How to remove stains from leather? Explains how to deal with each type of stain and how to prevent stains
Even if you take good care of leather products such as bags and wallets, they will get dirty with daily use.
We want to use them for a long time in a clean condition by taking proper care of them.
In this article, we will explain in detail how to remove stains from leather and how to deal with each type of stain.
Let's also look at how to handle leather products to prevent them from getting dirty.
It's important to decide how to care for your leather products to remove dirt
When cleaning leather products, it's important to look at the degree of dirt and decide how to clean it.
If it's just dust or light dirt that can be removed quickly, we recommend using a leather brush to remove it.
Gently brush the product with a brush to remove the dirt, paying attention to the seams where dirt tends to accumulate.
Dust that has been there for a long time, dirt such as fingerprints, and black spots on the bottom of the bag are difficult to remove just by brushing, so it is important to follow the steps carefully.
When caring for leather products, it is also important to use clean tools.
Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure you have a clean environment before caring for them.
How to remove stains from leather products
The method for removing stains from leather products varies depending on the type of stain. We will explain them separately for "fingerprints," "stubborn blackening," and "mold."
In case of fingerprints
For leather products with fingerprints, wipe off the dirt with a cloth and apply a leather protection cream.
The method varies depending on the level of dirt, so let's take a look at the detailed steps.
1. Wipe off dirt with a cloth
Lightly wipe off any areas of concern such as fingerprints or light dust with a dry cloth.
If fingerprints or dust are left on the leather for a long period of time, the dirt may become stuck to the leather.
When removing fingerprints or dust that have built up, use a tightly wrung out wet towel or cloth and gently and slowly wipe off the dirt, using the water to loosen it up little by little.
2. Apply leather protection cream
After wiping off dirt, apply leather protection cream suitable for the leather material to a dry cloth, spread it thinly and slowly, and apply it to the entire leather product.
Use a soft, clean cloth to avoid scratching the leather surface. We recommend using a cloth made of natural materials such as cotton.
3. Dry
After applying leather protection cream to the entire leather product, place it in a well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight and let it dry completely.
If you have a bag, you can put newspaper inside to prevent it from losing its shape and remove moisture.
Once it is completely dry, wipe it again with a dry cloth to complete the maintenance. The ink on the newspaper may fade, so please place it in a non-woven bag before using it.
For stubborn black spots
To remove stubborn black spots, use a brush to remove dirt from the leather surface, then lightly wash it with a leather cleaner or neutral detergent, and finish with a leather conditioner.
Let's take a look at the detailed steps.
1. Remove dust and dirt from the leather surface
Use a brush to remove dust and dirt from the leather surface. Brush gently to avoid damaging the leather.
2. Remove dark spots with a cleaner
After removing dust and dirt with a brush, lightly rub the darkened areas with a leather cleaner to remove the dirt.
Rubbing too hard can damage the leather or remove the color from the surface, so wipe gently.
3. Finish with leather conditioner
Once you have removed the black spots, finish using a leather conditioner that is suitable for the type of leather.
Leather oils may be removed with a cleaner, so use a leather conditioner to replenish the oils.
Apply leather conditioner to a soft cloth and rub it into the leather product.
However, if you use too much leather conditioner, the leather will become too soft, so it is recommended to apply a small amount at a time in a thin layer.
In case of mold
If the leather has mold, use a damp, wrung-out cloth to wipe off the mold.
Then, dry it in a well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight, and finally apply a leather protection cream to complete the care.
Wet leather is likely to lack oils, so it should be wiped with water and moisturized with leather protection cream.
If the mold is severe and cannot be completely removed, consult a professional.
How to properly care for leather products
Leather products need to be treated properly, and it is important to not only remove dirt from them, but also to handle them in a way that prevents them from getting dirty.
Here are some tips on how to handle leather products while preventing them from getting dirty.
Remove stains immediately
If stains appear on leather products, it is best to remove them on the same day.
The longer the stains remain, the more they stick and the harder they are to remove.
In that case, we recommend using an eraser specially designed for removing stains from leather products.
Leather erasers are items developed to remove ink and stains from leather products.
Unlike general pencil erasers, they are made of materials that reduce the burden on leather, so you can remove stains without damaging it.
They can be used not only on natural smooth leather with a smooth surface, but also on brushed leather such as suede, so it will be useful to have one.
The steps for using a leather eraser are as follows.
1. Remove dirt with a dry cloth and eraser
Lightly wipe the dirty area with a dry cloth and rub it lightly with a leather eraser to remove the dirt.
