Caring For Leather – If Not Properly Cared For Leather Will Wear Out Fast

Many people are led to believe that leather will last a lifetime with very little, if any maintenance. And some have even been told it is bullet proof! Having been in the leather industry for many years, I can tell you from experience, this is not true.



Here are some examples of leather not properly cared for, which I’ve had to deal with ...



* Leather couches only 2 or 3 years old, with cracks appearing in the cushions and arms.

* Leather in cars, especially, the drivers seat, where the finish has completely worn through with the constant sliding in and out.

* Another common problem with car leather is the top of the back seat: it gets so hot, it virtually bakes in the sun, loses its moisture content and ends up going hard and brittle. The leather eventually shrinks and tears along the stitching lines.

* Even leather chairs only a few months old have arrived on my door step with the finish wearing off the arms exposing the leather substrate.



Now, I don’t have to tell you how disappointed their owners were. They didn’t realise how important leather care was.



And once shown how to properly care for their upholstery, their response is … if they had known this in the first place, they would have done things differently.



Not so long ago, I had a guy visit my workshop with a Jaguar he was wanted to restore. He was seeking advice on improving the look of the leather interior. When I opened the door, something didn’t look right … the leather was very shiny, felt damp and was covered in fluff and dust.



I asked him what he had been using on the leather and his reply was, "20/40 engine oil".



He went on to explain how the car club members had told him that oiling leather would keep it in good condition.



Needless to say, the engine oil had not only left a ‘hard-to-remove’ oily residue on the surface which would stain his clothing, but it had soaked into the pores of the leather and almost destroyed it!



Can these sorts of problems be repaired? The good news is, yes.



In some of these examples, some simple restoration work is required. However, for more serious cases, the services of an upholsterer is needed. And once you start replacing leather panels, the costs can really go through the roof.



So you see, by simply cleaning and conditioning your leather on a regular basis, with a tested and approved leather care system, you can minimise the chances of these problems happening to you.



To discover more about caring for leather and which leather care products have been tested and approved by an independent Leather Testing Authority, download the FREE Report: "Leather Specialist Reveals 8 Little-Known Leather Care Tips" written by leather expert, Paul Ford at www.leatherhelp.co.nz.