Leather Clothing Care Tips

Leather Clothes Cleaning and Care Tips: An essential guide to keeping your rawhide looking tough; your nubuck velvety.

We'll begin at the beginning - it's essential to know the type of leather before you begin cleaning it.

The Four Different Kinds.

1. Protected:

This is the toughest and the most practical. It's usually finished with pigments on the surface. You can restore the color on scratches on these pieces easily.

2. Aniline:

This type (also called natural, naked or unprotected) is glazed with a transparent dye that allows the glorious grain to show through. It usually has no protective coating; although you can opt for a spray-on water repellant either before or after you purchase the garment.

3. Nubuck:

This is an aniline (also called distressed or bomber) that has been brushed to create a soft velvety surface. It's very absorbent and will stain easily, although some Nubucks, such as distressed or bomber, have waxed surfaces that offer some protection.

4. Suede:

Suede is actually the flesh side. But it looks like Nubuck and needs similar care.

You can also protect suedes and Nubucks with a water repellant spray but it may darken the color.

Cleaning by type.

Always follow the cleaning instructions on any garment before you get started.

These designer items are often embellished, treated or otherwise added to and any cleaning routine needs to take this into consideration.

-- Finished:

Start by removing surface dirt with a damp sponge. If blights remain, apply a little saddle soap or liquid detergent to the sponge, and repeat the rubbing routine above.

-- Unfinished:

A very delicate subset, these garments as they will easily spot if allowed to get wet. So ditch the water and use a suede brush or ultra-fine sandpaper to rub away spots and stains.

It's worth the time investment to try to undo the lingering affects of daily life on these garments as dry cleaning is not only tough on the item, it'll give your wallet a workout, too.

Care and storage.

1. How to hang it.

These garments last longest when hung on shaped- or padded hangers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place that allows it to breathe.

2. How to remove wrinkles.

If wrinkles don't hang out, it's time to let off some steam. Hang it in the bathroom while you shower, allowing the heat and humidity to relax the garment.

As a last resort, you can iron it - but use the lowest setting without steam. Place brown paper bags between the iron and the garment to protect it.

3. How to dry leather.

Blot dry with a clean rag or cloth. Lay it flat on a clean towel to dry, away from direct heat and sunlight.

Heat will dry out the garment's natural oils and can cause surfaces cracks.

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About the Author

Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.