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Leather ages gracefully when given the proper care right from the beginning. Professional leather cleaning is necessary on occasion, but there are several simple steps that can be taken between cleanings. Whether it’s a long leather trench coat or a sleek leather wristband, these instructions will help keep your leather looking sharp. Always hang your leather garments on wide or padded hangers to help maintain the shape of the shoulders. Use shoetrees or other gadgets made for handing your shoes to keep them from being flattened. For leather purses and handbags, try stuffing tissues or wadded up plastic grocery bags inside them to maintain their shape. Never completely wrap your leather goods in plastic or other non-breathable materials, as this will cause the leather to dry up and crack. Allow wet or damp leather to air-dray naturally away from any direct heat source. Applying heat will damage the leather and cause it smell. Leather can be treated with a conditioner to restore flexibility while suede can be brushed with a terry towel to restore its look. In the winter, promptly remove salt deposits from garments, leather wristbands or other jewelry, and footwear after wearing them in the snow by sponging them with clear water, then let them air-dry naturally. Avoid very humid or very dry environments, extreme temperatures and direct sunlight. Also, don’t use any waxes or silicone products, as these will impair the leather’s ability to breathe. Wrinkles will fade if given time to hang out. However, if you must iron your garments, make sure the iron is set to the rayon setting. Use heavy brown wax paper between your garment and the hot iron, and a quick hand to prevent overheating and shine spots. Avoid using perfumes or hair spray while wearing your garment. Do not apply pins, adhesive badges or tape. Wearing a scarf at the neckline will keep oils from your hair and skin away from the collar of your garment. Garment hems or tears in your leather wristbands can be fixed with a tiny amount of rubber cement, but the best results will always come from employing professional care. If you want to try using at-home formulas, be sure to do your research and test them on something inconspicuous first. Metallic leather garments are especially tricky and should be professional dry-cleaned. When taking your garments to be professionally cleaned, make sure you clean all of the matching leather garments at the same time. Each cleaning will inevitably wash some of the color away, and you’ll want all of your matching leather to look equally warn. Leather is one of the most high-end fashion materials on the market today. Care for your leather goods and keep them looking sharp for the new season.
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