A leather jacket, a skirt, or a leather pair of boots are classic clothing essentials. They can easily elevate a dull outfit in one simple step.
Leather clothing exudes a unique charm because of its versatility. Not to mention it looks great on both males and females. It also works well with different textures and layers. This fabric requires special care to ensure it looks good and lasts longer.
Your leather apparel requires certain maintenance, but this shouldn’t prevent you from buying these timeless items. This guide should give you an idea of how you can maintain your leather clothing.
Understanding Basic Maintenance For Leather
As mentioned earlier, leather requires a certain level of care. It is considered a high-maintenance material. Luckily, if well taken care of, it can last longer than any other piece of clothing in your wardrobe.
The rule of thumb regarding leather is that it cannot be laundered with traditional methods. You must follow all the care label instructions with your leather items.
Do not fold your leather piece because it can cause creases. Instead, it would help if you hung it on wooden hangers. You also want to hang it in a cool and dry place. Not only does this help maintain the leather’s shape, but it also helps preserve its quality and prevents any stretching.
Apply leather conditioner using a soft fabric to help with the cleaning process and to hydrate the animal hide effectively. Please use shoe cleaner and protectors to weatherproof your new leather boots and apparel before you wear them.
Since leather is skin, you need to clean and nourish it properly. This will help your leather retain its texture and longevity.
Removing Minor Stains And Smells
Sweat – When you start having a scratchy irritation or if you notice your leather is a little stiff, it usually is a sign that sweat has saturated your leather apparel. Wash the leather in warm water with fabric softener or baby shampoo to remove the stiffness and sweat.
Oils and Oil-based lubes – As with any fabric, oils can be hard to eliminate. You can use a mild liquid soap mixed with water. Use this mixture to rub onto the spot gently. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.
Alternatively, you can use blackboard chalk to lift oils and grease. Grind the chalk, sprinkle it onto the affected area, and leave it there for a whole day.
Blood stains – If blood gets onto a leather item and you let it dry, it becomes rigid and foul. To prevent this, as soon as it happens, clean it immediately.
Odors – To eliminate funny smells, mix a quarter liter of warm water with one teaspoon of bicarbonate soda and let the mixture soak into the leather.
Wax – Position blotting paper onto the wax spot on the leather and apply a moderately heated iron. Repeat this process until there’s no more wax the paper can absorb.
Urine Stains – If your leather trousers come into contact with urine, wash them immediately. Uric acid can seriously damage your leather. Wash your clothing immediately with warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly.
Salt stains – You can use saddle soap to remove salt from your leather shoes.
The rule of thumb is to do a spot test before you use any substance to clean your leather apparel. You may want to send your leather items to professional cleaning services if nothing works.
Repairing Damage
Suppose your leather clothing is scratched or scuffed. In that case, you can use the same-colored marker pen, leather dye, or shoe polish to conceal scratches and scuff marks on the leather. You want to ensure that the color’s shade matches the color of your leather apparel.
If you need to repair a broken stitch, it’s best to have it repaired with the right sewing machine. Professional cleaning and repair services will most likely offer these services.
Conditioning Your Leather
All your leather apparel needs conditioning. Conditioners are meant to help lubricate leather and restore its resilience.
Avoid products that have mineral or petroleum oils. Avoid conditioners that leave behind a thick and oily residue. Instead, consider products that can easily permeate the leather.
It’s best to condition your leather pieces several times. But if they are more exposed to sun and moisture, you may want to do the conditioning more frequently.
Polishing Your Leather Clothing
Use a fine polishing agent to polish your leather apparel. Avoid using products that clog the leather’s pores. It can cause irreparable damage. This is particularly common with waxes and most silicon-based products.
Make sure you weatherproof your leather item before you wear them. It’ll help protect your leather boots and other items from water and other elements. It would be helpful if you use leather protectors on clean and dry leather. If unprotected, leather can be stiff and can crack very easily.
Different leather types call for more specialized care and maintenance. If in doubt, always seek professional services.
Storing Tips
Store your leather pieces in a cool and dry place. Do not fold or store your leather items in plastic bags or other non-porous packs. One good material to use in effectively storing your leather is acid paper.
Use wide and sturdy hangers to hang your leather jackets or pants. Most leather clothing is heavy; therefore, it would require sufficient support as you put it inside your storage area.
If you don’t plan to use your leather apparel for a long time, it will help to take them out for air from time to time.
Conclusion
Investing in leather clothing doesn’t come at a cheap price. If you are fond of wearing leather clothes or shoes, you should also be familiar with how to take good care of them. Equip yourself with the basic knowledge of leather maintenance so you’ll be ready for whatever situation you encounter while wearing your favorite leather outfit.
