Care
Leather Care Tips
Leather is a natural material and can sometimes seem stiff or hard. However, there is an easy remedy for this – USE. With use leather becomes very supple and will attain that “broken in” feel. The more often you wear and use your leather mittens the faster and better you will be able to help the leather conform to your hand into that perfect feel.
Leather is a very durable and long lasting material. Following is a simple set of care guidelines to ensure a longer life for your leather mittens.
Protection
Moisture barriers are extremely crucial in preventing water or other liquid hazards from damaging leather. Working directly with a tannery in the USA we developed a suede leather, injected with silicon during the tanning process for further waterproofing, that is extremely durable yet retains great dexterity. However, if you would like to periodically apply a protection agent, we recommend using products such as Nubuck & Suede Proof Nikwax or Scotchgard Leather Protector for Suede and Nubuck and following their instructions. Before using any protection agent, remember to test on a small section of the mitten as some protection agents may cause a change in the color of the leather.
Cleaning
To clean a leather item, first choose a cleaner that will help preserve the natural lubricating oils instead of stripping them. There are many great choices for this. One of our favorites is from Nikwax. The cleaner of your choice should not leave any greasy residue behind. Residue makes leather susceptible to bacteria and can break down the stitching of your item. Before applying anything to your leather item, be certain to test it out for effect and possible color distortion on an area that isn't visible to the eye. Once you've ascertained whether the leather care product is acceptable to use, apply it to your item. With a slightly dampened cloth, remove the cleaning product. For areas with stitches, there are brushes available on the market. Another cleaning product to consider having in your leather care collection is a nubuck cleaning cloth. They have an astonishing ability to clean and restore leather to its original look.
Wet Leather
An important key to keeping leather in top-notch condition is to treat wet leather by removing any dirt, mud, or other stains with a cleaning agent before it has a chance to dry. It is critical to remember that leather should be dried away from heat.
Storing Leather
Remember that leather is a natural material and should never be stored in plastic because it encourages the growth of mildew and bacteria and will ruin the leather. If you do encounter mildew from storage, remove by creating a mixture of one-cup rubbing alcohol per one-cup of water. Wipe the mildew area with a cloth dipped in the diluted alcohol, and then allow it to dry. Always remember to store leather in a cool, dry place away from heat.
Removing Stains
Fresh stains from things such as blood and food can be cleaned up quickly with a damp cloth. Stains from oil or grease can be lifted by grinding ordinary blackboard chalk, sprinkling the area, and leaving the powder on for a twenty-four hour period. Resist the urge to rub the powder in. After a sufficient time has passed, simply use a leather care brush to remove the powder. While fresh stains can be treated and cleaned at home, ground-in stains should be attended to by a professional cleaner who deals in leather.