Leather is similar to the skin on your body. It has pores, is sensitive to light and will dry out if not properly cared for. Leather is a substance which keeps its properties unchanged for many many years, but it must be looked with care: it must be kept far from strong heat sources, sheltered from direct sunlight, and protected from water.We would like to take the time to share some key points on proper leather care to extend the enjoyable life of your product.
Leather Protection
- Do not store your Leather products in plastic bags as over time they will get mouldy.
- Leather products should be well aired out or stored in a cloth/paper bag.
- When hanging leather jackets, avoid using metal hangers.
- Always stuff empty leather handbags with newspaper.
- Use shoetrees when storing leather Shoes and Boots.
- Store your leather products in a clean, cool and humid free area
- Good leather actually gets better with age and regular use.
Polishing and Conditioning Your Leather Goods
- It's important to keep your leather goods clean and well moisturized. Leather will easily absorb grease and oils from repeated contact with your hands and skin. We suggest cleaning & conditioning every 4-6 months to help extend the life of your leather good and keeps it looking great, however you can quickly clean your leather good as need be with our cleaner as well.
- Apply with a dry, soft cloth. A little can go a long way in this case.
- Allow it to sit on the leather for 3-4 minutes.
- With another dry rag, buff out the leather good in a circular motion to leave it with a rich, warm glow.
- Allow leather to dry for at least 4 hours away from direct sunlight and heat.
Moisture Control
People sometimes get a little freaked out about moisture and leather. They’re afraid of even a single raindrop. But you don’t have to worry that much. It’s not that our leather can't handle some raindrops, it’s that you want to avoid excessive/repeat moisture. If fungus develops it should be rubbed off with a soft cloth dipped in a mild solution of Dettol. If soaked wet, the bag should be stuffed to retain shape and left to dry in a shady area.Do not dry in direct sunlight or with a hair dryer. Room temperature with gentle air works better. Extreme heat causes the leather to become stiff and cracks may develop.Dry Control
Dry skin is unhappy skin. Same goes for leather. Over time, leather could get a bit dried out. So occasionally, you may want to restore some of that moisture to the leather. Restoring moisture will also help soften the leather. When we talk about restoring moisture, we are not talking about water. We talk about oils. Just like your car, leather runs on oil - not water.Scratches
Your leather will get scratches over time; it’s just a fact of life. Scratches are cool and add a lot of character. Our belief has always been that this only enhances the look of your leather item. However, there are options to repair/reduce scratches. Restoring natural oils is a great way to repair scratches and minimize them.Important Tips to Remember
- Leather stretches out, but not back.
- Similar to the nature of skin it needs to be moisturized as soon as it feels dry.
- Quality leather cleaners and conditioners preserve the character and extend the natural life of leather.
- Allow wet or damp leather to air-dry naturally away from any source of heat.
- Apply a little leather conditioner when the leather is nearly dry to restore flexibility.
- Follow this with a full conditioning treatment after the leather has completely air-dried.
- Do not use waxes, or silicone formulas or other leather preparations that impair the ability of the leather to "breathe".
- Never use household chemicals to clean leather. Also, avoid leather preparations that contain alcohol. Avoid turpentine and mineral spirits as they can pull color.
- Use of mink oil or other animal fats will darken leather. Animal fat can also turn rancid, causing the stitching and leather to rot.
- Always keep your leather items out of direct sunlight as this can cause leather to dry out and fade.