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Worn Leather: Can It Be Restored and 3 Quick Restoration Tips
We’ve all been there. Your favorite pair of dress shoes that have seen maybe a few too many weddings (and the dancefloor at them), your trusty wallet, the armrest of your leather-clad, reclining throne. Your favorite leather piece is fading, and not in a way that could be considered “distressed.”
You may be lost when it comes to restoring faded leather, especially if it is something of a higher quality. You may even think that it is impossible to truly restore it to how it once was. You also may have a few household tricks that your family swears by. Wherever you are at with it, here are a few quick tips for leather restoration to keep your leather looking great and feeling how it always has.
Good leather is something that should last for a long time. Finding good leather is something we at Andar take seriously. With quality products and a variety of styles, along with impactful information and quality sourcing, Andar will take the time to make sure that the product you spend money on and receive is already set on the path to long-term success when battling the elements and whatever you want to throw at it. With that said, leather is not indestructible, so there are some general tips, tricks, and rules that you should follow when trying to extend the life of your leather product.
Step 0: Prevention
The easiest way to restore leather is to make sure it does not wear quickly in the first place. While this may be easier said than done, there are some practical ways to keep everyday leather items from wearing prematurely.
The first thing to keep in mind when it comes to prevention is the understanding that leather is going to be primarily impacted by temperature. The tanning of leather uses extreme temperatures to turn cowhide into leather; therefore, it is not hard to understand (without getting into the scientific details) why heat, in particular, affects leather. It can be harmed by:
- Extreme changes in temperature
- Long-term exposure to heat or sunlight
- Improper chemicals used to clean
Due to these potential issues, it is recommended to keep in mind where your leather items live. For example, do not keep your nice leather shoes by the south-facing window. Your leather recliner should most likely not be directly next to the heater or air-conditioner. Simple things like this to help prevent wear will go a long way. It is also recommended to use preventative products periodically to help in this process.
While this step may seem like an annoying aunt trying to convince you of an old wive’s tale, it really is the most important step in preventing the damage in the first place.
Step 1: Assess the Damage
Even with proper upkeep, leather will eventually wear, warp, and get scratched. This is natural and, in many cases, inevitable. Perhaps you have just found an incredible old leather belt while cleaning out a shed, or perhaps you have inherited a great leather wallet from a grandfather that definitely did not understand what TLC for leather was all about. So before continuing, you must assess the damage. For example, rips and tears are completely different from wear and fading.
If your leather is torn, no amount of creams will mend that tear. Therefore, it is beneficial to know what the damage is for moving forward with the next steps. For the purpose of this article, we will assume the majority of the damage you are dealing with is not related to tears.
Step 2: Clean Your Leather
While this may be easy to overlook, it is vital. Without first cleaning your leather, many of the products will not work in restoring your worn leather. It is similar to only applying lotion to your skin without ever using soap to clean yourself (a gross, but accurate metaphor).
So, after assessing where your leather is wearing, grab a clean cotton towel along with warm water. You can add in soap or keep with just warm water and gently but firmly wipe down your leather object. The warm water helps keep the temperature stable but open the leather to reveal dirt and grime that you could not otherwise reach.
In addition, you could invest in a proven leather cleaner to mix with your water. These mixtures are not always necessary, but they do allow for extra care and caution when cleaning your leather. They do not use any harsh chemicals that can dry out and further wear your leather. While special leather cleaners are not always necessary, they could be an extra cautionary step especially if you have spent good money on good, high-quality leather.
Step 3: Apply the Leather Cream
Now comes the real star of the show: Andar’s Leather Cream. Andar has formulated this cream to revitalize and restore your leather item to give it a fresh smell and a beautiful shine. After cleaning your leather, grab a new cotton towel and gently apply the cream to your leather. Evenly coat your leather product so every inch gets the shine and restoration you want and it deserves.
After applying the cream to your leather, allow it to sit and dry for a bit of time. If your leather is in really rough shape, consider adding a second layer. Once it has dried, your leather should be looking revitalized and almost as good as new. There still may be deep scratches and nicks, but the majority of the wear should have come out.
Another great thing about Andar’s Leather Cream is that it not only brings your old, dry leather back to life, but it also seals and protects your leather from further damage by keeping it supple yet tough. It acts as a solid protector of your leather for future use. Because of this, it helps with keeping you in Step 0 (above) longer. Check out our premium full-grain leather products that, along with our leather cream, will continue to look great for years
Conclusion
Leather is loved as a product for a reason. It not only offers a great look, feel, and smell, but it also lasts a long time (or, it is supposed to). Because of its reputation as something that is supposed to last a long time, it can at times be extremely frustrating when your leather product starts to wear and warp prematurely. However, that does not have to be the story for you.
You do not have to say goodbye to your favorite leather pieces when they wear! Nor do you have to rage when your expensive leather pieces look like cut-price leather after a short amount of time. Leather restoration is possible, easy, and important. While preventative measures can be taken to keep things from wearing too much, it is natural for leather to get worn down and used. This is why you buy them.
Wash them, restore them, and protect them with products from Andar!
Sources:
4 Ways to Restore Leather | Wiki How
What is so Special About Italian Leather? (with pictures) | Info Bloom
