Leather Care Guide for Your Apparel

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Kellys Dry Cleaners
https://kellysdrycleaners.com/blog/leather-care-guide-for-your-apparel/
Care Guide for Your
Leather Apparel
B L O G  |  K E L L Y ' S  D R Y  C L E A N E R S
https://kellysdrycleaners.com/
Leather is very versatile! It looks
wonderful on both men and women
and works with several layers and
textures. 
While leather complements most
outfits, proper leather care is needed
to ensure the fabric lasts longer since
it cannot be cleaned easily using
traditional laundry methods.
Here are some tips and tricks on how
to care for your leather pieces:
Cleaning and Drying
Continuous contact with liquids in
any form such as rain, sweat,
beverages, and more can cause the
leather to stiffen.
Be sure to avoid the use of strong
detergents. Always choose a product
that will help keep the leather’s
natural lubricating oils. You can find
a good leather cleaner in
department stores.
Start cleaning by testing out the
product on a smaller, visible area first.
If there is no discoloration, proceed
with the rest of the item.
If you cannot find a leather cleaner,
mix a baby shampoo with warm
water.
Never dry your leather apparel in
front of a direct heat source to avoid
stiffening and damaging the material.
Air drying is the best option.
Removing Stains and Odors
Techniques differ when removing
different kinds of stains from leather
apparel.
Sweat can cause the leather to become
itchy and slightly stiffened. This is
best resolved using warm water with
a mild baby shampoo or fabric
softener.
To remove unwanted odors, mix a
teaspoon of bicarbonate soda crystals
and 1 liter of warm water. Let the
solution soak into the fabric.
Oils are quite difficult to remove.
While you can also rub a mixture of
water and baby shampoo, grinding a
blackboard chalk and sprinkling it on
the affected area is a better option.
Leave the powder on for one whole
day before rinsing using a dampened
cloth.
Wax removal is not as easy though.
You don't want to chip all the wax
away from your leather, so you will
need a blotting paper and an iron to
fix the problem.
Place the paper on top of the stained
area. Set your iron to medium heat
and gently press over the paper. The
heat should melt the wax and the
paper should absorb it.
For mold and mildew, your best
cleaner is a cup of rubbing alcohol
mixed with water.
Dip a clean cloth in this solution and
wipe the mildewed area. For more
severe cases, use a mild soap
containing germicide and mix it with
water. Wipe the excess soap with a
clean cloth and then air dry.
In case of a blood spill, wash your
leather immediately using warm
soapy water. 
Again, baby shampoo or a fabric
softener are your best choices. The
leather becomes stiff and stinky if the
blood is allowed to dry.
Once in a while, you will have to soak
your leather in a mixture of 1 teaspoon
bleach and 1 gallon of water for at
least 30 minutes. This will help
remove germs. Rinse well and
handwash immediately.
Metal Fittings
Most leather apparel have buckles,
studs, and snaps that are nickel or
chrome-plated steel. 
Others are also brass coated. You have
to clean these fittings regularly and
keep them dry to avoid rusting. Apply
a conditioner to increase their
longevity.
If rust is already present, you will
have to buy the appropriate cleaner
based on the material used in these
fittings. Autosol is a good chrome
cleaner. For nickel and brass, check
out WD40 and Brasso, respectively.
Conditioning
Leather needs conditioning to keep its
suppleness. However, similar to
cleaning products, you must avoid
using products that leave thick and
greasy residue.
Look for conditioners that can easily
penetrate the leather’s fibers. Lexol
leather cleaner is recommended.
These are available in department
stores too.
Condition your leather several times
during the season. Do so more often if
the item is exposed to moisture or
extreme heat. Apply a conditioner
immediately to a dampened leather
before it dries out completely to
maintain its flexibility.
Protection
Protection is perhaps one of the most
important steps in leather care. Again,
beware of choosing your product.
Some may clog the leather’s pores
with grease, which makes cleaning
and conditioning more difficult.
Always apply the protectant on clean,
dry leather. Some types of leather
require more maintenance.
Storage
Always keep your leather apparel in
cool, dry places. Do not put them
inside a plastic bag or other
nonporous covers. Always use metal
hangers.
We, at Kelly’s Dry Cleaners, can help
you care and maintain your leather
apparel. Call our branches in Durango
and Farmington at (970) 903-1642 or
(505) 564-3333, respectively.
Durango, CO
(970) 903-1642
Farmington, NM
(505) 564-3333
PHONE NUMBERS
https://kellysdrycleaners.com/
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