Friday, September 7, 2012

Facts For Cleaning Up Leather And Leather-Based Goods

By Ethan O. Tanner


Initially see whether your leather-based item is finished or unfinished. Usually finished leather items may have a shiny or smooth surface which can be luggage, purses, wallets, or garments. Unfinished leather and suede usually possess a natural flat finish or nappy finish like saddlery, work boots or sport gloves.

Purchase good leather cleaner and rub it into your leather in even circular motions. After making use of cleaner use a leather conditioner. Leather Balm with Atom Wax Leather Conditioner is a great dressing, that can clean, soften, and condition leather. Saddle cleaning soap is just not advisable for use on a leather couch is just too harsh for furniture.

Direct sunshine can be extremely harsh on leather since it will diminish or discolor the leather. Removing spots from leather is usually accomplished by dipping a soft cloth into rubbing alcohol and rubbing the spot. Water spots can in fact be taken off the leather by moistening the location again using a little water. Let the leather dry or gently blow dry. Oil leather using a leather preservative like mink oil after removing the spots.

Wipe leather shoes often with a damp cloth. Keep shoes polished with a shoe polish paste. If leather shoes should become soaked with water, let air-dry with shoe trees in place. Regarding discoloration use a leather spray to bring back the color to leather garments, gloves and bags. Dry leather needs re-hydrating with water and oils. Waxes are not recommended as it will dry out of the leather. It is essential to maintain a regular cleaning system.

Initially try it on a small amount of leather conditioner in a spot not apparent in case your particular brand of leather does not react well to the treatment. Saddle soap should not be used on a leather couch, as it is too unkind for leather furniture. Do not use products like mink oil, shoe polish and waxes when cleaning leather furniture or garments. Use a damp cloth or sponge to rub saddle soap into the leather working the soap into a light lather. Oil leather with a leather stabilizer such as mink oil or leather balm.

Dry leather needs re-hydrating with water and oils. Waxes are not recommended as it will dry out of the leather. It is essential to maintain a regular cleaning system cleaning dirt off the surface regularly. Stopping the absorption of body oils into the leather with a protector is the best way to doing this. Car owners manual suggest using a 5% solution of detergent made for wool on car leather seats. This cleans and protects leather of all kinds.

Yet another option for cleaning leather is to take a damp cloth, wipe it across moisturizing soap and lather the leather. Remember: Whenever removing spots from leather, always check any cleaning method on an out-of-the-way place first. Suede is an unfinished type of leather that should be handled carefully. For suede items, try an art gum eraser first and if that does not do the trick, use undiluted white vinegar on a soft cloth, and be sure to blot -- never rub whenever treating suede. Some people recommend low-cost leather cleaning processes, like baking soda or salt.

The most effective method for cleaning leather is determined by the types of the spot and the kind of the leather. The following happen to be instructions for normal leather cleaning: Always test the cleaning on a small unseen patch of leather before proceeding on the whole item. Its also wise to follow cleaning by using a Fiebing Suede and Fabric Coat leather protector that it will act like a 'scotchgard' and inhibit dirt and spots from being absorbed and make cleaning less complicated the very next time.




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