How to clean your new leather?

Congratulations on your new leather purchase! you have made a smart investment that will last you years and years. But how do you care for this new addition? First things first, do a little research and find out what type of leather you have, whether it is pure Aniline, Semi Aniline, Unfinished, Finished, Bonded, Nubuck, or Suede. Each needs a different level of care so education is key.

Aniline has this look

Finished Leather

Nubuck and Suede

The one and only thing you should be doing every week, to any type of leather , is wiping it down with a dry cloth for unfinished or aniline leather, or a slightly damp cloth for finished leathers. You may think there is nothing there to wipe off, but it is there and builds up over time. So wipe it down WEEKLY!!

For nubuck and suedes buy a soft suede brush and use this to remove dirt and freshen up the nap. These leathers are impossible to clean with cleaners without effecting the nap so its very important that you brush them regularly or call us for an abrasion cleaning before you really see signs of wear and usage. you cannot reverse the damage of body oils or dirt stains once they are there.

For aniline and finished leathers clean them every 6-12 months depending on how heavy the usage is you need to deep clean with a cream cleaner that’s have leather appropriate solvents as well as being pH balanced for leather. Apply the cleaner with personal shower scrub gloves you’ll find at any store with bath products. Apply the cleaner and in a circular motion in 6x6 areas at a time and wipe with a T shirt cloth. Repeat as necessary. This is laborious work for some so feel free to call us if you want a professional cleaning. Follow up with a good conditioner with protective properties. We only recommend ADVleather.com for cleaners and conditioners. We do not recommend leather wipes!

Also one option you have for protecting aniline, semi aniline, or raw leather is to have us apply a clear protective top coat to your leather to make it easier to clean and to hold in its natural oils . It also helps to keep out accidental spills, human body oil stains, animal oils and saliva. Our pH is incompatible with leather, so when it accumulates over time , not only does it cause a stain but you will see cracks as those oils slowly eat away at your leather. Spills on these types are almost impossible to clean off and you’ll need to contact a professional. So protection before staining is very smart to do.

Next time we will discuss more in depth about the types of leather and different ways to care for them.

Thanks for reading! feel free to ask any questions.