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 description will show you the best techniques on the store to keep your leather looking spick and speck for years to come. All my techniques are natural and will save you money. High capability results are guaranteed.
So what is leather?
Home Made Air Conditioner
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 think that leather care is required.
The concept of good leather care is to mouth 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 health and appearance of leather.
Care Tips
To keep your leather products looking their best, result the steps below.
1. Protection
All leather should be protected. Leather is susceptible to appealing dyes so it is prominent to apply a protector before wear. A good protector should also be applied regularly to help resist the effects of daily soiling. Pick a good water based leather protector if you chose to buy 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 duplicate boiler. When melted, remove the composition and stir. Apply to leather while the composition 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 naturally by wiping with a damp cloth. Once wholly 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 all the time 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 beloved mens bags in synthetic leathers.
Taking Care of Leather