When it comes to taking care of leather, there are two main thoughts on how to do so. The first one is where you try to keep the leather looking new and the second one is where you take care of the leather in a way that helps it share its own story along with the story of the wearer as time goes by.
With that said, you can guess which stream of thought we prefer as you read on.
Unprotected leather. This is referred to as unfinished leather or aniline leather (pure or full). This particular leather is very soft to the touch and quite lush. It is actually dyed with aniline dye and no additional color is added to it. There is also no protective coating added and it may or may not have a dirt-resistant treatment. Due to this you may notice more natural markings which may become a patina. if you are interested in buying leather products.
Unfortunately, this particular type of leather can get stained a lot easier as opposed to protected leather. It is also more costly. There are different types of aniline leather such as nubuck, pull-up etc. The nubuck leather is distressed which gives it a more velvet-like feel. The pull-up leather on the other hand is quite shiny due to being treated with various waxes and oils.
Protected leather. The vast majority of furniture that is made from leather is made from protected leather which is also known as finished leather. These may also be known as semianiline, pigmented or aniline that has been pigmented. This type of leather is a lot more resistant to stains and is stronger and has a more even appearance when compared to pure aniline leather.
Semianiline leather is aniline leather which has been dyed and has a pigment added to it. This leather is quite soft to the touch in a similar fashion to pure aniline, however, it is a bit stronger because of the added pigment. Protected leathers usually have many more layers of polymer and pigment which makes them feel firmer and more durable. We will now look at 4 tips for taking care of your leather based items.
1. Keep It Dry
If your leather gets wet make sure that you carefully blot the liquid off of the leather as opposed to rubbing it. Make sure that you allow it to air dry and avoid using any type of heat to help dry it faster. If you need to dry a leather bag, fill it with newspaper since this will help it to keep its shape and ensure that if there is any moisture on the inside, the newspaper can quickly absorb it.
2. Conditioning
If you have issues with your leather becoming dry, you should condition it with a good quality leather conditioner such asURAD leather care products. Be sure to use a cloth to remove any excess.
3. Clean If Dirty
Make sure that you always handle any leather items you have with clean hands. If you have dirty hands then the dirt and oils will easily rub off onto the leather. So, it is best that you quickly sweep your leather belongings with a clean cloth that is slightly damp. You should also use a leather cleaner to get rid of dirt about once or twice per year. When applying the cleaner, make sure that you use a circular motion. Once you’re read to wipe it off, do so with a damp cloth that is only slightly wet. This will ensure that the pores within the leather don’t become clogged.
4. Store Your Leather Items
You should always take good care of your leather based items. This means that you should store them in an area that is free of light, heat, dust and humidity. You should store in fabric based bag or even a box as opposed to plastic. Make sure to air out your leather items every couple of weeks to ensure that mold doesn’t grow.
Once you take great care of your leather it will become even better looking over time. It will not only reveal its own beauty but show the story of your life together.