PROPER CARE

No fabric has the appeal of a top quality fine leather or suede garment. Whether the style is sporty, casual or formal, Natural Cleaners can professionally clean your leather or suede, THE SAFE AND NATURAL WAY. A leather or suede garment is a major investment, so it is important to choose it carefully and care for it wisely.

Proper care begins at home. To get the maximum life from your garment, wear a scarf to protect the collar area from perspiration and body oils. If the garment gets wet, let it air-dry away from heat. Store in a cool ventilated area. Leather can dry out if exposed to dry heat, or mildew if stored in a hot humid environment. Do not store leather in a plastic bag. If soil or staining occurs, take the garment to Natural Cleaners, your professional leather cleaner, as soon as possible. Stains that are old and set cannot always be removed safely. Do not try to remove spots at home because damage can easily occur.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER CLEANING

Although cleaning technologies for leather and suede are constantly improving, some changes will almost always result from the cleaning process. The following gives you an idea of what to expect.

Variations among the garment's sections.

Leather garments are made from skins taken from various portions of the animal and usually from several different animals. The manufacturer tries to match the skins as uniformly as possible, but even the best matching may still show some variance in texture, weight, and color uniformity. These may be accentuated after cleaning.

Loss of color and oils. Be prepared for a slight variance in the depth of color after cleaning. Skins from various parts of the animal may have different colorfastness. During dry cleaning some of the oils used in the tanning process to keep leather supple may be lost.

Scar tissue and vein marks. Tanners often use fillers before dyeing to mask any scar tissue or imperfections on the leather. Cleaning may remove some of the fillers and cause the defects

Wrinkles. Skins taken from certain parts of an animal are naturally wrinkled and have been stretched during manufacturing to achieve a smooth appearance. The agitation of cleaning can relax the leather, accentuating the wrinkles.

Texture and Shading Changes. Manufacturers sometimes combine a smoother skin with a coarser-textured skin. Cleaning may make this more apparent. Different textures also may vary in how they absorb the fat liquors and additives in the cleaning process, resulting in some areas being darker than others. It is a natural phenomenon beyond the control of the cleaner.

Shrinkage. Although some shrinkage is likely to occur over time as the skins relax, this may be accentuated in cleaning. As you wear your garment this snugness should dissipate. If the skins have been over stretched during manufacture, they may relax.