Tag Archives: leather care

Leather clothing

How to Repair Scratches on Leather Clothing

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Leather clothing

Perhaps nothing looks as good as a leather piece of clothing. From a jacket to pants, you name it, nothing wears quite like leather. On the same token though, nothing looks worse than leather clothing that has scratches in it. While the deep scratches are extremely bad, event the smaller scratches can make even the nicest leather garment you own look dull and drab and can leave you so frustrated with a feeling of just wanting to throw them all away. So how do you repair scratches in your leather clothing?

There are a couple of ways that you can go about fixing your scratched leather clothing but probably the easiest way is to obtain a leather repair kit that can be found at almost any department store. Then you simply follow these four easy steps to once again make your leather look as good as new:

1.    Choose or mix your color: The kit will contain different colored liquid adhesives as there are different colors of leather. If the kit does not contain the precise color of your leather garment then you will have to mix and match as best you can until you match the color of the leather piece you are going to repair. This may take some time but do not rush this step. If you use an adhesive color that is too off from the garment, then it will stick out like a sore thumb.
2.    Apply adhesive: Once you have the right color you then apply that colored adhesive to the scratches on the leather garment using a toothpick. Be sure to smooth in the adhesive and try not to apply too much adhesive because that will result in a high spot that won’t look right.
3.    Use grain paper: The kit will also contain a number of grain papers that are meant to look like the grain of your leather garment. Compare the way the grain looks on the paper to the grain on your garment and when you find a match lay the paper flatly over the adhesive you applied on the garment. This will leave the grain appearance so that no one will be able to tell that you used a repair kit.
4.    Heat it all up: The last step in the leather repair process is to use the heat applicator that also comes in the kit to properly bond the adhesive to the leather garment. Take the heat applicator and work it around on top of the grain paper in small circular motions for several minutes and be sure that the entire area is treated.

After the process is finished you need only let the area on the garment completely cool off and dry overnight and come morning you should have a great looking leather garment that no longer contains those nasty scratches. So before you give up on your leather goods simply because they have a few scratches, try one of these repair kits, the results may surprise you and the cost will be far less than going out and buying all new leather.

Leather Jacket

How to Care for a Leather Jacket

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Leather Jacket

Perhaps nothing looks better than a nice leather jacket. This versatile garment can be worn year round and goes with almost any pair of pants or jeans. The great thing about leather jackets is that everyone looks great in them. Leather jackets can also be expensive so it is important to take proper care of your leather jacket if you wish to enjoy it for an extended period of time.

Leather is a fickle material so special care must be taken to ensure your leather jacket is always at its best. Here are some easy but important ways to care for your leather jacket:

•    Apply a protectant: The first thing you should do when you purchase a leather jacket is protect it using a colorless, odorless aerosol spray that will help repel water and stains. There a number of different brands available and which one you use is really a personal preference, but you should never leave your leather jacket untreated. The protectant should be reapplied every six months to ensure that your leather jacket will always stay looking its best.
•    Keep it dry: Just as with oil, leather does not mix well with water. If your leather jacket does happen to get wet do not dry it in the dryer or with a blow dryer as this is a recipe for disaster. Simply towel dry the jacket as best you can and then hang your leather jacket up and allow the rest of the moisture to air dry. Try to avoid water all together if you can. If the weather looks sketchy, don’t risk it, leave the jacket at home or at the very least make sure you bring an umbrella.
•    Pad it up: When you hang up your jacket you should do so on a heavy duty padded hanger. This will keep the jacket from getting those nasty looking hanger marks and will also allow the jacket to naturally remain wrinkle free.
•    Condition: At least one time per year you should have you leather jacket conditioned. You can either do this yourself or take the jacket to a professional and have it done for you. Conditioning the leather on a regular basis will keep the leather softer and help to avoid cracking in the leather. If you do this yourself be sure to take special care and pay extra attention to the elbows of the jacket as these areas are bent more frequently and more susceptible to cracking if not properly treated.
•    Avoid plastic: If you plan on storing your leather jacket for any period of time avoid doing so in a plastic cover like the ones you get from a dry cleaner. These types of bags do not allow the jacket to breath and that spells trouble for the leather. Instead use a fabric garment bag that is breathable. This will protect your jacket and also allow the leather to get some much needed air.

With proper care and regular maintenance your leather jacket will look as good as the day you bought it for many years to come.

