Wearing leather clothing and shoes brings an edgy look to any outfit. The popularity of leather fabric has never disappeared and it is known as being timeless and always stylish. You can never go wrong with wearing a leather piece, it is thick, soft, and comfortable. There are many methods used to clean leather and dry cleaning is one of them.
You can dry clean leather pieces to prevent damage and to make sure they always look as good as new. Dry cleaning services use specific cleaning solutions, products, and techniques for clothing made out of leather. This fabric is expensive to buy so taking proper care of it and knowing what is the best way to clean it is extremely significant.
Key Takeaways
- The leather production process is complicated and long, which is why certain pieces made out of leather are very valuable and expensive.
- Leather can be very long-lasting if it is well-maintained and properly cleaned.
- Washing and dry cleaning are two possible methods for keeping the freshness of the leather item.
- Dry cleaning leather can be done professionally by dry cleaning services that specialize in maintaining the quality of every possible material.
- The majority of people usually visit the dry cleaners for their clothing pieces if they are very dirty. If the leather pieces need only a little help such as removing small stains, this can easily be achieved at home using the right products and methods.
Production and Characteristics of Leather Fabric
The production of leather is a lengthy and precise process. Specific techniques are used to produce high-quality leather that can be later transformed into a piece of clothing, accessories, or shoes. The process of making leather begins by taking the skin of an animal such as a cow, a crocodile, or a pig. To avoid decomposition, the animal skin is covered in salt and soaked in water to remove any stains. The skin is then sliced and tanned using natural extracts found in trees. The next step in the process of leather is soaking the skin in a dye for hours to make sure it spreads out evenly. Finally, the leather is worked on and turned into pieces that can be used and worn.
The leather fabric is known for its strength and resistance to tearing. It is very unlikely that leather will lose its shape or soft feel. Leather is known for its heat retention abilities, low level of breathability, and stretchiness. Because of the reason that leather fabric retains heat very easily, it is recommended to be used or worn during the colder months of the year. Wearing a piece of clothing made out of leather in the beaming sun will cause excessive perspiration and an uncomfortable feeling on the skin. It is recommended that leather should be washed with cool water instead of hot water to avoid damage.
Professional Leather Dry Cleaning
Due to the unique leather properties, specific cleaning solutions need to be utilized. Special chemicals and techniques are used by dry cleaning services to remove stains or dust from the leather pieces. Apart from cleaning leather clothing, people often find the need to visit leather repair shops for cleaning their leather shoes. Professional services such as these provide the best and most effective solution for maintaining the quality of your leather items.
Expensive leather can only be treated by professionals because of their knowledge and experience in taking care of this fabric. While there are some leather cleaning products on the market, they are not recommended to use on every type of leather. Professional cleaning services are able to recognize the value and quality of leather pieces, a variety of leather types and styles, thus gaining the ability to choose the best method to clean your leather goods.
Dry Cleaning Leather at Home
Apart from going to the dry cleaners, there are also safe and practical ways of doing it at home. These methods are not proven to be as effective as professional dry cleaning but they can be used if your leather piece is not very dirty. If there are only a couple of small stains on the leather item, a quick solution is applying toothpaste, baking soda, or nail polish remover only on the stains.
However, this should be done carefully and very gently to avoid damaging the leather item. Regardless of which of these three methods you choose to use, make sure to also gently blot the stained area with a damp cloth. Furthermore, if you simply want to get rid of the smell on your leather piece, use a cloth and dishwashing soap and apply them to the leather item. Avoid using too much water in the process to prevent it from getting damaged. There are alternative ways of dry cleaning your leather at home only if done meticulously and with great care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it OK to dry clean leather?
Dry cleaning leather is completely safe if it is done properly and gently by using suitable cleaning solutions to ensure the best possible treatment of the leather item.
Are dry cleaners able to clean my leather jacket?
Proper maintenance and gentle care of your leather jacket or coat can be provided by dry cleaners. Professionals in this field offer the best cleaning techniques and products for your leather pieces.
How often should you dry clean your leather?
How frequently you visit the dry cleaners for your leather clothing depends on how often you wear it. Dry cleaning leather is usually recommended at least once a year and as rarely as possible to avoid shrinking or unnecessary damage.
Final Words
Making sure that our valuable pieces of clothing always look clean and well taken care of is essential. Leather is not easy to maintain because it is a fabric that can easily be damaged. Correspondingly, instead of taking the risk of having to replace your leather pieces often, it is better to put the time and effort to properly take care of them. Leather never goes out of style and you can wear the same piece over and over again for many years to come. This is only possible if you strive to retain the quality of your leather items by keeping their fresh appearance and soft feel.
Further Reading
You can keep going and read some of our blogs, like the differences between Cotton and Polyester.
There are also 10 types of knitted fabric and the definition of cotton lycra, so don’t miss out.
I graduated from London College of Fashion, and I’ve been working for a Fashion Design company for 10 years. My other hobbies are going to the gym and reading.
