Caring for Leather
Practical and sensual, leather has been used to make quality garments, footwear,
bags, and accessories for thousands of years. Renowned for its durability
and versatility, leather resists tears, punctures, and extremes in temperature,
and
it contours beautifully with wear.
Leather ages gracefully and, with the
proper care, it can last a lifetime. You should be able to enjoy your fine
Overland leather purchase for years
to come by following a few simple guidelines.
Q. What should I do if my leather
garment/product gets wet?
A. Simply allow the item to air-dry naturally, being sure to keep it away
from any direct heat sources. Never blow-dry leather, or drape it over a
radiator.
Once it has dried naturally, you can treat it with a special conditioner (see
below) to restore luster and flexibility. It the item is suede, you may gently
brush it with a terry-cloth towel.
Q. How should I store my leather items?
A. Store your leather goods in a moderate environment (i.e. not overly humid,
and not overly dry), making sure to keep items out of direct sunlight. To help
maintain shape, you'll want to hang leather clothing on wide or padded hangers,
and insert shoetrees or tissues in leather footwear and/or purses. Never store
leather goods in covers made of plastic or other non-breathable materials;
if you do so, they stand a chance of becoming dry.
Q. How do I clean leather?
A. In general, we strongly recommend you take your leather goods to a reputable,
professional leather dry cleaning facility. A regular dry cleaner won't do the
job well, unless they specify that they offer leather goods servicing. Essential
oils are removed during the cleaning process and can only be restored professional
leather cleaners. Winter salt deposits, however, can be removed at home by
gently sponging with clear water and then air-drying, as above. (If you decide
to use an at-home leather-cleaning product on other stains, we recommend you
test it on an inconspicuous part of the garment first.)
Q. Can I iron
leather?
A. Wrinkles in leather tend to "hang out" if you leave the garment
on a quality, padded hanger. For more heavy-duty wrinkles, we strongly recommend
you take your leather garments to professional leather cleaners. If you decide
to do it at home, set your iron on the rayon (lowest) setting, use a pressing
cloth
over the garment, and iron quickly to avoid overheating and shine.
Q. How can
I mend and repair minor tears?
A. We strongly recommend you entrust leather repairs to a reputable leather
care professional. However, hems and other minor tears can mended at home by
applying rubber cement sparingly and according to instructions on the tube.
For best results, see a leather care professional.
Q. Should I use conditioning
products on my leather goods?
A. Quality leather conditioners contain fats and/or oils that help to moisturize
leather, keeping it supple, replenished, and lustrous. DO NOT use products
that contain petroleum or mineral oils, as they are very drying and can damage
leather over time. In general, look for products that contain quality natural
oils, like mink oil. But don't overdo it: leather conditioners are meant for
occasional use.
Q. Do I need to polish my leather items?
A. Polishing is done for special occasions when you want a more glossy finish
on your leather. There are a couple things to be wary of when purchasing a
polishing agent. Some products contain coloring factors that will brush off
on things you come in contact with. Some products also have a tendency to clog
the pores in leather or dry leather out. Just as with cleaning, be sure to
test out the product on a small area and when ready, buff to a shine.
Q. What
products could be harmful to my leather goods?
A. As mentioned earlier, never use store-bought creams or gels containing
waxes or silicone; these ingredients will dry leather out and damage it over
time.
You should also avoid spraying perfumes and hair sprays on leather.
Q. Can I
store leather in direct sunlight?
A. It's better not to store leather goods in direct sunlight, as this can cause
fading and "sunspots" over time.