact the decision of selecting the best stain remover. It is advised that baking soda can be used as a good cleaner. All you need to do is just mix it with warm water and gently rub it on the surface. This is a great way to clean the leather while making sure it doesn’t lose the shine.
Easy Cleaning Solution
As the industry-manufactured cleaners are quite harsh, most people opt for simple liquid cleaners that can be prepared at home. To make it possible, you can start by adding water and vinegar together and then spraying it on the leather.
This will remove the road salt as well as any dust. Once you are done removing the stains and dust, you can oil it up and polish the saddlebags to make them look fresh and new. This can become easier if you clean the saddlebags every time you want to use them and after using them.
