Consent Form Info >> Consent Forms >> Leather Tips >> Termonology
IMPORTANT TIPS ON THE CARE OF LEATHER APPAREL
Many manufacturers of suede and leather apparel cannot guarantee that the component skins used to make up the garments are free from defects, which are brought to light in subsequent use of cleaning. Some of these problems that commonly arise in cleaning are listed below.
Due to skin differences dye penetration varies. Some dyes are solvent soluble resulting in excessive dye loss during accepted cleaning methods. Difficulty results in restoring these skins to their original color.
Soiled or improperly stored skins will lose their vital oils and shrink as much as 15%. This may not be noticed as the garment gradually molds to the body lined of the wearer. After cleaning, this molded bodyline is often lost and the straight lines predominate so the wearers think the garment has shrunk in cleaning even though it has not.
Imported tanned leather garments are top dyed to give a vivid look; however, these foreign processes are sometimes incompatible with domestic cleaning and refinishing resulting in fading and/or bleeding.
Color loss on grain leather articles, due to sun fading and oxidation, can usually be corrected to some extent by retinting but can seldom be remedied on suede. Some colors like blues; greens and pinks are especially difficult to restore.
Food spots and stains, like milk, egg or blood, are difficult to remove. There is a possible loss of color or damage to the leather in cleaning.
Pigskin is different from other leathers in that there is very little nap and the fiber structure allows spots and stains to penetrate deeply into the skin and is very difficult to remove.
Split cowhide, because of its rough texture, is very hard to re-tint. Its color and oil loss during cleaning is greater than other leathers, creating a harsher feel.
In cleaning suede or leather trimmed garments of contrasting colors there is a possibility of color bleeding or dye transfer.
Antique leather cleaning cannot be guaranteed, in that the color and feel of the leather may be affected. After cleaning, a new antique finish must be applied, but the original finish cannot be exactly duplicated.
The majority of plastics and vinyl's will clean favorably but even when carefully handled they may peel, stiffen and shrink when using approved cleaning methods.
