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How to care for leather

The most important things to remember about leather is not to get it soiled, soaked, or let it dry out. Despite the fact that all of these things can be rectified to some extent, it is helpful to not let leather get into such a condition in the first place. Proper storage will keep leather looking as good as new no matter how old it is.

To Store Leather


  • Clean and condition leather before any long period of storage
  • Keep leather in a cool, dry place. Humidity can lead to mold, one of leather’s number one enemies.
  • Keep leather out of sunlight and away from any heat sources to ensure that the skin does not dry out and crack
  • Leather is heavy, so always hang it on a durable, padded hanger. Wood hangers are preferable.
  • Stuff leather (arms, legs, etc.) with acid free paper to help keep its shape and help prevent dampness.



    • Mold is one of leather's number one enemies, but it's not difficult to fix. To make your vintage leather mold free, simply follow the few steps listed below.
    Note: This method is not applicable for suede or nubuck. Contact leather cleaning professional for these types of leather.
    1. Dry out leather item in warm room until completely dry.
    2. Remove surface mold with damp cloth (mold will wipe off if the leather has been dried out completely).
    3. Allow leather to dry completly for a second time.
    4. Clean dried leather thoroughly with leather cleaner or a VERY mild soap like baby shampoo.
    5. Keep leather clean, conditioned, and properly stored to prevent mold from returning.

    Tips:

    1. Clean entire leather item to ensure an even color and texture result.
    2. When using anything other than a specialized leather clener, do a spot test and allow it to dry prior to cleaning the entire item.
    3. Always follow manufacturer's instructions when using a cleaner specifically for leather.
    4. Never use detergent to clean leather.
    5. If home methods do not work, contact a professional leather cleaner in your area.

    What You Need

    • A soft cloth
    • A warm, dry environment
    • Leather cleaner or mild soap

    As strong and durable as leather might be, it is fairly easy to ruin it's apperance.
    NEVER use the following chemicals or substances on leather:
    • Bleach
    • Alcohol
    • Household cleaners
    • Turpentine and mineral spirits
    • Waxes or silicone (prevent leather from breathing

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    Removing Stains From Vintage Leather

    Always do a small spot test on a discreet area of the leather (like a inside hem or the under arm) to be sure that this the method you are using will not damage the leather or remove any color or finish.
    Do not use these methods if a garment is rare, valuable, or antique. Seek the advice of a professional if you are unsure of these techniques.
    Bloodstains

    If the stain is recent, hand wash the leather immediately with mild soap or leather cleaner.
    Note: It may not be possible to remove some dried or set in blood stains
    Perspiration
    Wash leather in warm water with baby shampoo and/or fabric softener, making sure that the skin is saturated. Rinse lightly and dry flat.
    Wax

    Using an iron set on cool, place blotting paper or brown paper on the leather and then heat wax until it transfers from the leather onto the paper. Repeat as many times as necessary until the spot is removed, being sure to clean paper each time so that wax is not transferred back onto the leather or onto the iron.
    Oil Based Stains

    Leather skin is highly absorbent of oils and set in oil stains will not come out. Conditioning the entire leather item with an oil based conditioner may help even out the discoloration of the stain, making it less noticeable.
    For recent stains, mix Soap Flakes (you can make your own by grating a bar of unscented vegetable based soap) with a few tablespoons of water. Rub the soapy mixture slowly onto the spot. Rinse thoroughly.
    Removing Odors
    If your previously loved vintage item has a detestable odor like cigarette smoke, its going to take some work to get it out, but it is not impossible.
    First try cleaning the leather item. If cleaning the leather doesn’t work try one (or a few) of these remedies at home.
    Febreeze

    If the leather item has a lining, Febreeze is a great first response. It will undoubtedly take the smell out of any fabric. For the leather part of the item, it is possible to use Febreeze even though it is not recommended for use on leather by the manufacturer due to the possibility of staining or dye removal.
    A spot test before applying the Febreeze to the entire item is essential to ensure that you will not damage the leather by using it. If the spot test shows no change to the leather, saturate the item inside and out with Febreeze and allow to dry flat.
    Baking Soda

