Insufficient skin care is more destructive than excess. We have prepared for you recommendations from experienced leatherworkers on how to care for the leather upholstery of a car showroom and furniture so as not to spoil it. Read on in our article about what you should do and what you shouldn’t do, as well as how to properly cleanse, moisturize, protect and restore various types of skin.
Leather products are a sign of the owner’s solidity and good taste. And in order to prolong their impeccable appearance, it is important to handle them carefully and correctly. In this article, we have collected the top tips from leather care experts that will help you extend the life of upholstered furniture and car seats.
Basic rules for caring for natural leather
The main care procedures include:
Timely removal of dust.
For furniture and car interiors, you can use a vacuum cleaner and a soft, damp sponge.
Creation of a protective layer.
Impregnation will repel dirt and moisture, and subsequently help remove the stain.
Drying.
The wet item is wiped with a soft cloth and dried naturally.
Adding shine.
Worn areas are periodically wiped with glycerin or petroleum jelly.
It is important that basic maintenance is systematic and carried out with the utmost care and sensitivity.
Rules for storing leather shoes
To avoid any unpleasant surprises in the new season when you take out the right pair of leather shoes from your wardrobe, you need to properly prepare them for storage after the end of the current one:
- First of all, leather shoes, shoes, boots should be washed well, the soles and the space between the seams should be cleaned of dirt. Thorough drying is required.
- Apply cream to clean and dry shoes (following the algorithm presented above).
- It is advisable to insert special pads or tightly crumpled paper into the polished pair - this will avoid deformation of the leather during storage.
- To protect against dust and accidental damage, you can put old elastic socks or cut-off tights on top of your boots or shoes.
- Prepared shoes should be carefully folded into cardboard boxes with holes for air circulation and stored in a wardrobe or closet.
Proper care of shoes made of genuine leather does not involve storing them in plastic bags - this can lead to the formation of mold, unpleasant odor and deformation.
Cleaning colored items
Genuine leather is available in many colors. Each color requires a specific cleaning approach.
Black upholstery can be cleaned well with lemon juice, but contact with water is best avoided. Brown can be cleaned and tinted using coffee grounds wrapped in a soft cloth. Beige - treated with milk or cosmetic body lotion.
For white products you need to use separate accessories. Wipe the material with a dry cloth, remove dirt with a soft cloth soaked in soapy water. Remove remaining plaque and possible stains with a damp sponge. Next, wipe the surface dry, and after 6-7 hours, apply a moisturizing transparent impregnation to it.
Choosing care products
Common products for leather car upholstery and upholstered furniture are a variety of creams, impregnations, conditioners, polishes, etc. When choosing specific specialized products, study their composition and give preference to those products that are designed for a specific skin type. It is better to treat alcohol, fat and silicone with caution. They can dry out and deform the product.
We do not recommend buying untested and too cheap products and using unknown compositions on the entire surface at once. Also avoid traditional recipes that contain alkali, acid, acetone, nail polish remover and other solvents.
Tip 4. Store it properly
If you have leather clothes that will soon go into the closet for storage, then take care to provide them with good rest. You don’t need to throw your leather jacket on a shelf - hang it on a hanger and pack it in a case so that after a few months it doesn’t get scratches or creases. But, for example, it is better to put a bag on a shelf, rather than hang it by the handle. It is better to additionally stuff the inside of shoes (even if they are in a box) with paper and put them in a canvas bag. Just not in a plastic bag - the skin can also suffocate.
Compositions for regular care
Various shampoos, foams, cream soaps, stain removers, and renewing liquids after cleansing are very effective for cleaning. They all have their own characteristics, so before use you should study the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging.
So, to protect the material from moisture, experts recommend treating it with sprays, water-repellent impregnations and products containing wax. They are needed for upholstery made of smooth sheepskin, calfskin and pigskin. And to avoid stretching of the material and eliminate the specific odor, use antibacterial sprays and fragrances.
