There is a special beauty to new leather wallets and leather jackets. However, leather products fresh from the factory are usually too hard and difficult to bend, which affects the decorative effect of the new leather goods and makes it difficult for you to show off their bright appearance through styling. Fortunately, any tough leather can be made buttery soft with the help of some simple distressing techniques. Using a special leather care agent to rub new leather, add necessary moisture, or soften the leather yourself can give new leather goods an aged effect and feel during the short running-in period.
Treat Leather Goods with Leather Conditioner
Invest in a quality leather conditioner. The oil in the curing agent will penetrate the porous structure of the leather, making it easier for the leather goods to bend and deform according to the movements of the body. Unlike cooking oil, curing agents won’t affect the durability of the material and won’t leave greasy stains.
- If you’re willing to spend a little more money, you can also buy a complete leather care kit. Such kits often include other products such as foot oil, leather repair lotion, and waterproof protective wax, all of which can extend the life of your leather goods.
- Do not substitute natural oils such as olive or coconut oil for leather conditioners. Although they can soften leather in the short term, these oils tend to penetrate deeper into the leather. Over time, this can lead to permanent discoloration and even more serious problems such as cracking and deterioration.
Squeeze the leather conditioner onto a clean rag. Fold the rag and wrap it around your fingertips to reduce the contact area of the rag. Dip a small amount of curing agent into an exposed piece of rag. This way you can ensure you are using the right amount of conditioner.
- When caring for leather products, be sure to follow the “less is more” principle. You just want to maintain the surface of the leather, not clean it thoroughly.
- Do not squeeze the product directly onto the leather. Doing so will not only make the site messy but will also make it difficult to apply the curing agent evenly.
Apply conditioner to the leather surface. Make large fluid or circular motions to slowly expand the area you apply. Try to apply only a thin layer of curing agent. Once applied, the leather will have a slight sheen due to the conditioner, but it should not appear wet or overly saturated.
- Leather conditioner can be safely used on any part of the outer layer of leather, but you can also focus on areas that need the most care, like the elbows of a leather jacket, or the toes or ankles of boots.
- It is not necessary to apply multiple layers of curing agents. The excess paint will just accumulate on the surface.
Maintain leather goods regularly. Maintain your leather clothing and leather goods at least once every few months to keep them in top condition. Each care will make the hard leather softer.
- If you live in an area with a warm, dry climate and your leather is regularly exposed to the elements, you can do it more frequently, doing it every few weeks.
- Since leather furniture and upholstery will be placed in relatively less harsh indoor environments, maintenance only needs to be done every six months.
Use Water to Maintain Leather
Injecting moisture can effectively speed up the break-in of leather. You can directly turn on the faucet and get some cold water. It would be better if you could use purified drinking water. Be sure to tighten the bottle cap tightly to prevent accidentally spilling the water.
- It is best to use distilled water if possible. Distilled water is less likely to leave behind unsightly spots or minerals like hard water.
- If you can’t find a spray bottle, you can also wipe the leather with a damp cloth.
- This method is of no use on waterproof leather, as water will just run off it.
Spray the leather mist from top to bottom until water droplets begin to form on the surface. As it sits, moisture penetrates the leather, allowing it to slowly soften. During this period, if the leather goods being maintained are wearable items, you can also wear them on your body and move them around to make them fit your body better.
- You can also take your leather goods out to soak in the rain for a while when it rains lightly. However, don’t keep it in the shower for too long, lest your leather goods get soaked.
- Too much water is not good for leather, but a small amount of water can age the leather slightly without causing any serious damage.
Wipe off excess water. Take a clean microfiber towel and wipe the leather thoroughly. After wiping, place the leather goods in a cool, dry place and let it dry naturally. The remaining moisture will evaporate.
- Be sure not to allow any standing water to remain on the leather surface. Too much moisture will eventually cause the leather to crack and fade, and cause the surface to become dull and rough.
- Don’t forget to dry all metal parts to avoid rust.
Then use a good quality leather conditioner. Protective coatings add vital moisture to leather and prevent it from becoming dry, brittle, and hard. This step is especially important if the tanning material has been exposed to water or other substances that can age the material.
Using Heat to Soften Leather
Put leather goods in the dryer. If you’re in a hurry, baking the crust over medium heat will soften it. The ambient heat combined with the repeated rotation of the drum creates an effect similar to that of wearing it for an extended period. Be sure not to leave leather goods in the dryer for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time, otherwise, they may begin to shrink or burn.
- This method works best for new leather goods that won’t bend or are stiff, as the remaining moisture in the old leather is easily evaporated by the heat.
- The leather should be dry or slightly moist when placed in the dryer. It’s best not to wash and dry leather like normal laundry.
- To further enhance the effect, place a pair of thick sneakers or a few tennis balls in the dryer. Increased friction will cause leather goods to age more evenly.
Keep leather goods in a warm, moist place. Spread your leather item out and place it under your car windshield to soak up the midday sun, or hang it in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. The key is not to leave it on for too long. After being exposed to direct heat for a period of time, leather will begin to fade or dry out.
- The steam from the shower also exposes the leather to a large amount of moisture, which softens it even more.
Use a hair dryer to heat the leather. A hairdryer works similarly to a hot space or dryer, but it can also be used to target the toughest, most stubborn areas of your leather goods. Find pleats, creases, hems, and areas you want to be softer, and blow hot air on them. Once the leather is very soft, wear the leather goods and wait for it to cool.
- Be sure to set the hair dryer to low heat and keep it a safe distance from the leather surface to avoid burning the leather.
- After completing the aging treatment, be sure to apply a layer of moisturizing leather care agent.
Artificially Softened Leather
Take a rubber mallet, baseball bat, or similar tool and tap various parts of the leather item. Use appropriate pressure and distribute the blow points evenly over the entire surface. The process uses compression to soften the leather, much like slapping a steak tenderizes it.
- Any kind of leather can benefit from a little hand treatment using this method, regardless of age, type, texture, and style.
- Try not to use too much force when tapping to avoid damaging the leather.
- Avoid delicate areas such as seams, pockets, buttons, straps, and zippers.
Grab a piece of leather with your hands and pull, twist, and squeeze it like dough. Vary your movements so that the leather stretches in all directions. Over time, you will notice that the leather becomes less stiff.
- If you’re dealing with a belt or similar item, roll it into a ball, then unroll it and roll it up another way.
- Handle your leather goods while you watch TV, wait for an appointment, or go on a long car ride.
Let the leather soften on its own. If you feel bad about treating your precious leather goods violently, you’d better soften it with a tried-and-true, time-honored method—multiple uses. Use leather goods whenever possible. It may soften faster than you expect.
- Regular use can not only improve the texture of your leather goods but also allow you to make fuller use of your leather goods.
- Don’t always think about keeping your leather goods spotless. Even if your leather goods become stained, you can always repair them to restore them to their best condition.
Tips
- Try a few different methods to get the perfect aged look on your leather goods in less time.
- Soften the leather bit by bit until you feel it is just right.
- Be sure to test leather conditioners and other products on an inconspicuous area of your leather goods to see how they work.
- Refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations on the label for complete care instructions.
- Be sure not to use sandpaper, steel wool, or similar tools to distress leather. They only scratch the outer surface of the leather and do nothing to enhance its flexibility.
- Medical alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and Windex detergent will wash away the dye and damage the color of leather goods.
- These methods are suitable for real leather and may produce different results if used on artificial leather.
- Do not do anything that may cause permanent damage to the leather. This type of damage cannot be repaired.