Leather has to be taken care of to prolong their life. They must be regularly cleaned to free them from substances that can slow down their performance during the production of articles. Every leather type has a special way of caring for it. For example, Buckskin, Deer hide, and Elk leathers can be washed by cleaning them with water and mild soap. However, do not wring it or squeeze it dry because it causes wrinkles in the leather.
Avoid storing leather garments in tightly sealed plastic bags. Leather garments must be stored in a place where there are both circulations of air and ample space. Plastic bags have a tendency either to stick to leather or discolor it. Further, do not spray moth repellent sprays on leather as they contain chemicals that can discolor it.
All dye applicators applied in water-soluble dyes can be rinsed in warm water. Those used for oil and spirit solvent dyes, on the other hand, can be cleaned with a mild alcohol solvent. They should be washed by a custom purses manufacturer with soap and warm water after being rinsed clean, and then dried.
Leather products are affected by different conditions and factors and a majority of these are environmental factors. If these conditions and factors are not curbed or controlled effectively, the leather items cannot appropriately perform their functions. It can even result in the leather items’ spoilage. Some of these factors are dirt, water, grease or oil, chemicals, and drying.
Dirt
Dirt is the common factor, which can virtually affect almost every leather item as it is circulated with air. Thus, users of leather products should clean off the dust regularly that sticks to their leather items. A damp, clean cloth can be used for wiping off the dust from leather items. A custom leather bag manufacturer will always recommend you to do so.
Dirt in eyelets and corners of leather products can be blown away via a blower. Leather products placed on showcases for sale should be covered with a transparent rubber to protect them from dust.
Water
Water can cause leather products to shrink or warp. It can make them dull, quite weak, and unattractive. All users of leather items should be very cautious of their impacts. Water should be kept far or away from where leather products are kept or stored. If mistakenly, water pours on a leather product, it must be immediately wiped out and allowed to slowly dry at moderate temperature.
Oil/Grease
Oily elements can be used to improve the leather items’ surface quality when applied well. They can cause adverse effects as well when they expectedly find their way on finished leather products. They can stain or soil an aspect of the leather bag or item. This definitely affects its general outlook.
Chemicals
Chemicals can cause dramatic effects on leather bags. They can wipe off the top layers of the leather products. All chemicals; specifically corrosive ones such as acids must be kept away from every leather item.
Drying
Leather items should be dried slowly at room temp or a moderate temperature. They should not be exposed to the sun’s harsh rays. Exposure to the sun’s radiant heat can cause leather items to fade or pale. Leather products may shrink in size as a result of prolonged exposure.
There are many tested ways of taking care of leather. A few of these ways include cleaning, conditioning, storing, and flattening.
1. Storing
Store your leather in airy areas. A humid environment or atmosphere must be avoided. Leather crumpling must be avoided we well when storing a pack of it as they must be flattened.
Already finished leather must be stored with stuffing. Further, the storage area should be free from the excessive heat that would affect the leather. Before the storage of artifacts, they have to be thoroughly dried. Special fungicide compounds should be sprayed on the stored leather stuff to prevent molding.
2. Cleaning
Smooth leather should be cleaned by neutral soap usage. The soap would aid in removing the soil on the leather’s surface. The surface dirt can be cleaned as well by wiping or brushing with a damp cloth. Suede leather can also be cleaned with a fine wire brush or stiff brush to remove dirt and restore the nap texture or effect.
3. Conditioning
Wet leather products need to be dried slowly at moderate temperatures. In every condition, excessive heat should be avoided. Solvents such as carbon tetrachloride, benzene, or naphtha should be used carefully to remove dirt or soil spots. Dirty spots are spots or stains that do not yield to water and soap as they are cleaned by the use of solvents. Read more about skip bin.
4. Flattening
folded or rolled and crumpled leather need to be flattened and straightened. It is achieved by rolling the leather on the opposite side or surface while moistening the leather and keeping it under a flat weight. The leather is then rubbed and moistened with a flat tool. In the end, it is toggled or moistened to achieve flatness.
