Care for leather items like leather furniture, boots, shoes, jackets, bags is extremely important during the monsoon. Come monsoon and women get worried about their leather articles getting spoilt. They tend to get wet in the rain and turn damp inside and loose their sheen too. Over a period of time you may also see mildew on your leather product. Here is a thing or two to protect your leather and keep it as new as it can be. Want to know which leather care kit or leather cleaner to use – read on…
Cleaning
- For purses and shoes with stitches, there are brushes available in the market.
- Nubuck cleaning cloth is a product available outside India. It is used to clean and restore leather.
Conditioning
- Leather conditioners fats and oils which help lubricate leather.
- Beware of products having petroleum as one of its ingredient as it tends to damage the leather over a period of time.
Leather care tips
Protection
- Once wet your leather product may develop mildew. To avoid this situation apply mustard oil to the product and keep it out in the sun. The odour will disappear and mildew will not appear.
- If the mildew still persists, use mild soap and water that contains a germicide, then remove with a clean dampened cloth and allow it to dry.
- Do not dry your leather product in front of direct heat or fire.
Storing Leather
- Leather is a natural material and should never be stored in plastic because it encourages the growth of mildew and bacteria and will ruin the leather.
- Always store leather in a cool, dry place away from heat.
- If the leather item is a garment, store in a breathable bag.
Removing Stains
- Fresh stains can be cleaned up quickly with a damp cloth.
- Stains from oil or grease can be lifted by powdering ordinary blackboard chalk or even talcum powder, sprinkling the area, and leaving the powder on for a day at least. Later, use a leather care brush to remove the powder.
- Ground-in stains should be attended to by a professional cleaner who deals in leather.
