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Obenauf's Online regularly receives inquiries about how to care for leather items ranging from furniture and workboots to exotic apparels and automotive interiors. We are happy to share what we know about leather care to help you make the best decision for your particular circumstances. Obenauf's Leather Care products are natural, specially formulated mixtures that preserve and protect your leather. Read on to understand why our natural selection of ingredients is superior to all other leather care products, and to learn more about leather and leather care.
LEATHER CARE WITH OBENAUF'S
Obenauf's products are natural miracle protectants for leather and contain no harmful chemicals that can damage your leather. Natural oils are suspended in a Beeswax/Propolis formula. In the leather, these oils gradually seep out of the Beeswax/Propolis as a time release lubrication that restores fibers. If exposed to heat or constant flexing, the oils are released faster; so instead of getting parched, your leather gets oiled when and where it needs it most.
In addition to this remarkable "suspension release" quality, propolis also provides a durable barrier against chemicals and resists bacteria, mold, and mildew. Propolis is an anti-bacterial resin collected by honeybees to waterproof and disinfect their hives. This amazing, all natural substance repels water better and longer than regular water repellants. It even reinforces the surface of your leather against scuffing while still allowing the leather to breathe!
GENERAL LEATHER CARE INFORMATION
Leather provides one of the world's most unique, durable, and luxurious materials for clothing, boots, and accessories. Each piece is individual, natural, and unlike any other piece which makes every leather item a one-of-a-kind. Anyone who has had a favorite pair of leather boots, favorite saddle, or beloved yet worn out leather coat can relate to this. The following is a compilation of facts and information that we have gathered over the years and we provide them to help you, our customer, gain a better understanding about leather and how to care for it.
Leather Characteristics, History, and Manufacturing
Leather characteristically is very tactile -- it's great to feel it, touch it, and rub it. Suede, shearling, smooth lambskin, pigskin, and exotics like like lizard, crocodile, and snake are just a few of the many types of leather on the market. Each one of these is naturally textured, whorled, and crinkled to create a totally unique effect that makes each piece one of kind. Leather has been manufactured and processed all over the world for thousands of years and known tanners guilds existed in England as far back as the twelfth century. Tanning is the process of treating the raw leather hide to keep it soft and flexible and to protect it. Technology and methods have changed considerably over the years and now tanneries produce a remarkable variety of colors, textures, thicknessses, and finishes on leather. This gives the modern manufacturer many options to select from when designing new garments and accessories. It also can give you, the end user, something of a challenge when trying to determine how to care for your item since each manufactured piece may have drastically different care instructions.
Natural Oils vs. Harmful Chemicals
Leather is a skin, with fibers and pores, that requires proper natural lubrication and needs to breathe. Because it no longer has a body to provide proper natural oils, we must provide these oils for it. The key to extending the useful life of your leather is restoring it with proper oils. Be warned, not all "natural" oils are proper for leather care. Unfortunately, many products claiming to be conditioners or preservatives are not. They contain harmful chemicals, mink oil, petroleum, pine tar, or alcohol to soften or waterproof leather. They soften by weakening or decomposing the fibers and they waterproof by sealing the pores! They're low priced but definitely not economical when you consider the damage done to fibers, stitching, and glues. Ironically, these "preservatives" actually shorten the useful life of your leather!
True preservatives are natural and may cost a little bit more, but they are your best protection. They last longer and do so much more to preserve and protect that they're actually the most economical way to treat your leather.
Your Leather Needs to Breathe!
We wear leather because it breathes and we stay comfortable. Never seal it off unless absolutely necessary! When pores are sealed the leather cannot breathe and you'll sweat like wearing rubber. Sealed leather is uncomfortable, stinks, and body acids, bacteria, and salt rot it from the inside out. Try wrapping your arm in cellophane wrap for a few hours to get a better understanding of what "sealing" your leather goods does to them, or imagine painting pine pitch or tar on your skin and sealing off the pores in this fashion. You can repel water easily and longer, resist chemicals, stay comfortable, and extend the useful life of your leather without sealing the pores. Simply extend the tanning process by regularly restoring the leather with proper natural oils.
Dry Weather Ruins Leather!
Leather is damaged more by dryness and loss of oils than by water. It's true, water washes leather oils out fast and causes it to dry out stiff and hard. But leather oils also dissipate every day when it's dry, even when it's not being used. Like your skin, it simply dries out. Wind, warm air (floorboard heaters), dust, chemicals, mud, and normal wear (flexing) increase the rate of oil loss. Dry fibers scuff easily, wear against each other, get brittle, and break prematurely causing cracks in your leather. Dry leather also cuts stitching and is prone to dry rot. The solution? Do not let the fibers dry out, keep them lubed with proper oils. The frequency with which you must treat your leather depends on your usage, conditions, age, and type of leather. If it appears dry and is scuffing, it's past due! If it's going to get wet, oil it ahead of time.
Treating & Cleaning Leather Affects Color!
