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Leather Care ... How To Keep Your Leather In Top Condition

To give you a better understanding of your leather and what to do to keep it in great condition', I'd like to show you:

1. What leather is like when it's brand new and never been used
2. What happens to it once it has been made into furniture or car seats etc and subject to normal daily use
3. In my experience, the best and most effective way to keep it in excellent condition

And hopefully you'll come to the realisation that leather care and maintenance really is quite simple and not a mysterious as it's made out to be.

Here's What Your Leather Was Like ... Brand New

Here's a photo of a brand new leather couch. Never been sat in or exposed to the environment ... just sitting there on the showroom floor.

It feels soft, warm, waxy and people can't help rubbing their hands over it!

(NOTE: This article refers to sealed leathers because they are the most commonly used)

1:- The Tannery Infuses Leather Hides With Natural Oils

In the tanning process, natural oils are added to help reduce friction in the leather fibres and keep it soft and pliable.

2:- The Finish Is A Very Thin Film On The Leather Surface

Yes, it's true, the leather is dyed right through in the tanning, but that doesn't give you a solid colour . . . it's only a stain.

Now the finished colour is a flexible, polyurethane-like film which is sprayed over the leather surface to achieve the desired affect. A clear sealer is then applied to improve performance and alter the way the leather feels i.e.: waxy, slippery, silky etc.

The take-away here is ... the finish is very thin film which makes it susceptible to damage if not treated with respect.

3:- The Leather Finish Is Micro-Porous

This means, the finish does NOT completely seal the leather like vinyl or other household surfaces. It is micro-porous and allows it to breathe. That's why in summer it feels cool and in winter, warm.

You need to be aware that its tiny pores will slowly lap up any chemicals or contamination which happen to sit on the surface.

4:- Leather Is Similar To Human Skin

Your leather upholstery is made from cow hide ... or ... cow skin.

Now, cow hide has very similar qualities to human skin: it's flexible, it's micro-porous and it needs a moisture content to keep it supple and in good condition.

Can you imagine what would happen if one day we decided to stop cleaning and conditioning our skin? Well, it wouldn't take long before it would dry out, the pores would clog and premature aging would set in ... this is exactly the same with leather.

Over Time, Here's What Happens To Your Leather ...

After a few years of wear-and-tear and neglect ... a completely different story emerges! That beautiful leather you were once so proud of, has become more of an embarrassment!

Here's what happens ...

1:- It Will Loose Its Suppleness

The natural oil content will evaporate causing your leather to 'dry out' and lose its softness and flexibility.

Direct heat and sunlight will speed up this process.

A perfect example of this is car leather ... at the top of the rear seat. Car interiors are subject to such dramatic temperature changes, the leather can very quickly go hard and boardy. Another good example ... outside backs and tops of lounge suites left in direct sunlight.

2:- Acidic Residue Will Build Up On The Surface And Clog The Leather Pores

Perspiration, body oils, and other contamination, will quickly build up on the surface of leather and penetrate into the pores of the micro-porous finish. Often, nothing is done to clean these away, resulting in a built-up residue of acidic grime which will slowly ETCH into the finish, undo the binders and pigments holding the finish together ... thus shortening the life of leather.

This is particularly noticeable in areas where heads, hands and bare skin have been in constant contact.

3:- Common House Hold Products Will Speed Up Deterioration

The tanneries have carried out extensive testing to find out which chemicals destroy leather and they discovered that many ordinary household chemicals are potentially lethal. Some of these are:

• Household detergents
• Hair products
• Skin care creams
• Sunscreens
• Fly spray and even air freshener

In fact many 'off the shelf' leather care products sold to consumers were found to cause more harm than good because they contain known destroyers of leather finish such as bees wax and silicones.

4:- The Finish (Or Colour) Wears Off

With constant abrasion and sliding back and forth over the surface, the finish will often stain, discolour and eventually wear through exposing the raw leather. A good example of this is the leading edge of the drivers seat in car leather. Without proper care and maintenance, the finish can wear out prematurely.

And let's not forget to mention the scuffs, scratches and claw marks which leave permanent scarring in the finish.

And To Top It Off ...Most People Have No Idea What To Do About It!

Now, you can understand why many folks are left scratching their heads as to what to do about leather care. And I don't blame them because I too was looking for a simple solution I could use in my professional work and also recommend to my clients.

Over the years, I've tried and tested many different leather cleaners, conditioners and protectors but unfortunately, I found the results of these to be disappointing.

Leather Care System - And How It Works ...

With the help and expertise from experienced tanning technicians, I created care products I could use for my own work and also make available for people serious about caring for their leather too.

Here's how it works ...

Now, just so you know ...these are the exact same commercial grade leather care products I use in my workshop for professional work.

What To Do Next?

For more on the leather products, click here.