You have just bought a new expensive leather bag. It looks amazing; it feels amazing and smells amazing. Leather is a timeless piece in anyone’s wardrobe which means we want to look after it and keep it looking as amazing as it does as we carry it out of the shop. Leather can be difficult to care for properly unless you know the dos and don’ts of leather maintenance. This care depends on the type of leather your bag is made of.

For example, you would not want to get suede wet. However if your bag is made from deer leather then it can get a little damp. However there are some common care tips that you can use which keep your bag looking like new.

Firstly, you need to know what kind of leather your bag is made of.  You can check your type of bag by reading the label. The label is normally situated inside the bag along one of the seams of lining. Feel your bag the texture will also tell you. Deerskin has natural flaws in it whereas suede has a soft texture to touch.

Now you know what type of leather you have you will need the following items; a leather conditioning product, a suede waterproofing product, a suede eraser or a pink rubber, chalk rag soap and tissue paper.

Now you can condition and waterproof your bag. It is important to condition your bag every once in a while. This is even more important if you live in a dry and warm climate. You must use a conditioner that is specifically designed for leather. You only need to waterproof if your bag is suede. You need to use a commercial suede waterproofing product for this.

For deerskin after conditioning you will need a damp cloth and a mild soap, this will clean off any stains that you may have. You cannot use anything wet on suede though. To get rid of stains on your suede bag you will need a pink rubber or a suede eraser. If you happen to have any grease stains then apply board chalk to them. Be careful not to use any harsh chemicals or cleaning products that have alcohol on them as these will leave marks on your bag and cause lifelong damage.

Once this is complete you need to store the bag in a dark place. Do not cover it though. The most ideal place is a cool dark place. You must never place it in a plastic or non porous bag. This can promote the growth of mildew. Your bag must keep out of direct sunlight or heat. This can damage your leather and make it fade or become dry and cracked.

The last thing to do is when you are not using your leather bag stuff it with tissue paper. This will help the bag keep its shape by not letting the sides collapse. This does not need to be done often, every 6 months is more than enough to keep your bag looking like new.

Leather purses are highly elegant and fashionable. However, they are costly. If you are lucky to buy one, you will gain value for your money. But you need to clean the purse properly and at the right time with the right supplies for the purse to retain its beauty. There are some people who do not know how to clean their leather purses. If you do not clean your purses, dirt and debris will stick on the bag and this will eventually destroy the color and beauty of the bag. So, there is need for you to be cleaning them regularly.

It is not difficult to clean a leather purse as some people think. It will only take you some few minutes and you are done. Besides, you can clean your purse at home by yourself. Here are some tips that you should apply in order to clean your leather purse.

One good thing about leather purses is that oil and grease stain can easily be removed from them. If your purse is stained with oil as you are dinning, there is no need for you to panic. You can easily clean off oil and grease from your purse with just dry cloth. Just get a dry cloth and clean off the oil or grease. However, do not scrub your purse very hard or roughly. Use the cloth and clean the stain gently. If you scrub it very hard, you will definitely scratch the bag.

There are some stains that you cannot easily remove with ordinary rag. You will require the use of leather cleaning solutions in order to remove some stain. The type of solution required depends on the type of stain. If your purse is stained by ink, you will need simple alcohol to remove the ink. Soak a cotton swab or cotton bud in the alcohol and then use the soaked cotton bud to clean the ink. You should also ensure that you do not scrub very hard otherwise, you may spoil the bag. This can also make the stain to extend to the other spots.

You can also clean the entire purse with distilled water and detergent. Miss the cleaning solution that you are using with water and then use a clean cloth or sponge to clean your purse. After cleaning with the solution, use another dry cloth to properly dry it so that no water will remain on the purse. Do not store your purse while it is still wet. Another important point that you should not forget is that it is not every cleaning solution that you can use on your leather purse. Any solution that will affect the color of your purse should not be used otherwise, you risk losing the beauty of your bag.

It is not every time that you will need to use cleaning solution or water on your bag. Dust and debris can be removed with dry cloth. However, you should use soft hand in cleaning the bag.

The process of dying and coloring of leather is usually undertaken during the finishing off of the same. Although standard dyes and colors are normally used, businesses selling leather or factories that manufacture leather products can specify which dyes and colors they wan used. This is usually under customized arrangements. It is also normal for leather to be availed into the market by leather manufacturers without any dyes or coloring in which case those dealing in leather can undertake their own dyeing and coloring processes.

Leather dying involves the use of alcohol-based dyes. This is because leather quickly absorbs the same. While being absorbed, the alcohol and dye pigment penetrate deep into leather, allowing the same to last therein for a very long time. External patterns on leather are achieved through the use of special stains that remain permanent on leather surface. Due to environmental concerns, the use of alcohol-based dyes is gradually diminishing. Alternatives now in use include shoe polish, linseed extracts and neatsfoot. It is very common for wax paste to be used in finishing off leather.

Unlike dying that penetrates leather, coloring does not. Coloring that is achieved through painting only ends up on leather surface. Because paint is likely to come off when a leather product is bent, colored leather is usually used for making flat-surface leather items. Of all paints, acrylic paint is the most commonly used.

Leather dying and coloring is not limited to the use of dyes and paints. Carving and stamping give leather the natural appeal and taste. Leather carving involves the use of swivel knives, seeders, pear shaders and veiner amongst others to compress soft leather so as to give it a three-dimensional appearance. There are a number of styles that that a leather designer can make including floral, Sheridan and Texas styles that are very popular in such countries as the US and Mexico.