Suede

How To Protect Suede From Stains

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Suede

Suede is a beautiful fabric that is very versatile and trendy. It is used in a variety of clothing from jackets and coats to shoes, skirts, pants, shirts and purses. It is a great choice for when the temperature calls for something a little warmer in the spring and fall. It also makes for toasty winter wear. The one drawback with suede is that it stains easily and is hard to clean. It even stains when water gets on it. Therefore knowing how to protect suede from stains is very important information that anyone who has suede clothes, shoes or accessories should know.

The most important thing you can do to protect your suede items from stains is to apply a commercial suede treatment/protective spray. This formula comes in a can and is easy to apply by simply spraying it on the item. Be sure to do so in a well-ventilated area. Let it dry before wearing the item. Apply the treatment when the item is new, at the beginning of each season when you will wear the item and as often as necessary in between. Following dry cleaning, it should also be reapplied.

Certain preventative methods will help you keep your suede from getting stained. Never apply perfumes, hair sprays, deodorants or other aerosols while wearing suede. If your suede garment touches your neckline, wear a scarf with it to keep makeup and oil from the skin from staining the suede. If your suede gets wet, it is best to dry it gently with a clean towel as much as possible. When you have removed all the moisture that you can, let it air dry before using a suede brush on it. For dried on stains like mud a suede brush is a good way to remove them.

Deal with small stains immediately to prevent them from becoming bigger more permanent stains. If you have an oil-based stain on suede apply talcum powder to soak it up and then brush the suede afterwards. Many other stains can be removed by used a white pencil eraser or a sandpaper-based emery board for fingernails. Be gentle when using either method and brush with a suede brush afterwards. Remember to keep an eye out for stains when you remove your suede items and treat any stain promptly. As with stain removal in general, the faster you deal with a stain the better the chances you have of keeping it from becoming permanent.

Seek out a reputable dry cleaner or leather expert who has a good reputation for dealing with suede. He or she should also be able to speak confidently about what you can and cannot expect from cleaning such items. Talk to several before deciding which one to use. Seek referrals from others who frequently wear suede.

Keep your luxurious suede items from becoming stained with a little prevention on your part and the knowledge of how to deal with spills and liquids so you can prevent them from becoming permanent stains. This knowledge is extremely valuable to the longevity of your suede wardrobe items.

Leather

How To Stretch Out Leather

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Leather

Leather is one of the oldest materials used for clothing and shoes. It is just as popular and comfortable now as it was for the first people who ever used it. Leather offers so many advantages from strength to versatility to good looks and comfort. It also provides softness and stretch so that practically any leather can mold and adapt to a given shape, which is why leather shoes are so much more comfortable when they have been broken in. If you are looking to stretch out leather for maximum comfort there are a few things that you should know.

If you want to stretch leather shoes, there are professional sprays that can help you with the process. You simply need to spray the shoes with it and it will help the leather to adapt and stretch to the shape of your feet. You will need to wear the shoes however to get them stretched to the right shape. Alternatively you can buy shoe stretchers to put inside such shoes. This is a good investment if your feet are just slightly bigger than a certain size and you need to regularly stretch shoes. You can also stretch shoes by putting on heavy socks or even multiple pairs of heavy socks and wearing the leather shoes around your home until they stretch enough to be comfortable. Stuffing your shoes with any rigid item that pushes its limits will help to achieve the stretch you want too.

If you are looking to stretch bigger items like leather pants, shirts, skirts or boots, you will need to use water. While this goes completely against what we are usually told about caring for leather, you will need to completely submerge your leather item in warm water. While the item is in the water, knead the leather to make it as supple and workable as possible. Keep your item there for at least 10 minutes. When it comes out of the water you will need to put on your soaking wet leather and wear it around for a while. This gives the material the opportunity to stretch to your shape so that it fits you perfectly and hugs your every curve. In this way you can truly create a one-of-a-kind leather garment that is for you alone. Wear the leather for as long as you comfortably can in order to preserve the new shape you introduced to it.

The alternate method for stretching out leather is to go to a professional leather shop or in the case of shoes to a cobbler for professional stretching. Such people have the equipment necessary to achieve what you are looking for without the extra work on your part. However, you will have to pay for this service. It typically takes 24 hours or more.

Get your beautiful leather that doesn’t quite fit out of the back of the closet. With a little ingenuity and time you can stretch the items you haven’t worn in a while. Before you know it, you’ll be slipping into a sexy leather look that is just perfect for just about anything.