TEHRAN (SANATNAMA)- With our handy guide, your most treasured pieces will look beautiful for years to come. Covering all day-to-day care and maintenance to small repairs and specialist cleaning, here you'll find everything there is to know about leather care.
HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR LEATHER GOODS
By taking time to care for your leather, you will uphold the value and maintain the appearance of your most treasured pieces.
Everyday Care
Looking after your leather goods starts with day-to-day care. By following just a few simple rules, you can avoid unnecessary wear and tear and extend the life of your accessories for years:
- Leather is a skin, and it can stretch. Avoid overfilling your handbag, purse or wallet to maintain its original silhouette
- Take extra care with leather items you use often. Take the time each week to wipe away dust and spots with a soft cloth or brush
- Scratches can detract from a flawlessly crafted piece. Take care to avoid contact with heavily embellished clothes, sharp surfaces or chunky jewellery when you're out and about.
- Wet leather requires extra care, so if rain is forecast, remember to take an umbrella
- Remember to air your leather goods out occasionally to remove any unwanted smells and scents
Storage
Storing your leather appropriately is one of the easiest ways you can prevent damage and maintain a high-quality finish:
- Store leather away from direct sunlight as this can cause fading
- Store handbags in a dust bag to avoid scratches
- Avoid using plastic bags, they prevent good ventilation
- Store leather away from artificial sources of heat. e. radiators can cause leather to dry and crack
Specific products
Everyday care and thoughtful storage will go a long way in maintaining the life of your favourite leather accessories, however specific products may require different care techniques.
Handbags
Although it's tempting to leave our handbags packed with our daily essentials ready for the next day, instead take the time to empty them completely to avoid warping. Once empty, you can maintain the handbag's silhouette by gently filling it with plain, acid-free tissue paper.
If you are planning to leave your bag in storage for an extended period - until next season, for example - you might also like to take the time to wrap hardware such as zips and clasps in tissue paper to avoid them creating any unwanted imprints on your leather.
The next stage is to cover your bag, preferably in the dust bag in which it arrived with - these are cut to the right size to avoid squashing and warping. If you no longer have the original dust bag, a white cotton pillowcase can be an ideal substitute. (Coloured fabrics may transfer onto the surface of the leather.)
Once covered, place your covered handbag away from direct sunlight and artificial sources of heat. Be sure to stand it on its base rather than hanging it up can stretch the handles. Additionally, take care to choose a spot that is tall enough to allow the handles to stand up unimpeded. Doing otherwise can cause them to become bent or misshapen.
When you've taken such care with your handbag at home, it's important to extend the consideration to other environments. Invest in a handbag hook to keep your bags safely close to hand and away from dirty, rough floors and surfaces.
Purses
Purses come in a variety of sizes and silhouettes to accommodate your needs. Select a style that fits your requirements and decreases the risk of stretching the leather by not overfilling its various pockets, compartments and card slots.
When carrying your purse in a handbag, you can prevent scratches and imprints simply by storing your purse in a separate compartment or a designated zip pocket in the lining. It's good practice to gently wipe or brush your purse regularly to remove the daily build up of dust and dirt which can build up.
Travel bags
While leather travel bags are designed with durability and the wear and tear of travel in mind, there are a few easy steps you can take to preserve the quality and finish of your suitcase, cabin bag or weekend bag.
Before and after travel, when your bag is in your care, always stand it on its wheels or protective feet rather than on its side to minimise contact with the floor.
In transit, make use of a protective luggage cover in order to avert the possibility of scratches when your travel bag is in the hold amongst tens or even hundreds of others.
In between trips, empty your travel bag and store it in its protective bag in a spot that comfortably accommodates it without the need for folding handles or tightly packing it against any other accessories.
Briefcases
Maintain a briefcase's refined and professional finish by taking care to stand it upon the protective brass feet whenever possible - this will avoid unnecessary wear on the leather.
Avoid putting excess strain on its zips and hardware by not overfilling it with heavy laptops and contents. If you are required to pack your briefcase within a larger travel bag when working overseas, ensure it is safeguarded within a protective bag.
Gloves
Given that we wear gloves during a season of unpredictable weather, they're often exposed to a variety of elements. Should your gloves get wet from snow or rain, allow them to dry naturally away from sunlight and any artificial heat such as radiators.
If you happen to drop a glove and need to clean it, begin by gently wipe it down with a soft brush or cloth. Next, prepare a solution of soap flakes and hot water. Wear the affected glove as you normally would and use a sponge to clean the area. Take care not to oversaturate the leather and dab away any excess water. Once clean, leave your glove or gloves to dry in a cool, dry place, putting them on from time to time will help to maintain their shape.
Albums and Journals
Leather albums and journals often preserve precious memories, so it's important to preserve the books themselves. To achieve this, wash your hands before handling them so as not to transfer any residue or dirt to the leather surface. We also advise that you polish or buff them with a clear wax to hydrate and maintain the leather covers.
When storing your cherished albums and journals on a shelf, keep them out of direct sunlight and give your shelves room to breathe. Books stacked on shelves too tightly may crack at the spine, while books stacked too loosely may sag and warp. Aim for gentle support and, when removing them from the shelf, it's important to pull from the middle, as hooking your finger over the top of the spine can create a stretched and misshapen finish.
Belts
As belts are an accessory that many of us wear every day, it's important to rotate them in order to extend their lifespan. Identifying the correct fit will also support their longevity; preventing stretching.
When not wearing your belt, gently wipe away any dust or debris and hang it by the buckle in a cool, dry space away from direct heat or sunlight. By allowing a belt to hang flat rather than rolling it up, you will avoid any imprints from the hardware and maintain its original shape.
How to clean and maintain your leather goods
Dos and Don'ts
- Don't machine wash leather
- Don't get leather wet wherever possible
- Don't dry wet leather next to a radiator or with a hair dryer
- Don't tumble dry leather
- Don't iron leather
- Don't immerse leather in water to clean
- Do regularly clean leather with a soft brush or cloth
- Do regularly air out leather
- Do blot away water or moisture as soon as possible
- Do dry wet leather naturally, away from artificial heat
- Do keep leather supple with a specialised leather conditioner every 3-6 months
- Do clean spots and stains with a mixture of soap flakes and warm water
- Do use a steam cleaner to disinfect and remove buildup from regular use
- Do test any conditioners, cleaners, polishes or wax in a hidden spot beforehand
Maintenance
Leather is loved for its visual nuances; varying textures, delicate shifts in tone, slowly developing patinas and subtle signs of a life well loved and used. When working with such a versatile and multi-faceted material, the maintenance choices you make can shape the appearance of your leather goods for years to come; allowing you to truly tailor them to your individual style.
Polishing leather, for instance, maintains its original shine. This process is ideal for high gloss, formal or eveningwear accessories which you would like to keep in pristine condition. You may prefer, however, to allow more casual, functional pieces such as duffel bags or hobo bags to weather and develop their own unique characteristics. In this case, regular dusting and a simple wipe with a damp cloth from time to time will certainly suffice.
Smooth, fine and patent leathers will benefit from a soft leather cream to nourish, hydrate and preserve their supple qualities. Gentle creams and conditioners may also be used to remove light scratches. Where bright colours are concerned, polish can be used to spot buff scratches and scuffs, while specialist colour restoring balms are ideal for a full rejuvenation.
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