If you are own or are investing in leather apparel or a leather product you want to do everything possible to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. With proper care, leather is one of the most lasting materials available for apparel and accessories. Here are some tips to care for your leather.
Don’t Weigh It Down
Keep your leather handbags relatively light because large amounts of heavy items will stretch out the bag and the leather. The same goes for leather pockets. If you fill them with heavy items or pointy objects, the leather is likely to become misshapen.
Don’t Launder Leather in a Washing Machine
Never put your leather goods into an ordinary household washing machine. When leather becomes wet it loses some of its sturdiness. In that state, the agitation will push and pull the leather out of shape and you may never get it to return to its original shape. In addition, commercial laundry detergents are not meant for use on leather.
Don’t Wear Leather in the Rain
Water causes leather to stain. The watermarks are very difficult to get out, even if you use so-called commercial leather cleaners. Unfortunately, you may get caught in the rain while wearing your leather garments. In that case, bring your leather apparel into a commercial cleaner to be professionally cleaned.
Avoid Ink Stains
Ink stains are very challenging to remove from leather goods, and so should be avoided at all costs. If you do get an ink stain on a leather garment, you can bring the garment into a professional leather cleaner to have the ink stain safely removed.
Keep Leather From Cracking
Leather has a tendency to dry out. Like skin, it needs to be moisturized on occasion so it doesn’t develop surface cracks. Once cracks have appeared, they’re impossible to ever remove, so it’s best to prevent them in the first place. Invest in a quality leather cream, sometimes called a leather conditioner. The leather cream will go on easier if you warm it up slightly. Use a soft, clean cloth to apply a dollop of leather cream to your leather apparel. Use a buffing motion to ensure the leather cream gets into all the leather pores. Keep buffing until the surface of the leather is uniformly shiny, and then allow to dry. You can use this method with all kinds of leather goods, such as shoes, belts, handbags, and wallets.
Store Safely
Leather can be ruined if it isn’t stored properly when not in use. While leather does not require the same kinds of precaution as with a garment such as a wedding dress, it does need to be stored in a very specific manner, especially if it will be over a long period of time. Commercial cleaners that understand how to store leather will be able to store your leather wardrobe over a long period of time. That way, when the proper season rolls around again, your leather garments will be in perfect condition to wear immediately.
For more great tips on taking care of leather, or for leather cleaning or storage services, please contact Embassy Cleaners in New York today.