    Baking soda can be used a few different ways to remove odors from leather, all of which are very gentle, however it is always best to perform a spot test to be safe.
    • Dry Baking Soda
      Put Item in a paper bag or pillow case with an open box of baking soda for at least 24 hours. You may also sprinkle baking soda into the pockets and interior of the item or fill a sock with baking soda and leave it inside.
    • Baking Soda Solution
      Mix one teaspoon or baking soda with one liter of warm water and saturate the leather item (you may also increase the mixture and soak the item). Rinse item and dry flat.
    Vinegar
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    Steps to get your home ready for entertaining

    You've invited your guests, developed a menu, agonized over activities, and soon guests will arrive at your home ready to be entertained. Despite all other preparations, none is more important than assuring your guests of a comfortable, clean, place to be entertained in. Taking the time to make your home ready for guests can be intimidating for even the most seasoned housekeeper. Follow these ideas for pre-party cleaning to help you get more out of your event.
    Difficulty: Average
    Time Required: Varies

    Here's How:

    1. Evaluate what needs to be done.
      Writing down a quick list of rooms and places in your home that need attention will give you a plan. Don't forget entry areas and coat closets.
    2. Start with the most important rooms.
      Sometimes it helps to begin cleaning from the entryway to your home, and work your way through the places your guests are most likely to go. Check out the intense cleaning guides for living areas,bathrooms, and bedrooms.
    3. Don't forget the clutter.
      Clutter can give a spotless home a messy appearance. Give your guests room to move freely in your home. If you're having trouble getting rid of items ask yourself these questions about clutter. Try to get yourself jump started by choosing a small junk drawer and trying the quick clutter clearing ideas. Don't forget to use the 4 container clutter method to organize any job.
    4. Take shortcuts that work for you.
      If there won't be any children at the party and your guests will only be in living areas, don't worry about cleaning and detailing family bedrooms. If the party is informal, make your serving dishes informal too. Find ways to save time that fit with the party you're trying to have.
    5. Prepare for minor cleaning emergencies during the party.
      Be aware that stains are probably the number one party cleanup culprit. Stock up on your favorite stain removal products. Double check the stain removal helplist. Most of all, don't stress. These things happen and being prepared only shows more of your ability as host or hostess.
    6. Recruit help.
      Use your family or closest friends to help you prepare. Find tips on involving your family in cleaning and use them to mobilize your forces at home. Check out our ideas on making chores fun. For many people, professional cleaning help may be the better choice. If you intend to have help before or during the party, be sure to reserve your place as soon as you have the dates and times you'll need them. Especially during any holiday season, help can be hard to find.
    7. Add your own finishing touches.
      Preparing your home for a party is more than just stripping it of its clutter and dirt. It also gives you a chance to add small touches that make your home comfortable and inviting. Try flower arrangements, photographs, candles, or incense. Try to stimulate the senses of your guests. Do a walk-through after you've cleaned and decluttered to see how your guests will experience the rooms in your home.
    8. Enjoy the party.
      Try not to stress over the little things that may seem to go wrong during the party. Just enjoy the fruits of your efforts.

    Tips:

    1. The more involved and complicated the party is, the more time you'll have to prepare your home. Last minute informal gatherings do not require your home to be in perfect order. The 15 minute cleanups should be adequate to get your house in shape.

