The Right Leather Care

TL;DR

1. Impregnation

They can reduce the risk of water stains. The leather will darken in color in the process—a personal decision, and above all, a matter of taste and intended use.

2. Cleaning

Simply wipe away dust or dirt with a dry, lint-free cloth. Water and cleaning agents will stain unsealed genuine leather.

3. Drying

Always allow damp leather to dry slowly at room temperature to prevent it from becoming brittle. This means always avoid using a hairdryer, oven, heater, or other heat sources.

4. Refresher

Treat the leather to a deep conditioning treatment with a wax or balm after 1-2 years and then every 6 months. This will refresh its color and keep it supple.

By the way: Have you already seen the information page about our leather?

Mousepad aus Leder mit Patina

Usage

If you choose a LederGlück product made from vegetable-tanned leather, you can rightly expect a wonderful patina to develop over time. This develops naturally, for example, through contact with your skin.

However, there are also some marks that are best avoided, such as water stains or scratches. Waterproofing agents and products for occasional freshening can help with these.

Note: Our open-pored genuine leather will darken permanently when used with care products. This applies especially to lighter leather colors.

Leder mit Gebrauchsspuren

Discoloration

Please never use household cleaning products ! These can contain aggressive substances that attack and discolor the leather.

Be careful with hand creams too: some not only leave greasy stains but can also permanently damage the surface, depending on the ingredients.

Recommendation

Impregnation & Care

Organic Waterproofing

Genuine leather prefers dry conditions. High humidity can even lead to mold. Therefore, leather should always be protected from moisture. Contact with water can cause discoloration and stains.

However, you can reduce the risk of water stains relatively easily: by waterproofing the leather surface right from the start and immediately wiping and drying it after each contact with liquids.

We have tested various waterproofing agents and now offer a waterproofing spray under our own label that meets our requirements.

Our leather waterproofing spray is based on natural ingredients, impregnates and conditions leather with genuine olive oil, and, thanks to its pump-action spray, is propellant-free, making it suitable for indoor use.

Tip: It is better to use it outdoors so that the spray mist does not spread to other materials in the room.

After application, the leather waterproofing treatment needs to dry thoroughly for a few hours, e.g., overnight. If you want to be on the safe side, repeat the waterproofing treatment a day later for increased protection.

For testing, we held impregnated pieces under running water and then wiped them off: no water stains remained on the impregnated areas after drying, whereas the untreated leather absorbed the water and developed permanent water stains.

By the way: Our spray bottles are super reusable. We use them, among other things, for humidifying houseplants. You can also return the bottles to us and request a refill. Just ask us in advance, and we'll give you a good offer.

Leather care with beeswax

Our leather is already pre-treated with high-quality fats and oils. It requires no additional care at the beginning!

However, after about 1-2 years, it can benefit from a rich, nourishing top-up to prevent it from drying out. After that, about 1-2 times per year.

Exactly when a refresher is appropriate depends largely on the individual wear and tear and the local conditions. For example, in locations with plenty of direct sunlight, dry air, and warmth, the leather will thank you for nourishing treatment more often.

If you notice fine cracks, for example, when gently bending the surface, this is a sure sign that the leather is beginning to become brittle. Then it's time for a refresh and thorough care to restore the leather's suppleness.

The best way to achieve this is with a natural care balm or wax, such as those that have long been used for hiking boots and other robust leather goods.

We have our own product in the shop that we consider to be ideal: our beeswax leather care balm.

Caution: Too much care can also damage the leather! A very thin layer is sufficient, and we recommend massaging it in thoroughly and allowing it to dry completely. Otherwise, the waxy layer could leave greasy marks upon contact.

By the way: We deliberately avoid color pigments in our care balm to prevent unwanted discoloration upon subsequent contact with moisture. This also allows you to use the balm on a variety of leather colors, saving you money.

With each treatment, the surface of oiled leather becomes slightly more "dense," making the leather appear smoother and shinier. This supports the formation of a beautiful patina over time and emphasizes the individuality of your LederGlück products.

By the way: Our screw-top cosmetic containers are also reusable! You can either clean them and reuse them to store small items, or return them to us with a request for a free refill. Just drop us a line first: use the contact form.

Pflanzlich gegerbtes Leder - LederGlück Manufaktur

Further Information

The experts at LEDERZENTRUM GmbH in Rosdorf near Göttingen share their experience in leather care and restoration on their website. If you have any questions about the restoration of leather goods you didn't purchase from us, we recommend you contact us, as we work exclusively with our own leather and products.

Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with the authors of this recommended website and assume no liability for the accuracy of the information. However, we have great respect for the many years of experience of these leather specialists and find their website very informative.

Leather Care Lexicon
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