The top 100 tips what not to use or do to your leather.
What Not To Do To Your Leather or After Repairs or Restoration
We have compiled a list of the most common questions asked or what we have been told of what’s happened to leather items, so we compiled the top 100 so you can see at a glance what not to use on leather as it damages the leathers surface and the hide.
Not adhering to this below will result in the stripping of colours, cause shrinkage of leather items and cause very bad staining or make leather hard, brittle and may de-laminate surfaces on pigmented leather.
Leather is a natural product. It is eco-friendly and far safer for our planet than faux leathers, which are made in factories from plastic based products, thus causing landfill issues for thousands of years to come. Whereas leather in landfill, will naturally take around 15 years to break down. Compare this to faux leathers, which can take well over 500 years to start to break down, but then when they do breakdown, they cause additional issues to our planet as the plastic pellets get into our waterways, causing even more pollution.
From the moment you purchase your leather it needs care and attention to maintain it, if maintained correctly leather can last hundreds of years in great shape.
1/ Do not use products we don’t recommend
2/ Do not use household cleaners
3/ Do not use APC (all-purpose cleaners)
4/ Do not use bleach
5/ Do not use furniture polish
6/ Do not use Mr Sheen
7/ Do not use glass cleaner
8/ Do not use automotive car brands to clean or protect leather
9/ Do not use a ceramic coating
10/ Do not spray air freshener directly onto leather
11/ Do not use saddle soap
12/ Do not use scrubber pads
13/ Do not use microfibre cloths
14/ Do not use magic erasers
15/ Do not use household anti-bacterial sprays
16/ Do not use coloured cloths
17/ Do not place next to open fires
18/ Do not place next to radiators
19/ Do not place in direct sun light
20/ Do not clean for at least 60 days after restoration
21/ Do not use car polish
22/ Do not put covers on your leather for at least 90 days after restoration
23/ Do not use vinegar
24/ Do not use baby wipes
25/ Do not use body lotions or hand creams
26/ Do not use leather wipes
27/ Do not use furniture wax
28/ Do not use peanut butter
29/ Do not use tartar sauce
30/ Do not use baking soda on leather
31/ Do not use lemon or orange juice on leather
32/ Do not use olive oil on leather
33/ Do not use cooking oil on leather
34/ Do not use acetone on leather
35/ Do not use white spirit on leather
36/ Do not use nail varnish remover on leather
37/ Do not use thinners on leather
38/ Do not use engine oil on leather
39/ Do not use shoe polish on leather
40/ Do not steam clean leather
41/ Do not use mink oil on leather
42/ Do not use coconut oil
43/ Do not use neatsfoot oil
44/ Do not use Vaseline on leather
45/ Do not use petroleum jelly on leather
46/ Do not use rubbing alcohol
47/ Do not use tee tree oil
48/ Do not use hand moisturiser
49/ Do not use hair spray
50/ Do not use hand sanitiser gels
51/ Do not use dish washing liquid
52/ Do not use clothing cleaning liquid
53/ Do not use the Pink Stuff on leather
54/ Do not use salad dressings or salad creams
55/ Do not use Disinfectant sprays or wipes
56/ Do not use leather care products that carry a hazardous or flammable warning label
57/ Do not use White vinegar
58/ Do not use after sun
59/ Do not use gin to clean leather
60/ Do not use car body paints to paint leather
61/ Do not use lemons to clean leather
62/ Do not use baby shampoo to clean leather
63/ Do not use broken walnut shells to clean leather
64/ Do not use brake cleaner on leather
65/ Do not use make up wipes on leather
66/ Do not use shaving foam on leather
67/ Do not use TFR (traffic film remover) on leather
68/ Do not use a kitchen scourer on leather
69/ Do not use car detailer or clay lubes on leather
70/ Do not use CIF cleaning cream on leather
71/ Do not use a marker pen to colour your leather
72/ Do not use Whisky on leather
73/ Do not use fabric Conditioner
74/ Do not use pencil rubber erasers
75/ Do not use camomile body butter
76/ Do not use shower gel on leather
77/ Do not use butter on leather
78/ Do not use ammonia-based products on leather
79/ Do not use urine on leather
80/Do not use mayonnaise on leather
81/ Do not use WD40 on leather
82/ Do not use toothpaste on leather
83/ Do not use silicone spray on leather
84/ Do not use egg whites on leather.
85/ Do not use potato skin on leather
86/ Do not use a brass / wire brush on leather
87/ Do not use popcorn on leather
88/ Do not use milk on leather
89/ Do not use curry powder to dye leather
90/ Do not use oven cleaner on leather
91/ Do not use perfume / aftershave on leather
92/ Do not use spray tan to dye leather
93/ Do not use oven cleaner on leather
94/ Do not use cloves on leather
95/ Do not use methylated spirits on leather
96/ Do not use washing powders on leather
97/ Do not use de greaser on leather
98/ Do not use a wet vac shampoo machine on leather
99/ Do not use onions on leather
100/ Do not use banana skins on leather
You’d be amazed at what people use on leather!!
If you have any questions about taking care of leather couches, leather car seats, leather handbags, leather jackets, leather from classic cars, antique leather goods, or vintage leather items then drop us an email we will be pleased to help and chat to you about leather care, cleaning, protection and repair and restoration of your leather items.
We have a large help section take a look at the help guides to help you.
