Care Guides

CARING FOR YOUR LEATHER 

Cleaning and nourishing your leather goods is a must if you want to maintain a quality look for many years. To get the most out of the Living Leather product range please read the whole of this guide before starting to clean or condition - there are some important do's and don'ts towards the end!

Caring for your leather should be a two stage process:

1. Cleaning: Living Leather Cleaners are carefully formulated to gently, but effectively remove dirt and grease, which could over time break down the protective finish applied to the leather. Cleaning in isolation however can also take away the natural oils inherent in the leather, so conditioning is an essential part of the maintenance process.

2. Conditioning: Living Leather Conditioners nourish and replenish surfaces to maintain softness and improve flexibility and suppleness, helping to prevent cracks and dryness. They also produce a protective barrier which can help to extend the life of your purchase and make future cleaning easier. In addition, Living Leather Conditioners contain an ultra violet absorbing compound to help reduce the effects of strong sunlight on leather finishes.

Which Living Leather cleaning and conditioning products should I use?

The type of cleaning and conditioning product recommended will depend on the type of leather finish used in the manufacture of your product. We recommend that you check the manufacturer's information to determine from which type of leather your product is made. See the guidelines below if you are unsure.

Living Leather's Exclusive Aniline Leather Cleaner and Conditioner are specially formulated for aniline leather, which has a porous finish and wears to a distressed look.

Living Leather's Exclusive Leather Cleaner and Conditioner are formulated for use on leathers which have had some sort of protective coating or sealant applied to increase their durability eg. full grain leather, corrected grain leather, split or bi-cast leather. (See below for fuller descriptions of leather finishes)

How can I work out what type of leather I am cleaning if there aren't any clear indications on the product?

There are a huge number of processes used to achieve the many different finishes for todays leather goods market and it can seem a little daunting to try to determine which category your product falls into. Don't panic! Our guidelines below will help you determine what kind of leather you have.

Aniline Leather can only be produced from the highest quality hides. Produced from the full thickness of the skin, aniline leather has a porous finish and wears to a distressed appearance.

Colour is produced by the introduction of a dye through the thickness of the hide, not by the application of a surface coating. Aniline leather is used in the manufacture of top quality clothing and furniture.

How to identify: It does not have a nap like suede, can be marked if scratched lightly with a fingernail and will absorb water or liquid easily.

Use Living Leather's Aniline Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.

Semi-Aniline Leather is produced in a similar way to full aniline leather, but has a light protective coating applied. This increases durability and makes the finish easier to care for.

How to identify: It can be marked by scratching it lightly with a fingernail, but will not absorb water or liquid easily.

Use Living Leather's Aniline Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.

Protected Leathers

The following leather types have a protective coating. They will not be marked if you scratch them lightly with a fingernail and will not absorb water or liquid easily. They can therefore be cleaned safely with more powerful cleaning products:

Full Grain Leather retains the natural appearance of the hide but has a flexible, hardwearing sealer coat. This is a very practical material often used for furniture coverings.

Use Living Leather's Exclusive Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.

Corrected Grain Leather is produced by sanding off the natural finish on the outside of the skin and replacing it with a synthetic coating that may include a simulated grain pattern. This process allows lower quality hides to be used and produces a very consistent finish which is easy to care for.

Use Living Leather's Exclusive Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.

Split or Bi-Cast Leather is produced by separating layers from a hide. The exposed surface is sanded, grained and coated to produce a durable finish. The quality of this type of leather is extremely variable.

Use Living Leather's Exclusive Leather Cleaner and Conditioner.

WARNING:

Nubuck and Suede have varying degrees of surface nap that make them extremely porous and difficult to clean and care for. We do not recommend any of the Living Leather product range for cleaning and nourishing nubuck and suede, or any other highly absorbent skins.

LEATHER TREATMENT DO'S AND DON'TS:

• DO always use a professional quality product, that is designed for the type of leather you have. If you are unsure of the type of leather, aniline cleaner and conditioner is the safest product to use, suitable for all leather types.
• DO always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
• DO always test a hidden area first for colourfastness, on each and every cleaning occasion. Discontinue use if there is significant colour release.
• DO always apply cleaners gently to avoid damaging the leather surface.
• DO clean leather regularly to avoid any build-up of dirt that may become difficult or impossible to remove.
• DO use a professional clothing dye remover to remove any dye transfer (eg from clothing or newsprint), as soon as possible to improve the success rate of removal.
• DO use a conditioner to enhance and preserve leather after cleaning.
• DO use a good quality, clean cloth or sponge applicator to apply cleaning products and conditioners.
• DON'T use baby wipes, general household cleaners or abrasive products on leather as they may damage or remove the finish.
• DON'T rub hard when cleaning a leather surface as it may cause damage.
• DON'T forget that animal skins and dyes used in manufacture of leather goods cannot always be guaranteed to be of high quality and do not necessarily reflect the price paid.

WARNING:

Leather is a variable product of natural origin with many different types and qualities in use. Always follow the guidelines for safe cleaning. A small amount of colour release is normal with some aniline leathers and from worn areas of coated leathers. Always stop cleaning if significant colour loss is seen or damage may result. Some leathers may darken slighlty on cleaning or conditioning, but the colour will return to normal when the product dries fully.

This information is intended as general guidance for the cleaning and care of leather articles and is given in good faith. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, no liability can be accepted for loss or damage as a result of its use. The variation in quality, colouring methods, processing and manufacturing of leathers is so wide that the generalisations given above may not always apply to a particular type of leather.