10 Little-Known Tips & Tricks For Leather Care

Use a “magic eraser” sponge for car leather and leather sneakers. Dampen the eraser sponge and squeeze out well. Have a clean old washcloth in the other hand to catch the water and dirt the sponge releases from the leather. These sponges do not absorb water well, your rag will do that work. Sweep the sponge in ONE direction using light pressure for about a one-foot section in a car, 2-inch section on a sneaker and follow with the rag. Repeat in even rows, touching up the prior row if needed. Do not scrub. Finish with the appropriate conditioner. ALWAYS TEST ON A HIDDEN OR SMALL AREA FIRST! THE SPONGE IS ABRASIVE, DO NOT TRY THIS ON JACKETS OR OTHER CLOTHING! You may test this on white booties, coated leather luggage and pebble-textured handbags TESTING FIRST ON A TINY HIDDEN SPOT! Yes, we can’t say this enough! If you see it removing color or roughing up the surface… STOP!

2. Real or faux patent-leather shoes, bags or raincoats can be revived by polishing with Jubilee Kitchen Wax. For bags and coats work on one square foot at a time. For shoes and belts apply, let dry and buff as directed. It’s also a great shine protector for new purchases. Jubilee is dirt cheap at about 8 bucks for 15 oz and will last you forever! Nowadays, it’s hard to find in stores… your Grandmother may have an old bottle under her sink! Find where to buy in our Product Resource Guide.

3. Oily stain on leather or suede? Blot with facial blotting tissues (unpowdered) with SLIGHT GENTLE pressure on a fresh stain and see if any oil is absorbed into the tissue. When there’s no further absorption, then apply a thin layer of cornstarch pressed over the area, laid flat and left alone for up to a day. Check occasionally by moving starch from an edge. This may take time and several applications. Remove by vacuuming with a brush attachment if possible and finish off any residue with a dry soft bristle tooth or nail brush (if you don’t have a soft suede brush), or a BARELY damp cloth. You may then use a leather or suede cleaner as directed. We don’t recommend using spray dry shampoos as they may leave fluid marks from the propellant which could require professional intervention.

4. Ever wear brand-new suede shoes or boots and find out that just knocking one shoe/boot against the other leaves a mark? This can be GREATLY reduced…if not eliminated…by using a particular suede/nubuck protection spray unlike any other we’ve used and highly recommend. It also helps to repel dirt. NOTE: you must thoroughly wet the surface of the item in a well -ventilated area and allow to dry completely before brushing with a soft suede brush. This is a time intensive job but worth it for the first application on new items. Hang suede boots to dry at each end of a skirt-clip hanger! Any items worn previously should be thoroughly cleaned prior to applying a protector or you’ll lock in soil. While we don’t focus on footwear, we use this for our own items. The product is in our Resource Guide.

5. Your car’s shoulder harness will scrape away at the hide’s surface where it rubs your leather, shearling, fur/ faux-fur coat or jacket! This damage will occur much faster with thin lamb & calf shirts or jackets! Select a shoulder harness pad in shearling, faux shearling or quilted cotton. We don’t recommend neoprene as it can shred and drive micro- bits into the leather’s pores, discoloring it. Also be careful with your leather shoulder bags. Consider using one of these pads on your briefcase, gym bag or tote straps!

6. Protect your new leather handbag…especially your daily bag or leather tote…BEFORE you use it! Applying a conditioning leather protector will fill in the pores yet allow the leather to breathe; making any liquids less likely to get deeply absorbed and their removal much easier; plus this will also repel much of the everyday soiling it would have accumulated and will make removing dye transfer from jeans MUCH easier! Most garments CANNOT be truly waterproofed as most leathers have to breathe. There are spray protectants that will shed most water (not a down pour!) and soil, but as they allow the leather to breathe they require re-applying every 4-6 months. We recommend at least doing seasonally… 4x a year if worn year ‘round. with your routine leather maintenance.

7. Speaking of jeans dye: Use a darker leather bag if it will hit any part of your blue/colored jeans or shorten the shoulder strap to prevent dye transferring onto the bag. Suede bags are especially vulnerable and cleaning difficult.

8. NEVER use “baby-wipes” on your leathers! While this may work in a few cases…the wipes have skin conditioners, oils, fragrance and other additives that can create stains requiring professional intervention. Lamb and calf aniline (drum dyed) leathers are especially vulnerable…just don’t!

9. Never use enzyme-based pet stain products for fabrics on leather, suede or hair-hide. These “miracle”products will break down the hides as they too are made of protein! The leather-safe product we use first on our client’s leather rugs, furniture and clothing before any other work on pet stains in listed in our Product Resource Guide.

10. NEVER store leather(or fur) in a basement, attic or closet with moisture issues! Hot attics will dry out the hides and basements are always too moist without climate control . Mold LOVES leather, and your leather jacket or leather coat will be the first item it will grow on! Mold on leather can be resolved, but not easily and once “infected” it will always be vulnerable to return if stored improperly.

MOST IMPORTANT TIP? DON’T RUSH! The surest way to harm your leather is not giving yourself plenty of relaxed time to do the job correctly and thoroughly. This can be tough to do in today’s “instant gratification world”… you’re not a pro…GO SLOW! Fact: many a dry cleaner has also screwed up a piece this way. We know because they then contact us to save the day! Give yourself an hour for stain protecting new boots, 30-45 minutes for a pair of shoes or a handbag…whether suede or leather. Read all directions thoroughly. Leather products are NOT one size fits all! As we specialize in care of finer leathers, we often see the results of consumers thinking otherwise. When in doubt: contact the Customer Service of your leather item’s manufacturer. You may or may not have luck with the store you purchased it from. Your best bet is to contact the product’s consumer helpline. Lastly, if it’s a severe problem or you simply don’t want to do the work…contact a pro.

Want to know where to find the above products? Click below!

See a list of products we use professionally and on our own leather goods that are “consumer friendly”.

Product Resource Guide