Any leather owner knows how expensive leather can be. The investment is absolutely worthwhile with a quality brand like Tumi briefcases. However, you definitely want to practice good maintenance of your leather to ensure longevity. Below is a list of six tips for leather maintenance.
1. Wrinkles
You’re away for the weekend and unpacking for your night on the town, only to find that your leather jacket has a large, out of place wrinkle! Anyone who owns leather clothing has likely experienced this. Fortunately, there are two quick fix options. One option is ironing leather on low heat, but make sure to use a piece of tissue or clean piece of fabric in between the iron and leather.
Alternatively, you can hang the clothing in the bathroom while you shower. This may sound odd, but the steam from your shower will remove the wrinkle. After your shower, pat down excess moisture and place clean fabric on both sides of the leather, then place a heavy object on top to flatten the leather.
2. Cracking
No one wants to be seen in cracked leather. To prevent leather from drying out leading to cracking, wear it a lot! Stiffness in leather happens from not using the piece often, also, the leather will shape to your body the more you wear it.
In addition, you can use mink oil, leather balms or saddle soap to soften leather. It’s important to note that these leather softeners can change the colour of your leather, make sure to try it on an inconspicuous area first to make sure the leather won’t be altered.
3. Water Damage
The last thing you want is to get caught in the rain with your leather piece leading to water damage. To ensure that damage is kept to a minimum, use protectant spray. Be sure to do a spot test before spraying the entire garment to make sure there is no discolouration or damage.
4. Fading
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to revert fading once it’s happened. However, to prevent fading from happening, keep your garments out of direct sunlight and store the items in a dark coloured, cotton bag when you’re not using it.
5. Stains
If you’ve got a stain on your garment, look for a dry cleaner or other professional that specializes in leather to help you get that spot out. If you’re desperate, you can use an ink remover stick which can help remove stains from leather.
6. Clean
When it comes to cleaning leather, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Small and inexpensive items, such as shoes or handbags, can be handled yourself but large, expensive items should be taken to a professional, just in case.
To start, you need to pick your product, dish soap or leather cleaner and conditioner are your options. As with other products you’ll apply to your leather, test it in a hidden spot to be sure that it won’t cause significant discolouration or damage. If you see some damage from the tested spot, bring it to a professional instead. If everything is okay, use a paper towel to clean the leather, wipe it off and let the leather dry out of direct heat and sunlight.
7. Storage
Some leather pieces are seasonal, when you’re not using them it’s important to store your garments properly. Otherwise, when you pull the items out again, you might find they’ve become damaged.
Leather briefcases and bags should be kept in a dry, cool place, preferably in a cotton garment bag. If you’re planning on hanging your items, use hangers with padding to prevent dents from forming. Lastly, consider investing in pine or oak blocks to hang in your closet, these blocks keep your clothing fresh and prevent moisture build up.