Caring For Your Leather
At Lakeland Leather we source and select only the highest quality leather.
The natural variations and characteristics of each hide ensure that every leather item is unique, and will only get better with age. As with all natural materials, leather benefits from a little love and attention, both before wearing and then every now and again to prolong its appearance.
Best Practice
Although each leather product may have its own specific care guidelines, there are some general best practices that apply:
- Keep leather away from intense or direct heat.
- Never put stickers on your leather product.
- Try to keep leather as dry as possible; avoid wearing in heavy rain.
- Reapply care products when needed.
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Cleaning Your Leather
About once or twice a year (depending on how often you wear your jacket or use your handbag), you should clean it. Unsurprisingly, we recommend using our very own foam cleaner (for Aniline and Nappa, Suede and Nubuck or Sheepskin), as it's specifically designed to gently clean our natural finish leathers. Alternatively, you can use warm water with a touch of soap. Using a soft sponge or lint-free cloth, gently work the foam cleaner or soap into the dirty area, or across the whole jacket or bag, in slow circular motions. You shouldn't need much. Afterwards gently dry your jacket or bag by dabbing it with a dry cloth.
We would always recommend cleaning your leather jacket or bag yourself, and avoiding dry cleaning.
However, if you absolutely have to use a dry cleaner, be sure to seek out a local one who has experience with leather and sheepskin.
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Removing Stains
Liquid stains are perhaps the easiest of stains to remove from leather. The first step is to apply some of our cleaning foam (for Aniline and Nappa, Suede and Nubuck or Sheepskin). Once you’ve done that, dab the same area with a dry cloth and repeat this process until the stain is gone. To ensure that liquid stains disappear easily, remember to apply protector to your leather product when you buy it.
It’s easiest to remove ink stains when they’re still wet, but getting rid of an ink stain is still possible once it’s dried. The most effective way of doing this is to use our Nappa Leather Fresh Ink Remover. However, it’s important to do so as soon as possible in order for the ink remover to be effective. To remove any loose dirt particles, use our Suede and Nubuck Magic Sponge dry, and without any cleaning products. This can be used on all leather types, but go gently if using on Aniline and Nappa prouducts, and wash the Magic Sponge in warm water after use.
One of the last things you want on your leather product is mould, so to avoid it, always store it in a cool, dry place. However, if you do find mould, the best thing to do is take your product outside, and try to buff it clean with a lint-free cloth, followed by some cleaner, protection spray and conditioner just to be sure!
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Storage Of Your Leather Jacket
The way in which you store your leather jacket is really important, because poorly stored leather is easy to spot, even when it’s being worn.
To hang your jacket, use a wide, padded hanger to avoid wrinkling the material and, because leather is a natural material, it should be hung in a cool and dry area, as it needs to be able to breathe properly. However, try not to let the jacket touch the wardrobe! We have had customers in the past whose jackets have been damaged by the varnish in their wardrobes, so it can be a good idea to opt for a soft nylon garment, unless it’s going to be stored in a very well-ventilated area.
If you do happen to get your jacket wet or damp, you’ll also need to hang it out until it dries, to avoid wrinkling the material. To properly dry it, hang your jacket (again, on a wide and padded clothes hanger) at room temperature, and ensure that all of its pockets are empty and that it’s not hanging near a direct source of heat.
After the jacket is dry, it’s best to condition it using our Leather Revive & Renew Cream.
Fading & Repairs
One of the most common issues with leather jackets and bags is that the colour fades due to exposure to the elements. If this happens to yours, your initial action should be to clean it thoroughly with foam cleaner as it could just be dirty.
If the jacket or bag is still faded after cleaning, try applying our Revive and Renew Cream, followed by protection cream. However, it's important to remember that fading is a normal part of the ageing process for a leather product and it can sometimes even make the jacket or bag look better!
You may also notice some scratches on your leather product and this is all part of normal wear and tear. If a scratch is fairly minor, applying some conditioner should do the trick. Sadly, tears and rips can happen as well but we do offer a repair service here at Lakeland.
Drop us an email to online@lakelandleather.co.uk or give us a call on 015394 39020 to see if we can help.
Leather Care And Cleaning Products
In order to take the best possible care of your leather jacket or bag, we recommend only using reputable products. Before using anything, test it in an inconspicuous area.
As leather is often an expensive, frequently-worn and much-loved purchase, it's always a good idea to keep it in tip-top shape, and hopefully this guide will have given you some insight into how to properly care for your leather.