    What You Need

    • Pen and paper
    • Various cleaning supplies
    • 4 boxes to clear clutter
    • Finishing decorative touches
    • Stain treatment products

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    Garage sale day

    Do you park in your garage or is it the place you throw stuff you don't need right now? Has cleaning the garage turned into a two week process that you are dreading? Learn how to plan, gather supplies, and mobilize your family to get the garage well packed and gleaming.
    Difficulty: Average
    Time Required: 4-6 Hours

    Here's How:

    1. Plan. Come up with a goal that can be accomplished within your available time frame. Find rewards and ideas that can help your family feel motivated to get busy. Plan the cleanup for a day when all able family members will be home.
    2. Advertise. Make small notes detailing the location, goals, date, and time frame for the Family Clean-up day. Be sure to add the fun details that will accompany the day. Tape them to each family member's door. Discuss the ideas over dinner the week before.
    3. Gather Supplies. Trying to go to the home improvement store on the day of the cleanup will only eat away at your time. Take an inventory of the garage. Get a notepad and write down the problem areas. Follow the steps in the Beginning Organization Article to gain an idea of how to go about planning. Gather your supplies.
    4. Last Minute Prep. The day before your cleanup, pick up last minute supplies. Create a general plan of attack for the garage. Refer back to your planning in step 3.
    5. Attack the Mess. With your supplies, motivated workers, and plan, you’ll be ready to take back your garage from the clutter. Work from these basic categories. Trash, Give Away, Short-Term Storage, Long-Term Storage.
    6. Enjoy the Rewards. Treat your family and yourself to something special.

    Tips:

    1. Setup and organize the supplies before the start time. Trying to run around the house finding where you put the packing tape will cut into your time.
    2. Don't forget snacks for your family. Try to pick out some favorites for your hard workers.
    3. If you have a large crew, you might be able to divide family members into teams. There is nothing wrong with throwing a little bit of healthy competition into the mix.
    4. Have one of the adults drop off the "give away" pile to a local donation center. Check ahead for dropoff times and items accepted. Other family members can put the finishing touches on the garage while items are dropped off.
    5. Try not to get distracted while unpacking, packing, sorting, and organizing. Do take a little time to reminisce and joke. Your family will remember this event with happiness if there is laughter present during the work.

    What You Need

    • Notepad and pencil for planing.
    • Informal invitations for the family.
    • Home improvement supplies, shelves, boxes, etc.
    • Snacks for break times.
    • Reward for hard work.

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    Reduce paper piles

    Feel like you're drowning in paper? Between the junk mail, payment confirmations, bill statements, donation requests, and family correspondences, your home can look like it was hit by the paper tornado. Try these 10 easy steps to reduce the paper in your home.
    1. Automate.

    Sign up to make payments online. Companies will continue to send statements to your home, but now these statements can be easily filed without worrying about forgetting to pay.
    2. Access the Trash.

    Open incoming mail over the trash. Standing over the trash as you open mail, gives you easy access to the best place for junk mailings, outer envelopes, and any other paper clutter.
    3.File It.

    Find a filing cabinet and divide your important papers into categories. File incoming papers after opening the mail. Things that need attention or action can be place in the appropriate spot in the mail center (see below.)
    4. Contain the Memories.
    Create a place for paper memories. Youth artwork, birthday cards, and other memories need their own storage. Consider giving each family member a container to store memories. Once the container is full they may have to make choices about what to keep and what to throw out.
    5. Evaluate Your Subscriptions.

    Do you pay for multiple magazine and news subscriptions that you never get around to reading? Maybe you put them on the end tablethinking you will find time to read them, but before you know it you have a stack as high as the ceiling to “get to.” Keep only the subscriptions you read on a regular basis. Consider donating magazines to a seniors center or shelter after you've read them.
    6. Create a Mail Station.

    Create a centralized place with stamps, pens, envelopes, paper, and slots to sort incoming and outgoing mail. Keeping all of the supplies together means you will be able to find them more easily when they are needed.
    7. Have a Message system.

    When the phone rings or visitors drop by, many people scrounge for the nearest scrap piece of paper to write message information on. If your address book looks like a pile of torn paper, it may be time to create a new message taking system. Have one place in your home where a pencil and a notepad are always available. Post messages in the same place every time so household members know where to look for their messages. Keep a household address book near the phone to take down permanent information in.
    8. Cut the coupons. 

