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

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.

Caring for Grain Leather

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".