Taking Care of Leather

As we all know, leather is expensive. A good leather bag will set you back 0. Good leather care maintains the consistency and shine of your leather purchase. This article will show you the best techniques on the market to keep your leather looking spick and speck for years to come. All my techniques are natural and will save you money. High quality results are guaranteed.

So what is leather?

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Leather is the raw hide of an animal that has undergone the process of tanning. Tanning adds layers to the hide improving its stain and wear resistance. Being a natural product, leather ages and will fade and soften over time. It is for this reason that leather care is required.

The concept of good leather care is to maintain these layers for as long as possible. Daily wear and tear results in the build up of grime, dust, body oils and food stains which can breakdown the layers in turn changing the condition and appearance of leather.

Care Tips

To keep your leather products looking their best, follow the steps below.

1. Protection

All leather should be protected. Leather is susceptible to absorbing dyes so it is important to apply a protector before wear. A good protector should also be applied regularly to help resist the effects of daily soiling. Choose a good water based leather protector if you chose to purchase one. Otherwise beewax mixed with olive oil makes a good homemade alternative.

To make a protector at home, melt 1 ounce of beeswax with 1/2 cup of oil (almond, walnut, or olive oil) in a microwave or in a double boiler. When melted, remove the mixture and stir. Apply to leather while the mixture is warm.

2. Cleaning

Leather items can be difficult to clean because leather is such a natural product. Saddle soap is a cheap cleaner available from feed or pet/tack stores. Saddle soap works wonders but can be too tough on delicate leathers. For delicate items clean simply by wiping with a damp cloth. Once completely dry, treat your leather with a conditioner.

3. Conditioning

Leather conditioners serve the purpose of lubricating and maintaining the suppleness of your leather purchase. Conditioners should only be used sparingly. Make a conditioner at home using mild baby soaps. 1 teaspoon of baby soap, with a couple of drops of vinegar in a litre of warm water should do the job. Daub over leather and air dry to see results. Remember to never apply conditioners on any suede, metallic, pearlised, embossed or patent leathers and test first before applying.

4. Polishing

Polishing removes fingerprints, dust and water stains from leather. Vinegar mixed with water makes a great polisher. Once finished, add petroleum jelly for shine. Petroleum jelly also prevents cracking over winter. Lemon juice and olive oil is great for buffing hard leathers.

5. Storing

Store your leather items in a cover bag when not in use. Never store any leather items in plastic as they cannot breathe and always store them in a cool, dry place away from heat.

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps. To avoid the hassle, synthetic leathers is a great alternative to purchasing leather. Synthetic leather gives you the luxe leather look without the price or the hassle. Hip Industries sells affordable and stylish mens bags in synthetic leathers.

Taking Care of Leather

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