Leather is a natural product that comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. The way your leather looks is determined by many factors including the type of hide, the tanning process, and whether it has been dyed or treated in some fashion by the final manufacturer. As such, it is very difficult to predict exactly how a particular leather may react to being cleaned, oiled, or treated. In almost all cases you can expect some change in color and possibly texture when you treat or clean your leather. Because of this, if you are treating at home, always make certain you test your treatment in a small, discrete area BEFORE treating your entire piece. Once treated, you will not be able to reverse the process! If you are taking your item to a professional leather cleaner, they should provide a similar warning that treatment may alter the color and texture so be aware of this. Finally, if you are treating matching items, make sure you have them cleaned and treated at the same time to keep them matched -- treating them at different times may result in a mismatched set! When you are using Obenauf's Leather Oil or LP, you can expect color changes to some extent depending on the above factors so treat with care and always test first.
About Soft Textured Leathers Like Suede, Nubuck, and Shearling Lambskin
Soft textured leathers like suede and shearling lambskin are magnificent to touch and feel, unfortunately, they are also extremely difficult to clean and protect. Your best treatment for cleaning suede and soft textured leathers is a suede brush which will have short, bristled, fine wire teeth. Brush carefully and only when the leather is dry so you don't affect the nap of the leather. Stains are a challenge since you can't use any liquid cleaners without affecting the texture and possibly "matting" the finish. Try rubbing some cornmeal gently into the stain to absorb it and use your suede brush to remove it. Obenauf's Leather Oil and LP are not appropriate for these textured leathers since any oil-type treatment is going to affect the texture adversely. You can use Obenauf's Watershield as a waterproofing agent (be sure to test in a discrete area first) but the inability to restore the natural oils of the leather is problematic. Your best approach to extend the life of these fabulous leathers is to use them sparingly and store them carefully to ensure years of use.
About Smooth Lambskin
Lambskin can be found in "smooth" and "shearling" varieties - the shearling is a soft, napped leather similar to suede and the smooth is a fine grained, finished leather. Smooth lambskin is extremely popular in leather stores because of its extraordinary feel and softness. Unfortunately, the durability of lambskin is not as high as that of many other leathers because it is relatively thin. This can result in a tendency to scuff, scratch, and even rip easily. If you are looking for a garment for more formal or dressy occasions, lambskin is a great choice, but if you are looking for something more durable for daily use, motorcycle riding, etc. it is not recommended. Obenauf's Leather Oil is an excellent choice for preserving and protecting your lambskin but you will want to treat it carefully because lambskin is delicate. In some cases you may wish to have it professionally treated rather than trying to waterproof it yourself since an even application is important. Always test first in a discrete area to make sure you are pleased with the effect and follow the manufacturer's care instructions in case it has special needs. With proper care and storage your lambskin should last a long, long time.
Storing Leather
Storing leather requires some special consideration to help keep it in good shape and well protected. You should store your leather in an airy, cool, dry area that is not too hot or cold and certainly not damp. The storage should be darkened to avoid direct sunlight as well since this will dry and fade the leather. Always use padded hangers to help preserve the shape of your item and if you choose to cover the item use a breathable cloth like a cotton sheet. Do not enclose it for long periods of time in plastic since it will dry the item out.
Cleaning Leather
Cleaning leather can be a tricky proposition since the very act of cleaning it may often damage the leather. This is especially true of some cleaners that use harsh chemicals to clean. In mild cases, you may want to simply try using Obenauf's Leather Oil to act as a solvent on the grime -- in other words, use the liquid oil to loosen the soil and blot it away with the excess oil. This method will ensure you do not damage the leather. If the leather is extremely grimey, we recommend our White Jaguar Leather Cleaner, a natural, gentle, non-toxic cleaner. Always be certain to test for colorfastness and effect on a discrete area. It's far better to test once than ruin your item forever!
Dealing with Stains on Leather
Stained leather is another tough proposition, and in many cases there is not much you can do about it. If you are dealing with a fresh stain you need to act agressively and quickly to prevent it from setting. Simply use a damp cloth and wipe it up as quickly as possible. Stains from greasy or oily substances can often be lifted out by sprinkling powdered chalk on the area and letting it set overnight. Use a light brush or cloth to remove the powder after a reasonable time. Don't rub the powder in -- it won't help. Lighter stains can often be "hidden" by treating the article with Obenauf's Leather oil since it will darken the overall color of your leather item upon application. Again, always be certain to test for colorfastness and effect on a discrete area to make sure you are pleased with the results. Serious stains that appear to be well set may be irreparable. In this case, your best bet is to consult a local leather expert who may be able to offer some suggestions about professional cleaning options.
Dealing with Mold and Mildew on Leather
Ocassionally we receive inquiries from customers who are experiencing problems with leather that has mildewed from exposure to moisture or improper storage. Try mixing up a solution of rubbing alcohol and water (1:1 ratio) and wipe down the mildewed area using this solution. Once you have eliminated the mold, you will want to immediately treat the article with Obenauf's Leather Oil or LP to restore the necessary natural oils. Purchase Obenauf's Leather Oil with our special anti-mold additive to provide heavy duty protection from future mold and mildew problems.
Obenauf's Leather care products provide an outstanding leather care solution for items throughout your household and business. Once you try them, you will be amazed at how many uses they have. Check out the following categories to learn more and see our special offer packages designed to get you started!
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