How to Care For Leather
These days, it seems that there are just as many products to help us clean and care for leather as there are leather products. In many stores, right next to the boots, or jackets, or belts, there is a display with spray-on sealants and rub-in soaps and it can become a little confusing trying to sort out what you might actually need to help keep that new leather jacket safe from dirt and damage.
It's worth noting here that you should always check your leather products for instructional tags and / or consulting a professional before attempting any cleanings. Some kinds of soap or protectants can cause colors to shift, especially if applied unevenly. Also, while there are a few basic rules, exotic or unusual leathers may have special requirements. Again, if you're at all unsure, consult a professional.
As a starting step, let's draw a line between new leather items, or things we want to protect, and things you may have had for a few years, or that leather coat you've had since high school that's starting to look a bit shabby and could use a bit of restoration.
Protection:
When you buy a leather product, be it boots, a belt, or a sofa, chances are good that the salesperson will recommend some kind of conditioning and protecting agent. Buy it. Follow the directions. Then check the tags on your product and look for any instructions provided. Again, follow the directions. These two steps will prevent 99% of the problems you might come across. For that last one percent though...
The first step in protecting your leather is determining what kind of leather it is. Generally speaking, this means determining if it is a stiff, tough leather, or a softer, more supple leather. Equally important is the texture of the leather. Is it smooth or is it pebbled?
Hard leathers are generally made to be tough and to take all kinds of abuse. Protecting them is generally a matter of keeping them clean and stored in a proper manner. (Coats on a cedar hanger, suitcases out of direct sunlight, hats in hatboxes, etc.) However, if you want to be sure, check for sealants appropriate for your item (basketballs and boots might be able to have the same water-proofing agent applied, but then again, they might not.) These are things like Armor All or Scotchguard. Once you've found the appropriate sealant, apply it regularly and liberally. Most sealants will act as waterproofing agent and dirt repellent, but for expensive items, you might want to try separate treatments.
With soft leathers, the keyword is conditioning. Think about a baseball glove or a nice leather coat - they're better after they've been broken in a bit, right? They key there is finding the right conditioner for the right product. Mink oil can keep your gloves supple and flexible for decades, while a good wax can keep soft leather shoes shined and stain free. Most conditioners need to be applied to a sponge or cloth and worked into the leather, then allowed to sit overnight. This process should be repeated several times, until the leather has the desired look and feel. It is possible to over-condition leather though, so, again, directions should be followed.
Cleaning:
For older items, before we can protect them, they have to be given a good cleaning. And this can be a bit tricky. The most important rule is not to soak or rinse your leather goods in water. Water, especially in large amounts, ruins leather. In other words, never, ever, under any circumstances put your grandfather's vintage leather jacket in the washing machine. Having said that, we again need to determine what kind of leather you have before beginning to clean it.
For hard, pebbled leathers, like some furniture or suitcases, using a light lather of a soft bath soap will work. Using warm water, mix up a lather of the soap on a sponge or cloth. Making sure that the cloth is damp, gently work the lather into the leather. Once clean, take a clean, damp cloth and wipe away all the lather. Try to keep the leather from getting too wet in the process. Remember, damp, not wet. When all the lather is gone, use a dry cloth to polish the leather. This should take care of most dirt and light stains.
For soft, or untreated, leather products, like baseball gloves, some jackets, or, well, saddles, try saddle soap. Saddle soap (or leather soap) is available most places that sell large quantities of leather goods and it is designed especially for leather products. Rub the soap directly into the leather with a cloth or sponge then wipe the excess lather away with a dry towel. Let your leather air dry.