Leather and suede garments get a real workout during winter months, and more wear means more opportunities for stains and damage. The cleaning specialists at Best Cleaners are experts in caring for your leather and suede pieces, but good leather care begins at home. Here are some quick tips on how you can keep your leather looking its best:
- Wear a scarf with a leather jacket to prevent the collar area from absorbing body oils and perspiration, which can cause discoloration.
- Apply hair sprays and perfumes before putting on your jacket or coat to avoid spotting, staining and discoloration.
- Never use pins on a leather garment, those pin holes won’t “repair themselves” like they will on a woven fabric like cotton or wool and will result in permanent damage.
- Likewise, never attach an adhesive name tag or tape on leather, as the adhesive can stain the leather.
- Remove just-cleaned leathers from the plastic bag as soon as you get it home to let it “breathe”. Leather is a natural skin, and keeping it in airtight (or even semi-airtight) plastic can result in mildew and cracking.
- Store leathers and suedes in a dry place that doesn’t experience extremes in temperatures, and allow room for the garment to breathe.
- Bring all pieces of a leather or suede outfit to be cleaned at the same time. The cleaning process shouldn’t alter the appearance of your pieces, but cleaning them together lessens the chances that there will be a visible difference between pieces.
It’s important to remember that leathers and suedes are constructed
of natural animal skins that have been stretched and treated to give
them their supple feel. Water can spot, stain, and shrink your leather
pieces, so professional dry cleaning is the recommended cleaning
method. If your leather gets wet, allow it to air-dry thoroughly at
room temperature away from any heat sources to minimize excess
drying/cracking or shrinkage.
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If you do get a stain on your leather, don’t attempt to remove it
yourself, as leathers and suedes are easily damaged. Remove large
amounts of the stain by blotting the area with a clean white towel, and
then get your piece to a professional dry cleaner as soon as possible.
And, remember, the longer a stain remains untreated, the harder it is to
remove.
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