Patent Leather Cleaning- A Myth?
Patent Leather Cleaning – A Myth or Reality?
Patent leather bags and shoes are always available, but are of course popular in some seasons than others! Even when the garish material isn’t particularly trendy, it nearly always turns everyone’s head.
Patent leather, for starters is genuine leather that is coated with a high gloss finish, which gives it an exceptional shine! There is also something called faux patent leather , which is of course not leather.
Since the appeal of patent products is their beautiful glossy finish, one always tries to keep them looking their best!
Below are some tricks and tips on how to clean and care for your cherished patent leather possessions-
For general patent leather cleaning (dry dust, fingerprints, etc.)
1.Wipe it with a damp cloth to quickly and easily clean off fingerprints and general dirt.
2.If there is heavy dirt accumulation, apply a small amount of Windex and wipe it away with a clean, soft cloth or paper towel.
3.Buff with a soft cloth when dry to restore the shine.
4.If a stain transfers to the surface of the bag, it can be removed with tape. Fresh stains work best with this removal method. Simply press the tape onto the surface and then remove. The stain will stick to the tape and come off of the purse. However if the stain is old, there is no way to get rid of it and that is the downside of patent leathers. The only solution in this case is to dye the patent into a darker colour to hide the stain.
5. Patent leather cleaners available on the market can also be used, but they only work on fresh stains, not on old nasty ones!
We strictly recommend not using use home remedies like hairspray, white vinegar, alcohol and so on! They almost always end up destroying the surface coating of patent leather! Mr Clean’s magic eraser should also not be used without exercising proper caution (a patch test is always recommended).
For deep patent leather cleaning (heavy stains that are old and tricky)
No matter what the internet or endless leather care manuals claim, it is guaranteed that a stubborn stain (like a month old ink stain, or even a week old dye-transfer from another product) cannot be removed from patent leather. Till now, no successful method of removing stains from the patent finish has been invented/discovered – it is also very difficult to replicate the patent finish if it is damaged. A wonderful solution here is to dye the patent leather into a darker colour, darker tones of black, green, blue and burgundy end up concealing the stains really well!
Care Tips-
1.Patent leather picks up dyes and colours from other fabrics (such as clothing, etc.) very easily. Avoid allowing your shoes or handbags to come in constant contact with other dark clothing (like denims etc.)
2. To remove scuff marks from patent leather, rub them with a soft cloth moistened with milk.
3. With any cleaning effort, watch the patent coating to ensure it is not being removed. If removed, it will result in a dull spot. A patch test is always the smart way to go about it!
Patent leather gear make for beautiful accessories that are versatile and fashionable- care for them intelligently! 🙂
