How to look after leather?
Cuirs-guignard.com only proposes genuine leather products. Leather is a natural material. It lives, changes, moves and becomes softer with use. It is a noble and living material.
The leather may have small marks; these are not defects. In full-grain leather, these marks of distinction - scratches, stretch marks, wrinkles and variations in shade - are even considered to be an added value.
Do not pay too much attention, therefore, to these little imperfections because they will become further accentuated over time and your item of leather clothing will become an authentic and unique piece. However, to preserve its appearance and suppleness in the long-term, leather needs to be looked after regularly.
Tidy your leather items away
To keep their shape, always hang your leather coat or jacket on a hanger. If you tidy it away, never cover your item of leather clothing with a plastic cover or inside an unused wardrobe, as leather needs to breath and be aired. Avoid exposing your leather jacket to full sunlight or direct light as excess heat hardens the leather and alters its colour permanently. If your item is exposed to rain, leave it to dry at room temperature on a hanger to avoid creasing. Never dry your leather jacket close to direct heat, such as a radiator, fireplace, hairdryer, etc. to avoid hardening the leather.
Waterproof your leather items
Most leathers have already been treated and waterproofed, therefore they do not require any particular attention. Only use products designed especially for leather to avoid any problems and always test the cleaning products on a hidden part of your leather jacket first to see how it reacts.
You can waterproof your leather jacket once a year or every two years to continue to protect it. Be careful to use a colourless product specifically for leather items. Never scratch the surface of leather with an abrasive object (sponge, nail, etc.), as it will leave marks.
How to look after your leather items
Clean with a dry, clean cloth and soapy water. Do not put your leather item in the washing machine and do not iron it. You can wash the lining of your jacket or trousers with a damp cloth and soap; rinse with a warm cloth and leave to dry on a hanger at room temperature. Be careful not to get too much water on the leather parts. If you have any doubts about how to treat your leather item or if there is a stain, our leather specialists are at your disposal.
It is possible that when you receive your leather jacket or when you take it out of your cupboard, there are white traces on it. Leather is a living matter and humidity, a change in temperature or other factors can cause this type of mark to appear. Simply clean with a slightly damp cloth and the traces will disappear.
It is important to look after your leather properly if you do not want colour loss or stains to occur. It is very important to look after your leather if you want to keep it for a long time. Treating it once or twice a year is a good habit. If your item has been exposed to rain, apply an additional treatment once the leather is dry as an added precaution. Before applying a cleaning product, we recommend that you read the information concerning your item carefully and that you always make a test on a non-visible part (lining), or that you contact our adjustment division which will give you advice on looking after your leather jacket.
Cleaning soft, smooth leathers, such as lambskin
For soft, smooth leathers like lambskin, you can look after the leather using special leather creams, such as nourishing lotions or restoring creams to keep the leather soft and ensure it ages well. Do not use polishes in any circumstances; they may leave a layer of grease and prevent it from breathing. This type of leather does not require any particular care. It must be left to develop a patina, therefore simply clean it with a damp cloth and soapy water. Pay particular attention to the neck which tends to accumulate grease or make-up more easily (think about wearing a scarf). Over time, if the colour becomes too weathered, we can recolour your leather, i.e. re-pigment the leather so that it takes on an even appearance again. We can do this in the workshop in our adjustment division.
Cleaning greasy leathers, such as calfskin, buffalo
For greasy leathers, like calfskin or buffalo, make sure it is waterproofed in order to avoid the colour running out at the start onto a white shirt, for example. Do not grease it further.
Cleaning suede, nubuck
For suede and nubuck, you can use a soft brush, a suede brush, a suede rubber or even a foam shoulder pad to clean your leather, buff up the suede and remove marks. You can use a suede rubber fairly regularly on the item, especially on the more sensitive areas, such as the neck, cuffs and pockets to remove the patina and keep this suede aspect. Do not let the leather become too weathered (blackening, shiny, becomes smooth) because it will no longer be possible to keep its suede look. Be careful of stains (as the leather is not dyed, it is more difficult to clean them, however in the event of a problem, do not hesitate to contact us before you attempt anything. We will be able to advise you on what to do). Use a suede spray and a waterproofing product to treat the leather and to keep its appearance as long as possible.
