Leather

Leather

Animals are the most popular source of leather materials. Each kind of animal gives a distinct type of leather that can be used in many different leather products. The quality of leather depends on the processes and treatments used to prepare it for production.

There are many different types of leather which differ in the process used, composition, and covering. Below are some well-known types of leather:

Top grained (protected and coated)
Top grained leather can be used in almost all leather products. It is a very durable type of leather that requires very minimal maintenance. This type of leather provides a good finish without going through any finishing process. It is heavy in weight and is water-resistant.

Aniline
Aniline leather is commonly used on furniture and clothing products. Unlike top grained type of leather aniline does not have any protective finish and are very soft. It is also most vulnerable to stains and water therefore is hard to maintain.

Semi Aniline
Semi aniline leather provides a finish without the protective coating leaving it open to many staining agents. It is a very soft and light material that has similar appearance to that of coated leather. This type of leather is used in most leather furniture production.

Caring and maintaining leather

It is inevitable for leather to fade and wear out. However, this can be delayed by proper care and maintenance on your leather product. Many recoloring kits are also available to help you restore your leather’s original finish.

Most leather materials are damaged by stains and spots. To avoid this, attend to your stained product immediately. The sooner you deal with stains the easier to take them off. Remove stains and spots with a stain remover solution at once.

Once the stain is gone apply recoloring treatment on the stained area to preserve the leather’s damaged color.

It is important to know what type of leather you have before buying any leather conditioning treatments. Leather conditioning products are mostly designed for a particular type of leather. Using inappropriate conditioning product on your leather might do more damage than good.

· All leather products with coated/top grained finish can be cleaned effortlessly. Stains and water can be eliminated on this leather without ruining its finish. Most leather conditioning products are also applicable for this type.

· Aniline or Nubuck requires a specific standard of stain remover and leather conditioner. The cleaning products for this type of leather have to be compatible with absorbent materials and are made of tough cleaning solutions.

Apply leather conditioner after removing the stains on your aniline. This will help bring back the natural oils of the leather that is essential to keeping it from breaking.

Staining and fading preventive products

Fabric Guard
Fabric guards provide similar extent of protection as protection creams with an easier application form which is through spray.

Protection cream
Protection cream provides a primary layer covering the main finish of the leather. This cream serves as a protective layer preventing water, alcohol, body oils and other staining agents from penetrating the finish.
The sooner the protective cream is applied the better. Reapply protective cream regularly as a part of your regular leather maintenance.

UV Protectant
UV protectant lessens the fading effect of sunlight on leather’s surface.

It is important to use the right care products for our leather. However, perfect care products would be nothing if proper application is not followed.

Make it a habit to check on the product labels. These labels contain information that indicates which leather material is most compatible with its product. It also includes the proper application of the product which can guide you during the leather treatment process.