How to clean leather straps?

[KenDiriwan]

Hi all, my watch strap is like this

Note that the inside part, it is bright coloured. But mine due to massive amount of sweats, became darken and that particular part harden up. It is sad, but i wanted to save it. Any solution people? 

[jefnando]

Some call the darkening process of the leather 'patina' , but i call it 'repeatedly soaked with sweat and dried' 

if your concern is mainly the darkening and the hardening, then a tooth brush and some shampoo will help.
some will recommend toothpaste etc etc but i find shampoo works best, it is afterall the strongest detergent we use on our body.. and some has moisturiser too!
but make sure you try it throughly after scrubbing and rinsing (firstly press the strap in between dry towels and the best would be to keep it wraped in alot of layers of newspaper overnight to extract all the moisture trapped inside)

but if your concern includes the smell... then it will be alittle more complicated..

[dpkong]

this issue of leather in our tropical climate is what's stopping me from getting a leather strap Daytona. they're really nice but i can't stand the smell of leather after prolonged use in our weather.

[Enkidu]

I have a couple of watches on thick Toshi straps. When they start to smell a little funny I wipe them using a piece of moist Johnson's baby wipe which I have also soaked with a little bit of Febreeze. Then it's a minute under my wife's hair dryer turned to max. After that they usually smell a little better (like sushi).

 

[takashi78]

So ur strap smells like tuna or salmon sushi? hahaha

[Angryrodent]

Anything one can do to have them smell like steak with potatoes and salad? Mybe a bottle of wine also   

[JayJay]

alternatively

get a water resistance leather strap better still Kodiak coated

[Enkidu]

So ur strap smells like tuna or salmon sushi? hahaha

A bit like california roll actually; smell of seaweed...

Anything one can do to have them smell like steak with potatoes and salad? Mybe a bottle of wine also   

That's easy, go work in one of those fancy restaurants. Not as a waiter, but as a dishwasher. Do the washing with your watch strapped on and make sure the water from the basin splashes onto your strap all the time. Do it for 5 nights straight, don't clean your strap after work.... 

[Enkidu]

alternatively

get a water resistance leather strap better still Kodiak coated

Jay Jay is right...Hirsch waterproof straps work well. I have used the Camelgrain and Heavy Calf by Hirsch and they don't smell even after heavy use (but remember to clean occassionally with Johnson's bay wipe and a bit of Febreeze if you can). 

[Laktos Kid]

+1 for smelling