Imitation leather care
Faux leather care is very important, even though the material is a very durable fabric. The imitation leather will accompany you for many years and therefore you will have to care for the imitation leather sooner or later, so that it does not lose its shine. To do this, you first have to get to grips with the material, because not all imitation leather is the same. The different leather imitations require specific treatment. Some imitation leather types have pores into which water can penetrate and some have no such pores. So some imitation leather goods are much more sensitive to water than others. So before you care for or even clean your leatherette, you need to be sure of how your fabric has been processed. During the production of products made of imitation leather, softeners are used so that the material feels pleasantly soft. Over time, the faux leather loses its softeners and consequently the material can become brittle.
So, faux leather care is very important so that the faux leather does not become brittle and remains comfortable. Another important aspect of why faux leather care is so important would be to slow down the aging process. With the aging process comes wear and tear, for these reasons you need to clean and maintain your faux leather regularly. Care includes regular cleaning and avoiding kinks and direct sunlight. Stains and dirt should be treated as soon as possible, so that the material is not unnecessarily stressed. In addition, just like any other leather, the artificial leather should not be exposed to direct sunlight. This is because UV rays fade the material and make the imitation leather brittle and fragile. Kinks should also be avoided. Many people like to store their faux leather jackets in the basement during the summer. This is also basically no problem, but you should not bend the jackets, because the kicks can no longer be removed.
Proper care for imitation leather
Faux leather care is very important, but before caring for it, you should first learn about the material so that you can perform the best faux leather care. Faux leather, as the name suggests, is an imitation leather that looks just like real leather. However, it is a synthetic imitation, which is why many people consider it more environmentally friendly than the real leather made from animal skin. In the production of imitation leather, textile carrier fabrics are coated with elastic synthetic materials. Usually, the fabric is made of polyurethane (PUR) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Polyurethane is a waterproof material, but this material has pores into which water could penetrate. Polyvinyl chloride, on the contrary, has no pores and is completely water resistant. Imitation leather is available in matte and glossy finishes. Then the two finishes are still embossed in different structures, so that a natural leather look is created. A crocodile skin, for example, can be artificially created.
When caring for artificial leather, you should therefore be sure whether you have bought an artificial leather made of polyurethane (PUR) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Then you can better assess your leatherette care and cleaning with regard to the use of water. If you use too much water in the care of polyurethane leatherette, then it can happen that the water runs through the cover material. Consequently, it can severely damage the underlying layer and even lead to mold over time. This is the reason why you should deal with the question of what imitation leather actually is.
How often should you care for imitation leather?
The leatherette care should be carried out regularly in any case. It doesn't matter if you want to care for imitation leather shoes or a leatherette couch. The most important thing is to remove the dirt as soon as possible. A damp cloth or a soft sponge is usually sufficient for this. When cleaning, make sure that you make circular movements over the leatherette with the cloth or sponge. If you always remove your smaller stains immediately, they will not be able to settle and deep cleaning will not be necessary. For more stubborn stains, you can also use a little dishwashing liquid or detergent, but you should not use strong detergents. These can cause damage or discoloration. Another aspect of leatherette care is regular wiping with a damp cloth. This removes light dirt and dust. Alternatively, a special brush can be used for this purpose, which is especially suitable for artificial leather care.
Indirect leatherette care is also very important. This includes not exposing the material to avoidable stress. Sun rays are usually very harmful to leather goods, and imitation leather is no exception. The artificial leather can quickly fade due to the UV rays. In addition, the softeners contained in the material can break down more quickly, making the imitation leather brittle and fragile. Another aspect of indirect leatherette care is the prevention of creases. Wrinkles caused by a crease can no longer be ironed out or otherwise removed. For example, if you have a faux leather jacket that you want to store during the summer, it's best to roll it up instead of folding it over.
These care products for imitation leather are very effective
The question of how to care for imitation leather can be answered with two different approaches. On the one hand, the artificial leather care works great with home remedies, but you can also on the other hand simply reach for special cleaning agents that are specifically suitable for artificial leather care. The leatherette care also includes a deep cleaning, which should be done two to three times a year. For this deep cleaning you can use a special leatherette foam. This cleaning foam is simply applied to the imitation leather and then wiped off again. After this process, wipe again with a dry cloth. Stubborn stains can also be treated with a stain remover.
Care products or cleaning agents should be especially suitable for the care of imitation leather. This is because, for example, care products for genuine leather are suitable for material with different needs. For this reason, you should only use care products for artificial leather care when freshening up artificial leather. These care products are simply applied thinly to the imitation leather and then they still have to soak in. After the care product is absorbed, you can simply go over the leatherette with a dry cloth. Especially leatherette shoes need regular leatherette care and deep cleaning.
Cleaning faux leather: Home remedies you can use
You can also easily care for and clean imitation leather with simple home remedies. For regular leatherette care, a damp cloth or baby wipes is enough. Baby wipes do not contain alcohol, which could damage the material, so they are ideal for regular leatherette care. Both variants also provide the imitation leather with some moisture. You can counteract slight discolorations with the help of mild detergent. All you have to do is mix the mild detergent with lukewarm water. Then carefully go over the imitation leather with a cloth that you have dipped in the dissolved mild detergent. In the next step, wipe the leatherette with a clean cloth and dry it afterwards. When caring for imitation leather, you must be careful not to use too much water.
Another home remedy that you can use for leatherette care is adhesive tape. It helps with very stubborn stains. You just need to press the adhesive side on the stains and then carefully peel off the tape. You can repeat this process until the stains are completely removed. Gall soap is also a home remedy that can be used in faux leather care. Simply mix the soap with some water and run a rag over the faux leather in circular motions. With a clean damp cloth you can then wipe away the remains of the bile soap. In the end, you only have to dry the imitation leather.