The monsoon is the riskiest stretch of the year for leather in Singapore. Humidity sits around 80% all year, and from November to January it climbs higher while the rain keeps bags and shoes from drying out properly.
Most of the work happens in October, before the first heavy week. Here's the checklist we'd follow, and what to keep up until February.
Before the monsoon: October
October is the month to reset everything, including the pieces you haven't touched since last year. Stored leather is what gets forgotten, and it's the leather most at risk.
- Clean every leather item with No-Mould Leather Cleaner, sprayed onto a cloth rather than the leather, and let it dry fully in an air conditioned room.
- Condition smooth leather with Leather Care once it's dry. Suede and nubuck get a brush instead.
- Put fresh Anti-Mould Patches in each dust bag and shoe box, two per space, and write today's date on them.
- Give suede, nubuck and veg tan a coat of Water & Stain Protector before their first wet outing.
- Move leather out of wardrobes on exterior walls and shoe cabinets near the bathroom or service yard. Those spots run warmer and more humid.
- Swap plastic storage boxes for breathable cotton dust bags, and leave 5 to 10cm between items.
- Put an AirGuard+ No-Mould Diffuser in the wardrobe or shoe cabinet where most of your leather lives. Patches protect each item. AirGuard+ protects the space around them.
During the monsoon: November to January
Through the wet months, the job is catching moisture before it settles. None of this takes long.
- Check stored leather every two weeks instead of once a month. Check suede and nubuck weekly.
- Wipe bags and shoes down with a dry cloth when you get home, before they go back in the wardrobe.
- Keep Leather Rescue Wipes in your bag. They're individually wrapped, so one can come out the moment something splashes.
- Keep to the 2 month patch cycle. If you put fresh patches in during October, the next change is December.
- Add an extra patch to any dust bag or cupboard that smells musty or feels damp.
- Keep opening the wardrobe doors for 15 to 30 minutes each week, ideally on a dry day.
- Rotate your shoes. Stuff the pair you wore with newspaper, change it after 2 to 4 hours, and let them dry before they go back in the cabinet.
- On heavy rain days, leave the bag you'd hate to replace at home.
If a bag gets caught in the rain
Act within 30 minutes.
- Blot the surface with an absorbent cloth. Press rather than rub, and work from the edges toward the centre.
- Stuff the bag with newspaper or acid free tissue to hold its shape, and change it every 2 to 4 hours.
- Leave it to air dry in an air conditioned room. It can take 24 to 48 hours.
- Once it's dry, check for water marks, clean with No-Mould Leather Cleaner if you see any, and condition with Leather Care.
Never dry leather with a hairdryer, in direct sun, near a heater or in a parked car. Drying it fast is what makes it crack.
After the monsoon: February
When the rain eases, go through everything once more, starting with the pieces at the back of the wardrobe.
- Inspect every item, including the linings, inside pockets, base corners and handle fittings.
- Clean anything that came home wet or smells musty, then condition smooth leather.
- Replace all your Anti-Mould Patches.
- Go back to your usual routine. The full table by item is in how often to condition leather in Singapore.
Signs mould has already started
Open the wardrobe and smell it first. A musty, earthy smell is often the first sign. Then look for a fine white or grey bloom that smears when you wipe it, and feel for leather that's gone slightly sticky.
If you find either, take the item out and follow our step by step guide to cleaning mouldy leather. Not sure it's mould? Check white spots on leather bags first.
Why silica gel won't get you through the monsoon
Silica gel was designed to protect a sealed shipping box, not an open wardrobe in 80% humidity. It saturates in days, and almost nobody replaces it. Unlike silica gel, Anti-Mould Patches keep working through their full 2 months, and an AirGuard+ in the wardrobe protects the whole space rather than one corner of it.
Monsoon leather care questions
Do I need to replace Anti-Mould Patches more often during the monsoon?
No. Replace them every 2 months all year. If a space feels damp, add an extra patch rather than changing the ones already there early.
Can I use Leather Care on suede before the monsoon?
No. Leather Care is for smooth leather. Protect suede and nubuck with Water & Stain Protector, and brush them regularly.
When should I start preparing?
In October. The wet months run from November to January, so starting in October means everything is protected before the first wet week.
What if I only have ten minutes this weekend?
Put fresh Anti-Mould Patches in the dust bags of the two or three bags you'd hate to lose, and write the date on each one.
If you're starting from nothing, the Anti-Mould Leather Care Kit has the cleaner, Leather Care, Anti-Mould Patches and a microfibre cloth in one box, which covers most of the October list. There's more on the storage side in how to store leather bags in Singapore, or browse the full anti mould leather care range.