Rubbing too hard can damage the leather, so do it gently without using too much force.
2. Protect with leather conditioner
Once the dirt has been removed, wipe it again with a dry cloth and finally use leather conditioner to protect the leather.
When using an eraser designed for leather, it is a good idea to test it on an inconspicuous area beforehand.
Also, depending on the type of leather, a leather eraser may not be able to remove the dirt, so in that case it is a good idea to use a cleaner designed for leather.
Maintain to prevent darkening
It is also important to perform maintenance to prevent darkening. Understand the cause and prevent it from occurring.
One of the causes of darkening on leather products is oil and sweat from the hands.
As a result, parts that are touched by hands on a daily basis, especially leather gloves and shoes that are in direct contact with the skin for long periods of time, can become darkened due to sweat and sebum from hands and feet soaking into the leather.
Simply wiping it dry with a clean cloth once a week is effective in preventing darkening.
Store away from moisture and direct sunlight
We recommend storing leather products in a room with low humidity and good ventilation.
Leather products are vulnerable to moisture, so storing them in a humid, poorly ventilated place such as a closet, storage room, or shoebox increases the chances of mold growing on the leather.
If you store them in such a place, be sure to let in air regularly to change the air inside.
It is also important to avoid direct sunlight. If exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, the ultraviolet rays can cause the leather surface to sunburn, leading to fading and discoloration.
Keep it stain-resistant
Maintaining a stain-resistant condition is also important when handling leather.
When purchasing a leather product, protect the leather with cream or waterproof spray beforehand.
Don't forget to moisturize regularly to prevent deterioration due to dryness.
Caring for leather should be done with the idea of "making it less noticeable"
When a leather product gets dirty, it is ideal to take care of it as soon as possible to remove the dirt, but it is not always possible to completely remove all of the dirt.
It is difficult to completely remove dirt, stains, and blackening that have settled on the leather, so care for it with the idea of "making it less noticeable".
Also, if you are not confident that you can handle it yourself, another option is to ask a repair shop that specializes in leather goods to clean it.
They will use special detergents and dismantle the item to thoroughly repair and clean every nook and cranny.
The technical capabilities and costs vary depending on the shop, so if you want to ask a specialist shop, it is a good idea to compare the track record and service contents of several shops before making your decision.
Enjoy the changes that occur over time when caring for leather products
One of the joys of using leather products for a long time is enjoying the changes that occur over time.
Tools and clothes deteriorate the more they are used, but the longer leather products are used, the softer the leather becomes and the easier it is to use.
The color, smoothness, luster, and shape of the leather also change little by little.
There are ways to "nurture leather" that assume this aging process, and many people consider small scratches and stains that could not be removed to be a part of the character.
Leather will age with proper regular care, but there are also leather products that do not age due to the effects of tanning and pigment processing applied during the processing stage.
BONAVENTURA offers original care kits with all the items you need for the daily maintenance of leather accessories and bags.
Its compact size means you can use it when traveling or on business trips.
It is also a perfect gift to go along with BONAVENTURA leather items.
BONAVENTURA leather products with nano-glass coating are easy to care for
All BONAVENTURA products are coated with cutting-edge nano-glass coating.
Nano-glass coating is a coating process that protects the surface of leather by penetrating nano-level glass particles into the fine grain of the leather.
This coating process prevents water and dirt from absorbing, so you can keep the leather in its new, beautiful condition for a long time.
Although the effect of nano-glass coating varies slightly depending on the frequency of use and the environment, it is estimated that the effect lasts for about 3 to 4 months.
For those who want to keep the leather in beautiful condition even after 4 months of use, we recommend BONAVENTURA's "Nano Glass Coating Spray".
Periodic spraying of this product on leather items will restore the water repellent properties.
This spray can be used on all BONAVENTURA products.
If you have any questions about caring for or cleaning your BONAVENTURA product, please contact BONAVENTURA customer support.
Let's reconsider how to clean and care for leather products
Leather products are very delicate, and if the dirt is not removed properly, it may worsen the condition.
In addition, how you handle your leather products on a daily basis also plays a major role in how easily they get dirty and scratched.
To prevent major stains and deterioration, review how you remove dirt and how you care for your leather products, and treat them with care.
If you are looking for high-quality leather products that you can use for a long time, we recommend BONAVENTURA leather products, which use genuine leather from a prestigious, long-established tanner with over 150 years of history.
Why not look for your favorite items on the BONAVENTURA official website?
