How to Remove Odor from Leather Goods: Shoes, Bags and More

Leather shoes, bags and wallets all pick up odors over time — dampness, sweat or mildew. Leather is a porous material, so the smell does not just sit on the surface. That is why spraying perfume over it barely helps and can even damage the leather faster. Below are safe ways to deodorize leather goods at home, along with the mistakes to avoid.

Why leather holds on to odors

• Leather absorbs moisture and traps smells from sweat, rain and humid air.
• Odor usually comes with dampness: items packed away before drying completely develop smells very quickly.
• Because the smell sits inside the material, proper treatment needs three steps: dry it out, absorb the odor, then condition the leather.

Step 1: Dry the item completely first

Wipe the surface with a clean, dry cloth to remove moisture, then place the item somewhere airy with indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight — heat makes leather brittle, stiff and cracked.

For shoes, loosely crumpled newspaper or shoe trees absorb moisture while holding the shape. Never use a hair dryer or any direct heat source — leather blisters and shrinks, and the glue holding the soles can let go.

A baking soda pouch inside a sealed box

Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralizes odors well, but on leather it has to be used the right way:

• Pour 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda into a small fabric pouch tied shut (or an open jar placed inside the box).
• Put the leather item and the pouch together in a box (or a pillowcase), seal it and leave overnight, about 24 hours.
• Take the item out, wipe it lightly with a soft cloth and let it air out briefly before storing.

Important: never sprinkle baking soda directly onto the leather surface. The fine powder settles into the pores, is hard to remove completely and dulls the finish. If you want a deeper look at this method, see our guide on removing shoe odor with baking soda.

A sealed box with newspaper or activated charcoal

Crumple a few sheets of newspaper or packing paper, put them in a box with the leather item, close it and leave for 1–2 days. The paper absorbs moisture and traps odors; if any smell remains, replace the paper and repeat. An activated charcoal pouch does the same job and lasts longer before needing replacement.

Use cleaners made for leather

Choose a cleaner or deodorizer labeled for the exact leather you are treating — smooth leather, suede or a leather bag. General rules:

• Test on a hidden corner first to make sure it does not discolor the material.
• Apply with a clean, soft cloth following the product instructions; never pour it directly onto the leather.
• For suede, use a crepe eraser and a rubber brush, not products made for smooth leather.

Condition the leather so the smell does not return

Leather that is cleaned but never conditioned dries out, cracks and absorbs odors again quickly. Use a dedicated leather conditioner on bags and wallets; for smooth leather shoes, a thin coat of matching cream polish followed by buffing works well.

Our guide to shining leather shoes at home covers the full process. For bags, long-term condition depends heavily on storage — see how to care and store leather bags.

What not to do

• Spray perfume or fragrance directly onto the leather: the alcohol dries it out and leaves blotches. To add scent, spray paper or a fabric pouch and place it next to the item in the box.
• Sprinkle baking soda straight onto the leather surface.
• Soak or rinse the item with water or vinegar to "wash out" the smell.
• Blow-dry it, place it near a heater or leave it in harsh sunlight.
• Store leather while it is still damp in a sealed box or plastic bag.

When to send your items to EXTRIM?

Odors that have set in for years, mildew smells, or odors coming from the inner lining (bag lining, shoe lining) are situations home treatment almost never reaches. EXTRIM cleans and deodorizes by material: shoe cleaning in Ho Chi Minh City from 150,000 VND per pair depending on type (2026 reference pricing), and luxury bag spa from 300,000 VND depending on size, including lining treatment and finishing conditioner. Final pricing is confirmed after we inspect the actual condition.

👉 Send photos of your leather goods for a condition assessment

Public cases

Photos in this article illustrate the process — they are not a before–after record with a public case code. EXTRIM does not use illustrative images to promise results for every pair.