Leather is an organic material that adapts over time to your body shape and your movements. To ensure that genuine leather bags retain their beautiful surface structure for a long time, they must be cared for lovingly.
Cleaning leather is easy when you know how to do it properly. Incorrect leather cleaning alters the material and makes it look duller over time.
The number 1 rule when cleaning: Not all leather bags are the same!
Attention! To clean smooth leather, velour leather, or suede, fashion experts and bag enthusiasts always use suitable cleaning materials and cleaning techniques. You can remove most stains and signs of aging with simple household remedies found in every kitchen.
Leather care made easy: The best cleaning tips
The sooner stains are removed, the fewer molecules penetrate the pores of genuine leather. Suede, unlike smooth leather, has open pores and is therefore particularly sensitive.
If you want to remove stains from leather without changing the surface structure or color, you should always proceed with particular care when dealing with suede. The leather of genuine leather bags is particularly sensitive at the seams. To clean a leather bag, you should use only damp cotton cloths and no sponges or microfiber cloths.
ZOÉ LU FRIIZ - N°2: Revolutionize your leather care
To remove particularly stubborn stains, we recommend the FRIIZ N°2 The Cleanser with matching brush made from soft horsehair. All ingredients are specially formulated for use on open-pored leather.
You can simply mix the cleaning serum from the Cleanser with water and apply it at the desired intensity. Water-repellent stains on uncoated leather can be removed with the Cleanser solution effortlessly.
To protect the leather from new dirt, you should impregnate it afterward. The FRIIZ Bag Protector can be applied to your bag's surface in minutes and acts like an invisible protective film for the freshly cleaned leather surface.
Your step-by-step guide: The guide to cleaning your leather bag!
Using the FRIIZ N°2 Cleanser takes only a few minutes. The mixing ratio of the special leather cleaner can be easily adjusted to the intensity of the stain.
For grease stains, color stains, and stains from spilled liquid, apply the FRIIZ N°2 The Cleanser in three simple steps:
- Mix the FRIIZ N°2 The Cleanser with water in a 1:5 ratio and moisten the brush with the cleaning solution. For heavier soiling, you can also apply the leather cleaner to the brush undiluted.
- Gently rub the affected area with the Cleanser or use it over entire surfaces. With circular movements, the brush's horsehair gently reaches into the leather pores.
- A foam forms that absorbs the dirt particles from the stain and can be dabbed off with a cloth. You can then rinse the leather with clean water to remove any foam residue. If the water is warm, stains dissolve even faster.
Cleaning smooth leather: The most important care tips at a glance
Extra care is required when cleaning smooth leather.
Warning! The wrong cleaning product could leave stains or unwanted coatings. Alcohol-based cleaning products are absolutely off-limits when used with smooth leather, as aggressive substances roughen the surface.
Before proceeding with large-area smooth leather cleaning, you should treat a small area as a test and let it dry.
Use a soft natural sponge or a cotton cloth to wipe away dirt with light pressure. If the cleaning product and sponge leave no residue, you can proceed to clean the leather over larger areas.
How to clean suede properly: Care tips for your favorite items
You can remove dirt from rough leather most easily with a soft brush. Special suede brushes are made of animal hair and penetrate the pores of the leather without damaging the material.
A test run with cleaning product and a brush is also recommended when cleaning suede. The clean and dry surface always needs a special impregnation for suede to keep the material supple and preserve its color.
The best household remedies for cleaning leather
To clean your clutch or your hobo bag, household remedies are an inexpensive and simple solution when you know how to use them. With simple food products and kitchen utensils, you can specifically remove stains without damaging the leather surface of suede or smooth leather:
Cleaning leather with vinegar
Using warm vinegar water and a clean cotton cloth, you can restore the natural shine of smooth leather surfaces.
Caring for smooth leather with baby oil
Pure cooking oil or baby oil is also suitable for caring for smooth leather. Rub a little oil into the clean surface, then wipe it with a dry cloth to absorb excess oil.
Cleaning a handbag with baking soda
Spilled drinks are a killer for handbags. You can completely remove stains and unpleasant odors from the bottom of your bag with baking soda. Alternatively, you can also use baby powder or dry shampoo and apply the powder to the stain. After 24 hours of contact time, gently wipe off the baking soda.
Cleaning suede with sandpaper and a toothbrush
That’s right: To clean fine velour leather and suede with a fine nap, you can first gently brush out stains using warm vinegar water and a toothbrush.
You can treat stubborn stains with baking soda and then rinse them with distilled water to ensure that no limescale stains form. Restore the rough surface with a suede brush or sandpaper with a grit of over 180.
Common mistakes: What you should definitely avoid
Suede should, if possible, only be cleaned dry, as moisture damages the material.
Smooth leather can safely be cleaned with a damp cloth. However, you should never use leather brushes to wipe smooth leather, as they could damage the surface.
When working with suede, you should never use bar soap or hand soap, as they contain conditioning agents and alter the material’s pH value.
Conclusion
Leather is a supple, attractive, and demanding material. A genuine leather bag goes through quite a lot in everyday life, from rain and cold to stains from spilled drinks and even that forgotten candy at the bottom of the bag.
With simple household remedies, you can remove odors and even caked-on stains from leather surfaces without leaving any residue and care for your bag. To make sure that no mistakes are made when cleaning leather, use our specialized FRIIZ cleaning and care products, which will make your leather bag shine like new.
FAQ
Can leather be cleaned with glass cleaner?
As gentle cleaning products as possible should be used to clean leather.
Glass cleaner mainly contains alcohol and other aggressive substances that damage the surface of leather bags. Alcohol makes glass panes streak-free, but alcohol-based cleaners can cause leather surfaces to become discolored or dull.
What is the best way to care for leather?
After cleaning with a gentle leather cleaner, you can rinse leather surfaces with clear water and let them dry.
Leather care with an impregnating product such as the FRIIZ Bag Protector can only provide its protective effect on clean, dry leather. The leather should be thoroughly cleaned before every care treatment.
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