Do not use creams or polishes.
How to look after your cowboy boots
Sendra and Mayura boots are made in Spain following tradition, i.e. in full leather: upper, lining and sole (with the exception of the MOTO boots) and the soles have a "Goodyear" welt construciton. They can last a very long time, however, to do so, it is important to follow a few basic rules of care.
How to put on your boots
There are different options: talc, shoe horn, plastic bag and brute force. First, on most models, there are tabs sewn onto the top of the upper. Once the foot is inside the upper, take hold of each tab and pull. If you cannot put your foot inside and if you do not have a shoe horn, take a thin plastic bag and fold it lengthwise to get a 5 cm strip. The heel of your foot will slide along the plastic. Now that your foot is inside, slightly raise the heel, pull on the plastic bag and remove it. You can now walk normally! You can put your foot in, but the boots are very tight. As leather is a living matter, it can stretch.
How to remove your boots
There are different options: talc, shoe horn, plastic bag and brute force. First, on most models, there are tabs sewn onto the top of the upper. Once the foot is inside the upper, take hold of each tab and pull. If you cannot put your foot inside and if you do not have a shoe horn, take a thin plastic bag and fold it lengthwise to get a 5 cm strip. The heel of your foot will slide along the plastic. Now that your foot is inside, slightly raise the heel, pull on the plastic bag and remove it. You can now walk normally! You can put your foot in, but the boots are very tight. As leather is a living matter, it can stretch.
Looking after your heels
Maintaining the upper on different types of leather. For full-grain leather, the best way is to always use a dry, clean cloth and soapy water to clean them. Now and then you can use a polish in the same colour as the leather to get rid of a few scratches or marks. To nourish them and make them shine, you can use grease, but be careful to only use grease made from natural products to respect the material. For split leather and nubuck, especially remember to waterproof them to protect them from stains. Use suede rubbers and shampoo for suede and nubuck.
How to look after your leather bags
How to look after your leather handbag. Ideally, tidy your handbag away correctly, in an aired room, away from direct light. Do not tidy your leather bag away in a plastic bag and do not squash it. Hang it up on a hanger in a wardrobe. Do not hesitate to put newspaper or tissue paper inside so that your bag keeps its shape.
Firstly, most leathers are already treated and waterproofed. Therefore, they do not require any particular protection. Only use products designed especially for leather. To avoid any problems, always test the cleaning product on a hidden part of your handbag to see how it reacts. You can treat your handbag with a nourishing product to protect the leather from drying out, from stains and from cracking.
Leather does not really like water, so if your bag gets wet, wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Never dry your leather bag with a direct source of heat, such as radiator, fireplace, hairdryer, etc. You can waterproof your leather bag once a year or every two years to protect it, although this will not avoid stains. Do not spray the product too close to the leather to avoid making marks, and not too far otherwise it will have no effect.
For regular care, you can apply make-up removal lotion to your leather handbag with a soft, dry and clean cloth. Leave to dry and then wipe. In general, leather does not requre particular care. You can clean it occasionally with a dry cloth and a little bit of soapy water. If your leather is suede or nubuck, it is more fragile. This type of leather requires more attention. Particular attention needs to be paid to stains, as these leathers are more absorbent than a tanned smooth leather. Avoid rubbing with a darker-coloured item of clothing. Pay more attention to stains, remember to protect from rain.
Leather is a natural material obtained from animal skin. It lives, changes, moves and becomes softer with use. The leather may have small marks; these are not defects. In full-grain leather, these marks of distinction are even considered to be an added value.