Preparing a new pair for wear
Preparatory procedures that are carried out with new leather shoes:
- Initially, before going outside, each pair must be treated with water-repellent agents and a protective greasy cream.
- Impregnation is evenly applied to the surface, the product is allowed to dry completely and be absorbed. A thin layer of cream is applied to the prepared shoes and polished.
- To make further use of the shoes comfortable, they are initially worn in at home for several hours. Problem areas are periodically rubbed from the inside with a bar of soap or paraffin.
- Shoes that are too tight can become looser under the influence of special store-bought preparations. Cheap alcohol-containing perfume will help correct the situation using available means. They treat the pair from the inside.
- If the pair is completely worn out and has become “grown in” to your feet, it’s time to stick a thin rubber prophylactic on the sole. It will provide care for new shoes, increase their wear resistance and extend their service life.
Skin restoration and elimination of defects
Protecting furniture and car interiors from mechanical influences can be difficult. Scratches, cuts, and kinks are well hidden by polymer compounds, the so-called “liquid skin.” This is a thick surface dye that is used as a restoration paste for restoration work. For minor flaws, there are restorative polishes and special wax. If your product has a matte surface, use a matting emulsion.
In addition to complex mechanical damage, abrasions may appear on the seat and sofa. Aerosol paints are suitable for this, as well as for restoring color. The use of aerosols depends on the method of preparation of the product, and not on the intensity of use. Such compositions are not universal and not interchangeable, so be sure to read the instructions before use.
Where to buy a men's bag made of genuine leather
The highest quality of BRIALDI is the result of many sequential operations, the first of which is the selection of material. Only 10% of the leather produced worldwide meets our requirements, and not all of it is given the honor of becoming the basis for our products. Only the highest quality raw materials, carefully selected by our specialists, are worthy of becoming a BRIALDI bag. But first, the leather is cut, doubled, leveled, glued, sanded, sanded and re-sanded and dyed.
Our policy towards employees is also aimed at creating bags of the highest quality. They are not limited in time and are not obliged to issue a certain number of products per week. We do not strive to do as much as possible - we want each bag to be the result of thoughtful and painstaking work, with special attention to detail, without which a high-end product is unthinkable.
Each BRIALDI product is a true handmade masterpiece, because we select our workers as carefully as we select the leather for our bags. All of them are true masters of their craft, for whom an excellent result of work is the only possible result of painstaking creation, and the desire for excellence is a constant motivator.
And further:
- Free shipping . We will deliver your order to any region of Russia for free
- Designer models . Our own model range and small production volume make our product unique and emphasize the sophistication of the taste of our customers.
- A stylish solution for a business person . BRIALDI leather bags will perfectly complement your business look.
- 365 days warranty . We are confident in the quality of our products and that is why we provide a full year warranty.
- Responsibility to buyers . If you prove that the leather is not genuine, we will refund the cost of the product in double the amount. In this case, the purchase will remain with you.
- Every masterpiece has its own author . Only one craftsman works on each bag, using traditional Italian technologies.
- 8 hours = 480 minutes = 28,800 seconds . The average time a BRIALDI manufactory master spends on creating one leather masterpiece.
- Only natural materials . All products are made from high-quality leather of elite varieties: Antique, Floater, GreatNappa, Venezia.
- Attention to detail . The masters of the private leather factory BRIALDI set themselves the task of creating the perfect leather product. That is why great attention is paid to details.
Men's bags made of genuine leather in our catalog
Removing stains
The appearance of stains on the leather surface is a fairly common occurrence. And often they can be removed using improvised means:
Sprinkle fresh grease stains with starch or soda for 30 minutes, then remove with a soft brush;
old - wipe with alcohol lotion;
sticky tape, a stationery eraser or a cosmetic sponge soaked in a solution of valerian can help get rid of ink marks;
lipstick is removed with lemon juice;
chocolate is cleaned with glycerin or laundry soap;
Wipe marker marks with soap, coconut oil or salt.
