If you are the proud owner of a leather garment or if you have a piece of furniture made of this material. It is important to pay particular attention to its cleaning.
Leather is a noble material which gains by acquiring a certain patina and which improves over time. However, it is also a material that requires very specific cleaning. Otherwise it will become more sensitive to stains and its colors will fade.
This is why it can be useful to have some knowledge of cleaning and maintaining leather. And above all to master some "grandmother's" tricks!
Materials to know to maintain leather
No need to run to drugstores to find miracle products. Your bathroom contains everything you need to maintain and clean the formal shoes from any brand.
Cleansing milk to clean leather
Your cleansing milk will prove to be a very effective ally in the event of a stain on your jacket, your handbag or your beautiful club chair.
To make it disappear, soak in your daily milk a cotton or a soft cloth, and rub gently. Until the product fully penetrates the leather: the stain should fade.
This tip is also valid for regular maintenance. By gently rubbing your leather every month with a cloth impregnated with cleansing milk. You will get rid of all the particles brought in by pollution. Be careful to use an alcohol-free product!
Want to go further? You can mix your cleansing milk with a few drops of white vinegar to further revive the colors of your leather! Finish your cleansing by gently rubbing the object with a cotton ball soaked in moisturizer.
Marseille soap
Less known for the maintenance of leather, Marseille soap is also a tool of choice. By coating a previously moistened washcloth with Marseille soap, you will be able to rid your leather of all the stains that are encrusted there.
Just rinse with clean water after the operation and your leather will be like new. Be careful, this treatment should be reserved as a priority for very encrusted stains.
The liniment to make yourself
If you have a child, you are certainly familiar with the liniment. This magical material, which is mainly used for changing babies, can also be used to clean leather! By impregnating a cotton or a soft cloth with this material you will get rid of the most stubborn stains.
If you want to make your own liniment, nothing could be easier: all you have to do is mix lime water (in pharmacies) with vegetable oil (the one you use to season your salads will be perfect).
Mix the two products equally, beat in a blender to thicken, and voila! You have an organic product, effective, and much more economical than products sold in supermarkets!
If you wish, you can stabilize the mixture with beeswax. So that the product is less liquid, and so that your product is well protected.
Be careful to wipe your leather thoroughly afterwards with a clean, dry cloth. Your liniment will be effective for three months.
A little tip: the liniment is also an excellent product that you can use for your daily care: makeup remover, moisturizer, changing babies, etc.
Pay attention to the leather style for maintenance
Please note, leather does not require the same maintenance depending on its style. Aniline leather is a leather whose color is not obtained from pigments but from a simple dye bath. It is therefore a little more fragile than "dipped" leather (the color of which is obtained by immersing the leather in a bath of pigments).
This very light treatment allows the aniline leather to retain a very pleasant touch. But also, a certain comfort of use (cool in summer, warm in winter) and a very elegant patina.
Downside? Aniline leather requires regular maintenance; to keep it impeccable, you have to wipe a dry cloth on your sofa every day. For cleaning, it is better to call in a professional.
Velvet leather (sometimes incorrectly called suede, or even turned leather) is a classic leather which has undergone a reverse treatment (flesh side). Hence a softer and more supple appearance than smooth leather.
To maintain it, the wisest thing is to use a soft brush, to keep its flexibility and its shine. In the event of a stain, all you have to do is change the brush: rub vigorously with a crepe brush so that the stain goes away. If in doubt, it is best to take your leather item to a dry-cleaning professional who will take care of it efficiently.