Leather Items Maintenance - FAQ

[Annabella Webmaster]

- What should I do when leather gets rain or salt from the streets on
them?

Promptly remove salt deposits by sponging with clear water, then allow
wet or damp leather items to air-dry naturally, away from any heat
source. You can then treat most items with a specially formulated
leather conditioner to renew flexibility while suede can be brushed
with a terry towel to restore its look.

- Does leather lose its shape?

If not cared for properly, the skins in your garment can stretch or
sag. Leather jackets and shirts should be hung on wide or padded
hangers to best maintain their shape. Shoe and boot trees keep
footwear looking good and handbags will look better longer when
stuffed with white tissue paper.

- How should I store my leathers?

A dark closet that is neither too dry nor too humid is an ideal
storage place. When putting garments away for the season, always place
them in breathable covers, never plastic, which can dry out the
leather.

- What kinds of products can be used to keep my leather looking great?

Be sure to choose products meant for your item. Carefully read and
follow the instructions for best results. Never use household
products, waxes, silicone or any other preparations that impair the
leather's ability to breathe.

- My leather coat became wrinkled during travel. Can it be fixed?

It can. Most wrinkles will hang out on their own although it is
perfectly safe to iron leather by carefully following these
instructions. Simply set iron on its rayon setting, use heavy brown
wrapping paper as a pressing cloth on the right side of the item and
iron. Covering one section at a time while always keeping the iron
moving, wrinkles should come right out.

- Are there any common things that can damage leather?

Perfumes, hair spray and your natural body oils are a few things that,
over time, can discolor or damage leather. You should avoid spraying
perfumes or hair spray while wearing your garment and a scarf at the
neckline will help keep hair and body oil away from the collar.

- The hem of my favorite leather skirt has come loose. Can I fix it
myself?

You can. Small areas can be fixed with a tiny amount of rubber cement.
For bigger jobs consult your local leather care professional.

- I had my leather jacket professionally cleaned and the color
changed. Is this normal?

As a matter of fact it is. Leather is a natural product and you can
never determine exactly how it will react to the cleaning process. An
recommended leather cleaner will clean the garment and then restore
the essential oils that were lost during the procedure. Since the
cleaner can never exactly match the method that was originally used
when your garment was created, the result will sometimes be a slight
change in color or texture. For this reason it is important to clean
matching garments at the same time.

Source of Information: www.leatherassociation.com