Leather stamping is another very popular technique worldwide. It involves a leather designer using a mallet and pre-shaped implements (stamps) that are struck into the leather to create a permanent long-lasting impression. There are varied commercial stamps in different shapes and design. Impressions created can be of animals, plants and other objects.

The process of dying and coloring leather is a meticulous process that requires time and a lot of patience. A leather designer can only do so much. This is one of the reasons why quality leather products are at times very expensive. There are a number of artists who have specialized as leather designers and their creations are usually informed by both their immediate environment and latest fashion trends.

From the above, it is clear that before a leather product is put up for sale it must have passed through a number of value addition processes right from a local cottage industry or from a factory to the hands of a designer and onward to the hands of a leather crafter who creates the resultant leather product. Although there are machine-made leather products, hand-made products are usually the best and last a very long time.

It is acknowledged that leather is not only a quality material but also very strong and therefore very durable. This does not however mean that it is indestructible. The reality is that leather (whether product or raw) is one of the most difficult materials to preserve. It requires a lot of care and techniques to maintain its shape, appearance, style, feel and design. It is only through these that leather can last for a very long time. There are a number of factors that determine whether leather will last a long time or not.

Sunlight – Direct sunlight has harmful rays that degrade any material or object. Leather continuously exposed to direct sunlight ends up losing its natural color. In addition, its natural feel also changes. While unprocessed leather need to kept off direct sunlight, leather products should only be used in direct sunlight for short a period.

Storage – Storage determines the durability of leather in a big way. Unprocessed leather should be stored in cool locations with adequate aeration. Such locations should not be prone to extreme dryness and high humidity. For leather products such as bags, stuffing is very important. Continuous storage of leather bags without stuffing leads to the same getting folded with the result being the appearance of folding lines, which simply ruin the overall appearance. Long-term storage is also detrimental to leather’s durability. Stored bags should be exposed occasionally.

Stains – Although leather is generally strong and resistant to stains, those stains that have chemical components can cause serious damage to leather products. Any form of stain on leather should be cleaned out right away rather than later.

Cleaning – Dirt and other tiny debris left to accumulate on leather surface can become toxic and degrade the same. Regular cleaning is therefore very necessary. Care should however be taken during cleaning. Instead of harsh soaps and detergents that can easily affect leather, sable soap and clean water should do. Cleaning does not however mean immersing a leather product in water. A wet soapy cloth should instead be used. Leather products should never be left to dry in direct sunlight but in a shade instead.

Handling – How leather is handled can make it last long or shorten its useful life. Proper handling of leather is very necessary. Throwing a leather product around or mishandling the same in any other way exposes it to scratches and other forms of damage.

Odors – Leather is highly prone to odors. It easily absorbs and retains any odor it picks, which it retains for a very long time. Continuous exposure of leather products to harsh odors easily degrades the same. This makes it very necessary for storage locations and anywhere leather products are placed to chosen carefully.

When the above factors are taken into consideration, unprocessed leather or leather products can last for a very long time. Leather durability can also be enhanced by conditioning the same. Condition can be as simple as oiling the products. Care should however be taken as to what type of oil to use. Petroleum oils generally contain certain chemicals and are therefore not appropriate. Olive oil and neat’s foot oil have proved very effective in conditioning leather.

The process of taking animal hide and making leather did not start today. It was the ancient people that started the art but the contemporary man has perfected it. Thus today, there are different types of leather in the market; and leather is widely used today in many industries for the production of different types of goods. You definitely would have seen that leather goods are available in a number of colors. There are leather products in white, blue, red, green, black, brown and other colors. The color is not just natural to the animal hide used in making the leather. The colors are added during the making of leather.

Dying leather could also mean coloring leather. The dying of leather is a part of the third stage in the making of leather. This stage is the final stage in leather processing. However, in some processes it can also be done during the tanning stage which is the second stage in the processing of leather. Tanning is mainly done to make leather flexible and to prevent it from decaying. However, the coloring or dying has to be done in order to give the leather desired color or colors.

There are some steps that are followed in the dying and coloring of leathers. Here are the basic steps.

Choosing the Right Dye

The right type of dye to be used will depend on the color that you will want to obtain. You have to be very careful when you are choosing the dye. Sometimes, a dye may result in a different color than what it appears to be. If you want to choose the right color, look for samples in the store of the vendor and then buy according to the sample otherwise you may make the wrong selection.

Preparation of Leather for Dying and Coloring

Normally, a protective coating is given to leather so that it will retain the natural color. If you do not remove this protective coating, you may not get the actual color that you want. It may make the color to be mutilated and dull. So, first get the leather ready by removing the protecting coating. You should also ensure that dirt on the leather is removed.

Dying or Coloring Properly

First wet the leather by spraying water on it. You can use a moistened sponge to accomplish that. Ensure that the water touches all parts of the leather evenly. When the leather equally saturated, you can now start applying the dye. You should be very careful when applying the dye. It is important that you apply the dye evenly all over the leather material so the coloring will be neat and even.

Drying Stage

After the application of the dye, you should allow the leather to dry. It normally takes up to one to two hours for the dye to dry. You will know that the dye has dried properly if the wet look of the leather has disappeared completely.

Finishing Touches

This is the last stage in the coloring of leather. Here clean cloth is used to remove excess dye of the leather or to smooth the surface of the leather.