Despite the fact that most types of stains can be removed on your own, in advanced cases it is better to contact a specialized dry cleaner so as not to spoil the item.
How to paint
You can restore the original color of the product with aerosol nitro paint. But this method has its drawbacks. A layer of paint that is too thick will make the leather surface rough. Another trouble that can await the owner of a newly painted accessory is that your hands get dirty while wearing it. And a painted handbag leaves stains on light-colored clothes.
Genuine leather is not cheap, but with competent care you will get your money's worth. By cleaning and restoring at least a couple of times a year, you can be sure that your favorite leather accessories will last for many years.
Softening
Old or hard leather can be softened with oils, fatty impregnations, creams and emulsions. Natural products are also suitable for this: animal fats and vegetable oils, which act as natural preservatives.
A popular and effective method is castor oil treatment. Getting into the material, it increases elasticity and softens the product. Bone oil is used to renew long-term and hopelessly hardened things, but is only suitable for dark-colored materials.
Coffee grounds
If you are a lover of leather items and also a fan of an invigorating drink, then this coincidence can be considered very successful. Don't rush to get rid of coffee grounds. Wrap it in a piece of flannel or woolen rag and wipe the problem area with the resulting bag. This technique allows you to cleanse the skin and restore its original shine. However, attention! This method is not suitable for white and generally light leather products.
Things you shouldn't do to your skin
In addition to how to care for your skin, it is important to know what not to do with it. Here are 5 categorical “nos” when caring for leather items:
- Don't run. Remove abrasion, dirt, or stains or remove them immediately.
- Do not clean very often. We recommend cleansing your skin no more than once every 10-14 days.
- Do not cover with plastic for long-term storage.
- Do not expose to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
- Do not get it wet. Do not leave the car door open in heavy rain. Do not clean furniture with large amounts of water.
By following the “don’t” list, you can extend the life of leather upholstery by ten years.
Tip 2: Beware of the water
Any excess moisture - frequent washing, rain, diving to the bottom of the ocean and tsunamis - harm the skin. Both after washing and after accidental exposure to water, wipe the accessory dry. The skin loves water and absorbs it with pleasure, but if you don’t wipe it off afterwards, unpleasant stains will remain. Caught in a downpour with your wallet in your pocket? Throw out everything that you didn’t invest in bitcoins in vain several years ago, and wipe it until you see your face of a failed crypto trader in the reflection of the surface. Just don’t dry it near the radiator under any circumstances - the result will not please you.
Special care for each type of skin
Many types of material are the result of various processing. Each type needs special care:
Suede leather.
It is cleaned of dust with a special brush, treated with a damp sponge, and cleaned with an adhesive roller. After getting wet or dirty, fibers are combed with a sponge stone in the direction of the pile and against it.
Nappa.
Requires thorough protective treatment before use. Does not tolerate liquid stain removers. Scratches can be removed by rubbing. Contamination can be removed with a special rubber band.
Smooth, soft skin.
It is restored with a special cream, and moisture is removed with a sponge. Shows increased sensitivity to specialized cleaning compounds.
Perforated.
Clean with soapy water and a medium hard sponge. Glycerin or a product containing it is used for moisturizing.
To care for leather upholstery, experts recommend using only those products that are created for a specific type of material. Follow the basic rules, and the products will delight you for a long time.
Cleaning from dirt
Basic care for all types of leather, except nubuck, velor and suede, is very simple. To do this, you will need a rag or paper towel, water, non-aggressive soap and a soft-bristled brush, you can use a toothbrush. Next, do the following:
- Use a dry cloth or napkin to remove any stuck-on dirt. If the stain remains, rub it with a damp cloth.
- When stains cannot be removed with plain water, you will have to use soap. Create a little lather with soap and water and apply it to the areas where you find dirt.
- Use a damp cloth to wipe off the foam and dirt. It is better not to wet the surface too much.
- After cleaning, dry items on a flat surface away from heat. The skin should dry naturally, even if it takes a long time.
