How to care for a leather belt so it lasts ten years

A leather belt can outlast every pair of trousers you own. Most do not, because of four easily avoided habits.

Rotate between two belts

Leather needs time to recover its shape. Wearing the same belt every day compresses the fibres at the same points until it cracks there.

Hang it, do not coil it

Rolling a belt tight creates permanent creases. Hang it from the buckle, or lay it flat.

Keep it dry, dry it slowly

If it gets soaked, blot it and let it dry at room temperature. Direct heat from a hair dryer or radiator makes leather brittle and it never comes back.

Condition twice a year

A small amount of leather conditioner on a soft cloth, worked in and wiped off, keeps it supple. Twice a year is enough in most Indian climates; use less than you think.

The buckle

Wipe it with a dry cloth. Avoid metal polish on coated buckles, which strips the finish.

What not to do

No washing machines, no soap, and no punching extra holes near the tip, which weakens the strap where it is thinnest.