    Do you have a drawer full of unused expired coupons? It can be great to cut coupons and save money. But if you cut them, use them. Keep the coupons in a regular spot so that they can be easily accessed for a trip to the grocery store.
    9. Regulate collections regularly.

    Update your files, tossing outdated information yearly. Get rid of items you do not need to create room for the next year’s flood of paperwork.
    10. Get rid of receipt mania.

    Receipts kept for tax purposes can be filed under the appropriate heading. For those people who like to track all of their expenses, create a receipt "dropping point" that will temporarily hold the receipts until your weekly session of adding and evaluating them.
    The key to cutting back on paper problems in your home is to reduce the incoming paper and then to create regular places to store the necessities that find their way to your door. Whether you toss it or file it, it won't find its way to a pile anymore.
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    4 container method

    Have you ever tried to get rid of the clutter in your home? Haphazardly we walk through our homes searching for stuff we do not need. Oddly enough each item seems to call out to us with its greater purpose in the scheme of our lives. You have heard the phrase that clutter takes on a life of its own, well now it is time for drastic measures that give clutter a life far away from yours.

    The Categories

    Find 4 boxes and label them with the 4 categories.
    Trash
    Give Away/Sell
    Storage
    Put away
    Trash- This should include any item that you do not need or want, but that is not worth donating or selling. Damaged and broken items should be included in the trash if they are not worth someone buying it and repairing it.
    Think about the uses someone else might get out of the items vs. the use it gets in your home buried in cabinets or closets. Consider the financial benefits of selling your stuff at a garage sale.
    Storage- Put items in here that you cannot part with but do not need on a regular basis. Make an inventory of the items as you box them. Group similar items together. Remember one good way to clean out closets is to store out of season clothing.
    Put Away- This should be your smallest category. These are items that need to be out on a regular basis. Monitor yourself by determining if you have a place for each item. If the items in this box will not fit into your home without cluttering an area up, try to reassess if you really need them. If you do need these essentials;, try to come up with a storage solution that fits into your home.

    The Method

    Working room-by-room, sort items into the appropriate boxes. Work with one item at a time determining its proper place in your newly organized life. Do not forget to go through closets, cabinets, and storage spaces. Removing clutter from rooms like the kitchen and bathroom may be very easy to do, while rooms with storage containers and closets may take a lot more time.
    Work on one room at a time to provide yourself with an easy stopping point for interruptions. When you come to a stopping point, be sure to throw out the trash immediately. Box up the storage box. Place the give away/sell box in the garage, or out of site. If you allow yourself to contemplate the decisions you have made, your brain can trick you into rescuing the clutter. Remember there are a few ,a href="http://housekeeping.about.com/od/getorganized/tp/4-Kinds-Of-Clutter-You-Should-Never-Keep.htm">types of clutter that are difficult to get rid of, but should not be kept.

    Things To Remember

      *Items are not equivalent to memories of the person who gave them to you. Pruning items with an emotional attachment can be very difficult. Consider carefully if you need the item to have the memory or emotionally attachment. Ask yourself some questions about the clutter. If you are not sure, consider storing items on a trial basis, or giving them to another family member for safekeeping. Think about taking photos of the item that will store more readily, but give you tangible proof of the memory. If you really feel the need to keep items of this nature, don't fight it. Instead try to incorporate these memories into decorative displays or organized storage.
      *Get rid of old clothing even if it is the size you used to be and hope to return to. It is tempting to keep them for when you reach your goal. Think about instead rewarding yourself with a new wardrobe when you get to the new you.
      *Do not force yourself to keep sets if you only use part of the set. If you cannot break up a set, at least store the portions you do not use.
      *Keeping things just because you might need them someday may seem like a good reason for clogging your closets. Remind yourself that what you really need is space and organization.
    So now your trash is gone. Your storage is packed away. Every item you have decided to keep is in its proper place. You have given away or sold everything else. Take a moment to look around your house. You have just taken a major step to organizing your life and freeing up your time and space. Begin enjoying the results.
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