Leather is strong, durable and will last a long time if it’s treated gently and you avoid using harsh cleaners. There’s no need to use expensive, chemical-based products to keep it looking its best—just try these traditional solutions.
Many of us regularly wear or carry leather products, including jackets, gloves, belts and bags. Follow these basic rules so that they will always look and feel great.
• Leather needs to breathe, so never store it in a plastic bag.
• Hang belts in your closet or roll them in a cloth bag.
• Store leather garments in fabric clothing bags.
• Fill soft handbags with newspaper to help them keep their shape.
• Rub black leather gloves with the inside of a banana skin to make them shine like new.
• Wash suede gloves in soap and water with a few drops of ammonia. Squeeze the water through the gloves carefully by hand, then squeeze them out again before laying them flat to dry.
• Rub a little castor oil into old, stiff leather gloves to bring back their flexibility.
• Place tight gloves between damp cloths for a few hours, then put them on while they are still damp to stretch them. There’s no need to keep them on until they’re dry; just wear them for a few minutes.
• Never leave leather items in the sun for long because intense sunlight can produce a mottled effect on the surface.
• Allow wet leather to dry at room temperature but not in the sun or near a heat source, as this may cause the leather to become brittle or, in some cases, even release toxic compounds.
• Brush suede well after drying to lift the nap.
• Use a rubber or suede eraser to rub down dirty collars and cuffs.
• Clean white leather with a little milk.
• Clean colored leather belts and bags occasionally with a damp cloth, and allow them to dry at room temperature. But keep them out of direct sunlight or they may lose their color.
• Clean dusty, dirty leather suitcases with a solution of equal parts milk and mineral spirits.
• To preserve leather suitcases, apply castor oil generously. Let it soak in for a few hours and buff with a soft cloth.
• Clean a leather briefcase with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) methylated spirits mixed with 1 cup (250 ml) water.
• For grease spots on coated leathers, apply a little unscented talcum powder, let it absorb the grease and rub it off.
Washing leather gloves
1 First check the leather is washable. Fill a basin with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Add some glycerin to make the leather softer and more supple.
2 Put on your leather gloves and wash them in the soapy water.
3 Rinse with tap water, remove and lay flat on a towel at room temperature to dry. When they are half dry, knead them to make them soft again and lay them flat to complete the drying process.