CARING FOR YOUR LEATHER
Cleaning and nourishing
your leather goods is a must if you want to maintain a
quality look for many years. To get the most out of the
Solutions Leather Care's
product range please read the
whole of this guide before starting to clean or
condition - there are some important do's and don'ts towards
the end!
Caring
for your leather should be a two stage process:
1.
Cleaning:
Solutions Leather Care's
Cleaners are carefully formulated to gently, but effectively
remove dirt and grease, which could over time break down the
protective finish applied to the leather. Cleaning in
isolation however can also take away the natural oils
inherent in the leather, so conditioning is an essential
part of the maintenance process.
2.
Conditioning:
Solutions Leather Care's Conditioners nourish and
replenish surfaces to maintain softness and improve
flexibility and suppleness, helping to prevent cracks and
dryness. They also produce a protective barrier which can
help to extend the life of your purchase and make future
cleaning easier. In addition,
Solutions Leather Care's Conditioners contain an
ultra violet absorbing compound to help reduce the effects
of strong sunlight on leather finishes.
Which
Solutions Leather Care's cleaning and conditioning products
should I use?
The
type of cleaning and conditioning product recommended will
depend on the type of leather finish used in the manufacture
of your product. We recommend that you check the
manufacturer's information to determine from which type of
leather your product is made.
See
the guidelines below if you are unsure.
Solutions
Leather Care's Aniline Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
are specially formulated for aniline leather, which
has a porous finish and wears to a distressed look.
Solutions Leather Care's
Leather Cleaner and Conditioner are formulated for
use on leathers which have had some sort of protective
coating or sealant applied to increase their durability eg.
full grain leather, corrected grain leather, split or
bi-cast leather. (See below for fuller descriptions of
leather finishes)
How can
I work out what type of leather I am cleaning if there aren't
any clear indications on the
product?
There are a huge number of processes used to achieve the
many different finishes for todays leather goods market and
it can seem a little daunting to try to determine which
category your product falls into. Don't panic! Our
guidelines below will help you determine what kind of
leather you have.
Aniline Leather can only be produced from the highest
quality hides. Produced from the full thickness of the skin,
aniline leather has a porous finish and wears to a
distressed appearance.
Colour is produced by the introduction of a dye through the
thickness of the hide,
not
by the application of a surface coating. Aniline
leather is used in the manufacture of top quality clothing
and furniture.
How
to identify: It does not have a nap like suede, can be
marked if scratched lightly with a fingernail and will
absorb water or liquid easily.
Use
Solutions Leather Care's Aniline Leather Cleaner and
Conditioner.
Semi-Aniline Leather
is produced in a similar way to full aniline leather,
but has a light protective coating applied. This increases
durability and makes the finish easier to care for.
How
to identify: It can be marked by scratching it lightly with
a fingernail, but will not absorb water or liquid easily.
Use
Solutions Leather Care's Aniline Leather Cleaner and
Conditioner.
Protected Leathers
The
following leather types have a protective coating. They will
not be marked if you scratch them lightly with a fingernail
and will not absorb water or liquid easily. They can
therefore be cleaned safely with more powerful cleaning
products:
Full
Grain Leather
retains the natural appearance of the hide but has a
flexible, hardwearing sealer coat. This is a very practical
material often used for furniture coverings.
Use
Solutions Leather Care's Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.
Corrected Grain Leather
is produced by sanding off the natural finish on the
outside of the skin and replacing it with a synthetic
coating that may include a simulated grain pattern. This
process allows lower quality hides to be used and produces a
very consistent finish which is easy to care for.
Use
Solutions Leather Care's Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.
Split
or Bi-Cast Leather
is produced by separating layers from a hide. The
exposed surface is sanded, grained and coated to produce a
durable finish. The quality of this type of leather is
extremely variable.
Use
Solutions Leather Care's Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.
WARNING:
Nubuck
and Suede
have varying degrees of surface nap that make them
extremely porous and difficult to clean and care for. We do
not recommend any of the
Solutions Leather Care's product range for cleaning
and nourishing nubuck and suede, or any other highly
absorbent skins.
LEATHER TREATMENT DO'S AND DON'TS:
- DO
always use a professional quality product, that is designed
for the type of leather you have. If you are unsure of the
type of leather, aniline cleaner and conditioner is the
safest product to use, suitable for all leather types.
- DO
always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
- DO
always test a hidden area first for colourfastness, on each
and every cleaning occasion. Discontinue use if there is
significant colour release.
- DO
always apply cleaners gently to avoid damaging the leather
surface.
- DO
clean leather regularly to avoid any build-up of dirt that
may become difficult or impossible to remove.
- DO
use a professional clothing dye remover to remove any dye
transfer (eg from clothing or newsprint), as soon as
possible to improve the success rate of removal.
- DO
use a conditioner to enhance and preserve leather after
cleaning.
- DO
use a good quality, clean cloth or sponge applicator to
apply cleaning products and conditioners.
-
DON'T use baby wipes, general household cleaners or abrasive
products on leather as they may damage or remove the finish.
-
DON'T rub hard when cleaning a leather surface as it may
cause damage.
-
DON'T forget that animal skins and dyes used in manufacture
of leather goods cannot always be guaranteed to be of high
quality and do not necessarily reflect the price paid.
WARNING:
Leather is a variable
product of natural origin with many different types and
qualities in use. Always follow the guidelines for safe
cleaning. A small amount of colour release is normal with
some aniline leathers and from worn areas of coated
leathers. Always stop cleaning if significant colour
loss is seen or damage may result. Some leathers may darken
slighlty on cleaning or conditioning, but the colour will
return to normal when the product dries fully.
This information is
intended as general guidance for the cleaning and care of
leather articles and is given in good faith. While every
effort has been made to ensure accuracy, no liability can be
accepted for loss or damage as a result of its use. The
variation in quality, colouring methods, processing and
manufacturing of leathers is so wide that the
generalisations given above may not always apply to a
particular type of leather.
