How to Care for Leather

There are different grades and types of leather; each used for different purposes. The care varies according to the grade and type. We use a lot of leather items like leather bags, leather jackets, leather shoes, leather furnitures, etc. Leather goods can be used for years, with proper care. If not, cracks can occur, thus damaging the leather.

Leather Jacket Care
If you care well for your leather jacket, it will look good after many years of wear. You can apply leather protector to keep your jacket waterproof. While cleaning the jacket, do not use products containing wax or oil because they damage the quality of leather. If your jacket is wet, wrap it in a towel for drying; avoid using a fan for drying or keeping it under the sun. Make sure you dry it completely or else your jacket may get damaged. Do not keep the jacket in a dry atmosphere. If you have to, then apply leather conditioner to avoid cracking. With proper care, cracking and rending in leather jackets can be prevented and your jacket will also remain odor free.

Shoe and Boot Leather Care
Even if you buy inexpensive shoes, and take proper care, it can last for long. After every wear you can clean your shoes with a soft rag. There should be a gap of at least 12 hrs before you wear it the next time. You should clean your shoes thoroughly at least once a week. The things required for thorough cleaning are shoe brush, leather shoe cleaner, shoe polish and leather protectant. Initially, wash the shoes with soap water and dry it using a cloth. Use a leather cleaner to remove the dirt. Soft shoe brush can be used to remove dirt from the cracks and surface of the shoe.

Leather Furniture Care
Since leather furniture is made from animal skin, it requires more care than fabric. To keep the leather furniture clean, they should often be vacuumed to keep away the dust and debris. Regularly wipe the furniture with a cloth. You can clean stains on the furniture by using leather cleaning products. Keep the furniture away from direct sunlight or fire to avoid fading. Use a dry cloth or sponge to remove the blots. Do not use excess water for cleaning purposes. After every 6 months, the furniture should be cleaned using leather conditioner.

Leather Care Instructions

• Use a cleansing agent for cleaning leather.
• Use a soft brush for cleaning the delicate stitches. Nubuck cloth is preferred for cleaning the part which contains stitches
• Saddle soap can be used as a cleansing agent. Conditioning of leather items should be done regularly.
• Leather articles should be kept away from moisture to avoid spouting and rigidness. The pores in the leather tend to fill with greasy substances, if proper care is not taken.
• If you want your furniture to look shiny, you can try polishing your furniture. Polishing can be done with products containing coloring agents.
• For removal of mildew, apply a mixture of alcohol and water.
• Keeping leather in plastics can give rise to fungi and bacteria, and hence it should be avoided.
• Avoid it from being soiled.

By spending a little money and with some effort, you can retain that brand new look of your leather items. It will also help in saving money to buy new ones.