How to care for Leather? - The basic know hows to keeping your leather looking new.

by Super User

In order to care and maintain our leather products, we must know what class of leather it belongs to.


The inappropriate care for the wrong type of leather can severely damage it. 
Below are a few tips on identifying your leather and how to maintain it.

Grain Leathers

These may be finished or unfinished (full aniline) leathers. They can be distinguished by putting a drop of water on a hidden area. If the water is absorbed rapidly, with a darkening of the leather, then it is unfinished, but if it stays on the surface it is either finished leather or it has been treated to make it water-repellent.

How to care for Grain Leather?

1. Regularly dust or brush with a soft brush, or wipe clean with a slightly damp cloth. 

2. Treatment with cleaners or polishers should be carried out sticking strictly to the manufacturers' instructions.

3 Once or twice a year the handbag should be wiped with a cloth dampened with spirit to thoroughly cleanse the leather surface from old and discoloured waxes, etc. It should then be given a very light treatment with a proprietary polish, and finally rubbed up with a soft clean cloth.

Finished leathers

They can be cleaned by wiping the surface with a damp cloth. If the soiling is stubborn, then a very dilute soap solution can be used.

Any worn or scuffed areas can be masked by the use of colour restoration products which are available at shoe shops and shoe repairers. These are available in many colours and if the correct colour can't be found they can be mixed within their own ranges. The colour should be matched carefully or the repair could be more objectionable than the damage.

Unfinished Leathers

They present more of a problem as water will penetrate into the leather and cause staining. The surface may be polished with a soft dry cloth but treatment beyond this should be left to professional leather cleaner.

Others

How to care for patent leather?

1. Clean with a damp cloth, plus a little neutral detergent if needed. 

2. Pigskin leathers should be treated with a silicone preparation to protect them.

3. Minor contamination on all grain leathers can frequently be removed by gentle rubbing with a soft rubber eraser.

Suede and Nubuck Leathers

When new they can be treated with a protective spray. This will improve water and grease resistance but can cause a slight darkening. Follow the instructions on the can and don't hold it too close to the leather surface during use.

Brush the nap occasionally with a dry sponge or soft bristled clothes brush. This is best done when the suede is slightly damp, for example after hanging in a steamy bathroom. Don't use a wire or hard bristled brush and don't try to dampen suede by using the steam from a kettle.

Rain may cause temporary darkening whilst the nap is wet but should dry out to the original colour. If there is a residual darkening then the suede can be brushed to restore the original colour. As this is likely to happen every time the garment gets wet you could use a protective spray to prevent the problem from occurring.

If a water spot can't be brushed out, often leaving a darker periphery, then there might have been a migration of dye and the evenness of colour can be difficult to restore. A specialist cleaner may be able to help.

Wet Leathers

If a garment gets seriously wet you need to take special care to prevent the leather suffering as it dries.

1. Remove big or heavy items from the pockets or they may distort the product as it dries.

2. Blot carefully with a dry towel to remove excess water.

3. Allow to air dry naturally at room temperature and keep away from sunlight or direct heat.

4. When dried, you could apply an appropriate leather conditioner or protective product.

Removing Mildew / mould

To remove mildew from leather, create a mixture of one-cup rubbing alcohol per one-cup of water. Wipe the mildew area with a cloth dipped in the diluted alcohol, and then allow it to dry. If the mildew persists, use mild soap and water that contains a germicide, then remove with a clean dampened cloth and allow drying.

Storing Leather

Remember that leather is a natural material and should never be stored in plastic because it encourages the growth of mildew and bacteria and will ruin the leather. Always store leather in a cool, dry place away from heat. Cloth bags are ideal as they are "breathable".


Generic Steps to Leather Cleaning

Unfinished Leather

1. Use a damp cloth or sponge to rub commercial unfinished leather cleaner or saddle soap into the leather; work soap into a light lather.

2. Wipe away lather and allow to air dry.

3. Oil leather with a leather preservative such as mink oil.

Finished Leather

1. Place a small amount of a gentle, moisturizing soap such as Dove on a damp cloth and bring it to a light lather.

2. Rub the damp cloth on the leather without putting too much water on the leather.

3. Wipe away lather with a fresh damp cloth. Don't rinse the leather in water.

4. Polish leather with a dry towel.

5. Treat leather with a leather conditioner after it has dried completely.

Stages in leather care

There are four stages in leather care that include cleaning, conditioning, polishing, and protection. When perusing the store shelves for a product that fits your needs, be watchful for what kind of product you're purchasing. It can be confusing to try and figure out which product is for which stage, but look for words that explain how the product is to be used. It is also important to remember to work on your leather in a well-ventilated area. Some leather care products are very strong and can cause irritations.


Cleaning

To clean a leather item, first choose a cleaner that will help preserve the natural lubricating oils instead of stripping them. For example, saddle soap. It is meant to be used as a cleaner and a protector from moisture, but it strips the leather of the oils in the process of attempting to do two jobs at once. The cleaner of your choice should not leave any greasy residue behind. Residue makes leather susceptible to bacteria and can break down the stitching of your item. Before applying anything to your leather item, be certain to test it out for effect and possible colour distortion on an area that isn't visible to the eye.

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Once you've ascertained whether the leather care product is acceptable to use, apply it to your item. With a slightly dampened cloth, remove the cleaning product. For areas with stitches, there are brushes available on the market. Another cleaning product to consider having in your leather care collection is a nubuck cleaning cloth. They have an astonishing ability to clean and restore leather to its original look.

Conditioning

Leather conditioners are meant for occasional use. They contain fats and/or oils that help lubricate leather and replenish the suppleness. Look for a product that will penetrate the strong fibres in leather, but beware of any that include petroleum or mineral oils.

While petroleum by-products won't damage your leather immediately, they do over a period of time. Again, just as with cleaning, keep on the look out for thick, greasy conditioning treatments for the best care of your leather.

Polishing

Polishing is done for special occasions when you want a more glossy finish on your leather. There are a couple things to be wary of when purchasing a polishing agent. Some products contain colouring factors that will brush off on things you come in contact with.

Some products also have a tendency to clog the pores in leather or dry leather out. Just as with cleaning, be sure to test out the product on a small area and when ready, buff to a shine.

Protection

Moisture barriers are extremely crucial in preventing rain or other liquid hazards from damaging leather. Stiffness and spouting will happen if leather isn't protected beforehand. There is a drawback in protecting leather with a moisture barrier product. They tend to fill in the pores with a greasiness that makes cleaning, conditioning, and polishing difficult, but it's a necessary process to ensure leather isn't destroyed.

Periodically apply a moisture barrier and allow it time to penetrate and dry before using your leather item.

* Information displayed is to act as a generic guide for the public, it might not apply to your leather product. Users beware.