As with many materials, proper care will significantly enhance the longevity and appearance of leather, and employing specific techniques to care for items such as shoes, furniture or sports equipment is important. From storage to cleaning, the methods used to keep leather in peak condition are simple and often easy to employ.
- Protect Leather from Chemicals. It is easy to damage leather with improper care and often a beautiful piece of leather furniture will be ruined because it came into contact with chemicals. Leather doesn’t respond well to contact with harsh chemicals and should be kept away from any substances other than gentle soap and leather conditioner.
- Protect Leather from Humidity. One of the biggest issues to impact the health of leather is prolonged exposure to humidity. Growth of mold and mildew is very possible if leather is housed in an extremely humid area.
- Clean Leather Regularly. Leather does need regular attention to ensure it maintains its full luster and one of the easiest things to remember is that leather is a sturdy substance that responds well to regular application of a damp cloth and warm soapy water. When cleaning leather, it’s fine to rub the surface to create a healthy lather with soap and water.
The most valuable thing to remember about such cleaning sessions is that they always should be followed with the proper drying of the item since leather that is stored while damp will be irreparably damaged.
- Condition Leather Regularly. Leather responds well to conditioning, and this is a type of maintenance that is a little different than a simple application of soap and water. There are a number of different leather conditioners on the market today, including Leather Honey. Conditioning will keep the leather supple and looking new.
One of the best tips to follow regarding leather conditioning is that if conditioning after cleaning, you should always allow the leather to dry completely first. Then apply conditioner, giving it ample time (two to 24 hours) to absorb.
- Clean Stains from Leather. Even if leather is cleaned properly on a regular basis, stains can appear over time or result from various storage issues, and so knowing how to remove these imperfections is always a good idea for a leather owner. In most cases, soap and water will be the simplest way to remove stains from the leather. Certain stains in leather cannot be removed and this is why keeping the leather away from chemicals or staining agents is vital.
- Remove Odors from Leather. The application of baking soda or vinegar will often have the best results for removing odors from leather. Baking soda usually takes an entire day to do its work while vinegar can be applied many times for increased odor removal potential. Use apple cider vinegar cut with water, or white vinegar if you’re dealing with light-colored leather and concerned about stains.
- Store Leather Properly. Although a piece of furniture might not see the inside of a storage room that often, the possibility still exists of moving large leather items into a storage unit or some leather clothing into the back of the closet for the season. Understanding how to store leather properly can ensure it comes out of storage looking just as good as when it was placed in storage.
The air temperature is the most crucial aspect of proper storage and ensuring that the space is not too hot or cold will mean that the leather will be much less likely to dry out or become inflexible. Never store leather in plastic – always wrap in breathable material.
This article was submitted by Jim McGowen of Leather Honey, the number-one selling leather conditioning product available with free shipping!
