Leather Solutions | Leather Care Tips

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Leather Care Tips

Leather is a very popular choice these days and good leather care is paramount. Regardless of age leather needs to be maintained correctly to help enhance and preserve it, poorly maintained leather can dry out and crack, become dirty and damaged or suffer from colour loss caused by UV rays, using poor quality or incorrect care products can also have a detrimental effect. To retain the look and feel of your leather follow the relevant tips below and ensure you clean and protect it regularly with good quality care products.

Contact Leather Solutions if you are in any doubt about cleaning or repairing your leather, we are happy to help, advise is free, restoration is not.

Cleaning & Protecting

Apply a protection product as soon as possible after purchasing any new leather, suede or nubuck item to help repel dirt, grease and harmful UV rays.
Avoid any alcohol based cleaning products, they will clean your leather as well as removing any protection you may have had applied and may even cause colour loss.
Clean up spills as they occur, the longer they are left the more they will be absorbed by the leather making them harder to remove. Try to dab up, rubbing will tend to spread the spill making the affected area even larger.
Try to avoid using wax or oil based polishes on leather as they will either break down the finish or cause a build up on the surface, neither of which will do your leather any good.
Wiping over your leather with a damp cloth on a weekly basis will remove dust and aid the hydration process (not recommended on some aniline leathers, cracked leather, nubuck or suede)
Try to wear gloves every time you wipe your leather down to avoid damage made by long finger nails.

Jackets & Handbags

Clothes covers are ideal when storing suede/leather jackets, they are a practical and cheap way to prevent dust ingress.
Suede jackets are fabulous when new but will attract dirt like a magnet with very limited cleaning and restoration options.

Car Seats

If possible when entering/exiting your car ensure the seat is as far back as possible to help prevent rubbing on the side bolsters.
Your rear seats may not endure much use but they will still require cleaning and protecting as regularly as the front.

Furniture

Try not to position furniture in direct sunlight, if impractical draw the curtains during peak sunlight hours.
Placing furniture in front of radiators or any heat source will quickly dehydrate any leather and over time will lead to cracking.
Avoid purchasing nubuck furniture, it is extremely difficult to care for with no sensible options for restoration.
Being light, pale coloured suites are very prone to dye transfer from dark clothing or newspaper print, be wary of this and try to remove as soon as this occurs.
If your cushions have unprotected zips try to position them to the side and not at the bottom.

Internet Forums

Be cautious when using leather care internet forums unless professionally hosted, although well intentioned the advise given may cause more problems than it cures.

Leather Restoration

Ink stain removal can be a complex procedure depending on how long the ink has been left to be absorbed, rubbing with general cleaners may tend to produce an ink halo rather then remove it, contact Leather Solutions for advise.
Nail varnish remover is coloured acetone and may remove the colour pigment from your leather. If you do have a spill dip the corner of some kitchen roll into the varnish and allow to absorb, do not rub, allow the remaining varnish to dry and carefully attempt to massage off, be prepared for colour or even fibre loss.
Do not allow water spills on absorbent leathers such as Aniline to dry out as this will form a hard edge around the spill and create a stain, damp down the entire affected panel with clean water and allow to dry naturally.