Every stylista knows the value of a good piece of skin, whether that be leather, snakeskin, croc, alligator or ostrich, etc. With proper care, these investment pieces will age gracefully and can be made to last a lifetime.
Here are some tips on how to care for your special leather items:
Probably the most important part of caring for these special items is how we store it. Never store the items in non-breathable materials, such as plastic, as this will dry up the leather.
Avoid very humid and dry environments. This shortens the life expectancy of your leather.
If the item gets wet, allow it to dry out naturally, away from any heat source which can damage the skin’s natural oils. Excessive dryness can cause the skin to crack, while excessive moisture will cause mildew.
Treat your leather with a conditioner (you can buy this in any department store) every 6 months to restore flexibility and proper moisture levels.
For suede and nubuck, wipe it off with a terry cloth towel to restore its look.
When it comes to more exotic skins, like python, croc and alligator for instance, special attention must be given to its cleaning, which cannot be treated by traditional leather products. Particularly with python, which is a type of snakeskin, the scales will eventually dry out and curl up off the bag. Considering the cost of python, proper care for you snakeskin item is most important in order for it to last years in good condition.
Here are some tips on how to care for your special exotic skin items:
• Dampen a small piece of cloth with warm water and wipe down your snakeskin item, smoothing in the direction of the scales to avoid lifting them up.
• Pat the item dry with a towel as excess wetness can cause the skin to darken.
• If you need to clean beneath the scales, clean each individual scale gently with a cotton swab, being careful not to lift it any more than necessary.
• Dry the bag in a cool, dark place. Do not speed dry with a source of heat as this will cause the scales to dry out and lift faster.
• Once dry, apply an exotic skin conditioner, again smoothing in the direction of the scales.
• For crocodile and alligator leather, use the same method of wiping the item down with a damp piece of cloth, patting it dry with a towel, drying the bag in a cool, dark place and then applying an exotic skin conditioner.
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