Because leather products are so expensive, many people are hesitant to clean their own leather, much less to put cleaning products on it. Even if the product say it is specially formulated for leather, the warning on the back telling the consumer to first test the product on an unnoticeable area scares off many people.

Like carpet cleaners, the vast amount of leather cleaners available for purchase is confusing. However, with the right knowledge, leather cleaning should not be nerve-wracking. Furthermore, it is an important step to take to preserve the life of your costly items.

There are many types of leather, so you should first look to determine if yours is finished or not. Nearly always, the leather in your car and on your furniture is finished (a baseball glove is an example of unfinished leather.)

You need to purchase the leather conditioner and cleaner for the type of leather you have. Some leather cleaners claim to be all-purpose, and other leather cleaners are more specific, like automobile leather and vinyl cleaners, upholstery cleaners, and shoe cleaners. Many times, when you purchase furniture, you will receive a package of various cleaners, like carpet cleaner, leather cleaner, and micro-fiber cleaner.

If you do not want to use leather cleaners on your finished leather and prefer to use homemade cleaners for leather, you can:

  1. rub the surface with a cloth slightly damp with water
  2. apply a very gentle soap (wipe the soap off fast)
  3. clean slightly with a damped cloth

It is recommended, however, that you purchase special leather conditioner and apply that after the leather has dried.

Unfinished leather can be cleaned with a damp cloth and saddle soap. You should work the soap into lather on the leather, and then wipe it away with a clean cloth, after it has dried, you can use preserving oil on it, like mink oil.

Conditioning is an important step in leather care; find a pH balanced conditioner that acts as stain repellent, water repellent, and protects from UV rays.

For treating specific stains in leather clothing and furniture, professionals vary widely in their recommendations. Some examples include hairspray for ink stains, talcum powder or cornstarch for grease stains, and a vinegar solution for salt stains. However, these kinds of stains are quite difficult to remove from leather and it is wise to consult a professional service in your area.

Many professional carpet cleaners also clean leather upholstery and can assist you in finding the right leather cleaners. A dry cleaning service in your area might specialize in cleaning leather, and you could take smaller leather items, like purses and shoes, to them.

Dean Winchester have over ten years of experience at the carpet cleaning industry, to learn more about carpet cleaning, rug cleaning or upholstery cleaning visit http://www.austincarpetcleaning.com/

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