[Mike Halliday]

OK, I've done the course and I'm all set to go out and clean leather suites

what actually do I need to take into the house?

rags, towels, scrubbing brushes etc...etc how many?

on a secondery note; I was talking to a carpet cleaner who use Microsplitters on all his leather suites, anyone tried this?

thanks Mike

[LTT Leathercare]

Basic equipment:

Cleaning product (in a foaming bottle for ease of use)
Leather Protector (in a finger tip spray for economy)
Sponges x 2
White cloth (a few small ones for applying protector)
Paper towel or terry towel whichever you prefer
Small bucket
Microscope (essential for identification)
Drop cloth
Ink stick (may be useful)
Can of black pigment (for re-antiquing if you run into such a problem)
Brush for getting product into the grain (kitchen brush or similar but not a brand new one as this is too harsh)

Set up cost is not very high as you can see.  We do a starter kit for cleaners for £90.00.

Were the basic requirements not covered on the course??

We have used microsplitters on leather with no particularly discernable results.  Foam cleaners are better as they encapsulate the dirt and hold it so that when you remove the foam the dirt goes with it.
Judy

[Geoff Jewkes]

As regards Terry towels, go to ASDA, their own brand Smart price white hand towels 74 pence each, good size for cleaning / spotting, always wash well and CHEAP AS CHIPS!!

[Geoff Jewkes]

http://www.orkin.co.uk/. Check this site out. Their leather food smells of new leather, my customers love it !!  Geoff.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Come on Judy there's enough politics on the boards as it is!

Like most that go on any courses you always have loads of questions after the event.

Shaun

[Geoff Jewkes]

Hi Judy, I may be interested in this leather course next year, what`s the cost / time scale and where are they held??? Many thanks, Geoff

[vangaurd]

i have just cleaned a leather,
and i know for a fact you need at least 5/6 hand towels on most jobs
bucket of warm clean water , to rinse your sponge out many times, so as not
to inhibit the, cleaning process
the more , protector , you administer the , better , the finished product
hope this helps.

[Geoff Jewkes]

Have you tried a tampico brush to get in the grain?? ( Gently ). Also shoe polishing brushes work well ( they're soft and obviously designed for leather ! )

[carpetguy]

Vanguard

Which protector are you using, that gives such a great finish. I'm fairly new to cleaning leather, having only been doing it for about 16 years, so I'm always keen to learn, new treatments.

robbie

[*paul_moss]

Robbie
There are a number of good protection creams out there from various suppliers.
Use one that gives the best wow factor.
I personally like to finish with a balsam that has a nice leather smell and stays gleeming for a couple of weeks.

[Geoff Jewkes]

I normally use craftex leather cleaner with hand hot water, soft brush and terry towels. Craftex cleaner also feeds but i finish off with the orkin as it leaves a nice soft finish and a great leather smell. I only do leather with a top coat ( which is most of them these days ) as I really don't know enough about nubuck and other stuff. Geoff

[carpetguy]

Think I'm missing the point here I thought what was being referred to, was PROTECTION. I think what you're referring to, is a finishing product, to enhance the appearance and give a nice smell.

robbie

[*paul_moss]

The Balsam also protects the finish.

[carpetguy]

OK, so who supplies balsam and out of curiosity, does it protect in the same way that promite protects?

robbie

[Chris R]

I use Chem spec leather cleaner and conditioner, terry towels and a tampico brush.

No problems in 5 years, exellent results.

Why make a simple job so complicated ?

MICROSCOPE ! ?

Test first.


chris

[*paul_moss]

Hi Rob
No Promite is different, if it is Alltecs Promite, as it is an active ingredient that helps stop soilage but also carries on killing dust mites.

With leather protectors all you are basically doing is protecting the top coat finish and stopping it from drying out as much as possible.There are litrally loads of different types from balsms,oils,creams etc that can be applied dependant on the type of finish the leather has over it and if used on a regular basis all work.
Some people dont like to leave the leather shinny but I do and my customers love the look and the smell when ive finished it.
The one 2 favour most at the minute is the protection cream from Furniture Clinic and the other is Super v11 Leather Balsam which is from a company in Germany called World Wide.

[*paul_moss]

Chris
The first test you should do on leather is with a Microscope.This will tell you the type of leather your dealing with and also the condition of the top coat,this cannot be seen with the naked eye.

[Kev Loomes]

Ive just ordered these - seem like a bargain and should be enough to last years. No more going round the shops looking for cheap towels

http://www.totalcleaningsupplies.co.uk/unitrader/shop/product/184

[LTT Leathercare]

Most 'conditioners' will not protect the finish in the way that leather protectors will and many, if not most do not work and are only something to give a good feel to the finish.  Leather does not need feeding what it needs is re-hydrating.

If a leather is matt to start with you should not be adding something that will make it shine!!!

Anything containing oils and waxes will clog the surface and attract more dirt and grease to the leather which will in the end break down the finish.

Leather cleaning is not complicated but leather identification is all important as you need to know what has been done to the surface of the leather before you start and what the results might be.

[*paul_moss]

If the finish has a matt finish why not make it shine! customers think it looks cleaner and new looking.

Re dont use oils & waxs as they clog up the leather.
That is true only of leather that has no finish on it such as aniline.
Judy you try to make too much of a science out of cleaning leather.
Basically in the every day world that the guys are out there cleaning 95% of all leather we come across( and all leather sold) is pigmented.
Pigmented finished leather is when a pigment ( colour) / paint is put over the leather then a finish is applied over that.
That means that the leather is totally coated.
We are cleaning and dealing with a finish only.
We are not cleaning the leather.
We are not rehydrating the leather.
WE are not going near the leather.
We are cleaning the top finish.
And what ever we put over the finish will only last a short time any way.
So back to my earlier point, the customer wants a clean suite and she wants it too look sparkling.Thats our job,thats what we get paid for, and if it smaells nice as well  .
If on the other hand you are dealing with the other 5% of the market then that is al totally different deal and most cleaners will walk from them anyway.