Leather Cleaning Guide

[Nalayah]

Found this online, thought some of you guys might find it useful for the upcoming riding season .

Leather Therapy instructions for cleaning leathers

From the manufacturers of Leather Therapy whose link is cited above by Rob Hephner. I have not tried this as yet.

September 29, 2007

Hello Bucky:

We have received a virtual flood of inquiries from motorcyclists [probably from squidbusters members] recently regarding Leather Therapy products. Although our products were created for the “working” leathers finding utility in the equestrian marketplace, the same leathers are commonplace within the motorcycle sport market. So, when we give direction to questions such as yours, please note that our experience lies more with equestrian chaps and jackets as opposed to full-leather constructed racing suits.

The world of salt-patched, bug-splatted, sweat-soaked leathers is new to us, however, manure-laden, rain-soaked, saliva-saturated leathers is not. (I’m starting to really like this letter.)

First, test the leather for color-fastness by using a dampened white towel edge to gently rub the leather. I know that some outfits are fashioned using strong colors to accent the cyclist’s basic black outfit. I would hope that all of the leather components are of the same high-quality to allow wetting while cleaning.

Okay, with the deep debris you speak of in your suits I can suggest two alternative cleaning solutions: The first requires dunking the outfit in the washing machine with our patented Leather Laundry Solution and it’s sister product, Laundry Rinse & Dressing. ONLY use cool water, delicate cycles and make sure to turn the suit inside-out to protect from agitation of washing paddles or zipper abrasions. If you have a very large washing net type of bag which will allow gentle cleaning of the garment that’s even better. FYI, the newer front-loading washing machines make this job a dream.

Make sure you wash only 1 item at a time. DON’T DRY ANY PLACE NEAR HEAT – NOR IN THE SUN. At least 4 ounces of Laundry Solution and about the same of the Rinse & Dressing should do it. This will be the best way to get the very deep grime out of your outfit.

You can dry the garment on a hanger – or, if it’s too heavy, lay it flat – then sponge on a coat of Laundry Rinse & Dressing to provide lubricity to interior fiber as the garment dries. Once in a while, shake or “pat” the leather to manipulate leather fiber and promote flexibility.

If the leather seems extra dry for some reason, feel free to also use Leather Therapy RESTORER/CONDITIONER. This product is the workhorse of our product line, and is used at the Smithsonian, Disney, leather manufacturing and repair as maintenance on old or new leathers. It DEEPLY gets into the interior fiber corium of leather, spreads laterally and goes a long way to improve the strength and longevity (as well as beauty) of leather.

If the laundry scenario seems a little too daring for your garments then I suggest spraying the suit with Leather Therapy WASH and yes, absolutely, get into the shower (sorry, NOT HOT WATER) and suds the bugs and grime off. A nice sponge would come in handy here. Then – before you get out (and after you unclog the drainJ) give your outfit a generous amount of Leather Therapy Restorer/Conditioner. Hang the suit to dry.

As an aside, if you have clothing with images painted on the leather, you’ll find the image enhanced by Leather Therapy Restorer. It helps to re-vitalize the pigment of the paints. After all is dry and refreshed, check the garment for areas of abrasion or extra wear. On those areas you may wish to try Leather Therapy FINISH – for a nice luster and a little more protection.

All of these products can be applied with a clean sponge. The length of time to condition each garment depends on the dryness and soil levels in the leather. Leather Therapy makes caring for leather very easy. Just let the products do the work for you, and don’t rub too hard on the leather please. Treat it like what it is – skin.

Leather Therapy is sold nationwide in many equestrian tack shops, in Tractor Supply stores, through our website or directly from our home office at 800.711.8225 in New Jersey.

And don’t forget to treat your riding boots, gloves and bike leathers with Leather Therapy. Our new ad will feature a horse morphing into a motorcycle and read: No matter what you ride….Leather Therapy makes leather behave…..Beautifully!

Hope this has helped answer your questions.

Anna Carner
Leather Therapy
800.711.8225

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from Bucky on squidbusters.com

Woolite + Lexol = success

I tried the Woolite method on my German Polo 2-piece leather suit. It is black with bright yellow trim. It was very salty from sweat, had many bug splats, and some general soil.

Method used:

First, test the leather for color-fastness by using a dampened white towel edge to gently rub the leather. If there is little or no transfer of color to the towel, this indicates that the quality of the leather components is high enough to allow wetting while cleaning.

Use a domestic washing machine. I used a top-loader. A front-loader is probably better.
Set water level to maximum.
Set for cold wash and cold rinse.
Set agitation and spin speeds to delicate (slow).

Close all zippers and Velcro.
Remove all armor that is not washable.
Turn the garment inside out to protect from washing machine agitator and zipper abrasions.

Fill washing machine tub.
Add 4 oz Woolite for All Colors.
Agitate for one minute or distribute soap.

Submerge garment completely and distribute it evenly in the tub to reduce imbalance during spin portion of cycle. Wash only 1 item at a time

Set agitation time for 12 minutes. When that time has elapsed, but before the wash water has drained, reset the washing machine timer for an additional 12 minutes.

When the second 12 minute agitation portion of the cycle is complete, allow the machine to complete its cycle.
Again set the washing machine to rinse and allow it to rinse an additional time to thoroughly remove soap.

Remove garment from tub.
Turn it right side out.
Hang on a wide hanger to avoid stretching the garment during drying. If it is too heavy, lay it flat.

While still wet, spray or wipe on with a clean sponge a liberal amount of Lexol Leather Conditioner, Preservative.

Allow to air dry. DO NOT DRY NEAR HEAT OR IN THE SUN.
Occasionally, shake or “pat” the leather to manipulate the leather fibers and promote flexibility.
If laying flat to dry, turn over frequently to allow all portions to dry.

Once dry, again treat with Lexol Leather Conditioner, Preservative.
Allow to dry and wipe off any excess.

It took a good three days for my gear to dry in an air conditioned room.

The leather came out soft, has a nice sheen, and a bit of an oily feel to it. The black and yellow sections are clean.

Bucky
leather maintenance ? - SquidBusters - General Motorcycle Topics

[gregory12]

For heaven's sake -- go buy yourself a can of Saddle Soap and follow the instructions. The horsey people have been using this stuff on their saddles and boots for a century. You can't get a better recommendation than that.

[gregory12]

Before you begin, you'll want to make sure that you are prepared for the leather care process. Work on top of a newspaper, wear gloves, and work in a well-ventilated area. These precautions are essential, as many leather care products contain toxic chemicals that can be very harmful.
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Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Professionals Company based in Liverpool