When it comes to the clothes and footwear that we tend to use every day, there is no doubt that leather becomes not only one of the materials most natural, if not most versatile in the world. It has the potential to last for many years, looks great when cared for and cleaned regularly, and offers a wide variety of benefits: protection, style, comfort… and much more. But it also has certain disadvantages, especially if it is not maintained. And it is that being animal skin, it is a living material, so it requires a little care to keep it in good condition.
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If you want a leather jacket or leather shoes to last for many years, you need to know what to do to keep them in good condition. Cleaning dirt is essential, in addition to avoiding that the material is constantly exposed to large amounts of water (such as rain), or excessive exposure to sunlight.
1. Cleanliness is essential
The most basic leather care is actually a lot simpler than you might think, as all you really need is some cleaning cloths, water, a bar of mild, non-abrasive soap (unscented ) and a brush. Although you can use a toothbrush, it is best to use a specific brush specially designed for cleaning leather.
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And how to clean the leather? Here are the steps:
- Start by cleaning as much dirt and grime as possible, with the help of a dry towel. Sometimes the dirt does not adhere to the leather, so it can be easily cleaned. However, if after the first pass this is not possible, it is necessary to repeat this step with a damp cloth. Moisture helps loosen grime, making cleanup that much easier and easier.
- If you still find a visible and considerable amount of dirt and grime, the next step is to use a bar of soap. You just have to prepare a little foam with water and non-abrasive soap, and rub this mixture directly on the leather, on those areas where dirt is found. If you need to repeat the process, you can repeat it again. Although remember something fundamental: it is better to avoid that the body gets too wet; it is something to be avoided.
- Once the leather is clean, place it on a cool, flat surface so that the material dries quickly. It is not a good idea to place it in an area with excessive heat -for example, leave it directly in the sun-, or apply heat to the material. This can cause the material to crack during the process.
2. Beware of excess water
In case the leather is exposed to a large amount of water, for example in case of rain (or if you even step on a huge puddle of water) you must take special care so that the leather dries again.
As we mentioned in the previous section, it is not appropriate to apply a direct heat source to dry the leather, just as it is not recommended to put the material in the sun. As with human skin, exposure to high amounts of heat can cause the heat to not only dry out, but also shrink and crack.
The best? Let the leather dry on a flat surface, allowing it to dry in a cool room. Patience is essential.
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3. Exposure to sunlight
While it is true that the accumulation of water in the body is, for the most part, reversible, there is a type of damage that is not: that which occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Did you know that sunlight is probably the worst enemy of leather? If you want this material to last long, you should always keep it out of the sun as much as possible.
4. Use long-term treatments
Although cleaning is essential to take care of leather in the short term, there are many other things that we could do to extend the useful life of leather. Conditioning leather creams, for example, are a good option, as they help maintain the natural look and feel of the leather, making it more supple and softer to the touch. Also noteworthy are leather oils, the use of which is simply similar to that of leather creams.
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