[daysdeepclean]

4 enquiries this week, 2 last week and 2 just before christmas, "Do you clean leather suites?" I think it's about time I added leather cleaning that to my list of services....

What's the best course I could do and how much money will I need to invest in doing the course, equipment etc?

[derek west]

i'm going to the ltt leather cleaning and restoration course next month, (if the wifes better)comes to about £400 for the 4 days (i think), its in leeds, sorry, harrogate. ive done the iicrc cleaning course but you come across alot of leather that can't be cleaned and needs restoration, i turn down 50% of my quotes due to this so thats why i'm doing the extra training, equipment is cheap so its all profit really, i charge £90 to clean a standard pigmented suite and get 7 out of 10 quotes, takes about 2 to 2 half hours to clean. and its very enjoyable work, totally different to cleaning fabric suites, its actually quite theraputic.
hope this helps
derek

[daysdeepclean]

Cheers Derek,

I think that might be the way ahead and if it's £400, bargain! I assume at that price you have to find your own digs!


Harrogate, Leeds, Wakefield..... It's all the same place isn't it... 

Colin.... (Day)

[LTT Leathercare]

Hi Colin
This will depend on how far you are going to take the leather 'cleaning'.  

A one day course will get you to grips with leather identification, products, cleaning processes, dye transfer and aniline restoration (which is the easiest and most lucrative, one that cleaners can easily add into their business).
We do a starter kit for cleaners from the 1 day course so the day and kit will set you back £110.00 + vat.  There are other things like a leather ID kit that you may find useful once you have done the Leather ID section.

We do find that cleaners often like to do Day 2 which centres on minor repairs, scuffs, scratches, ink removal, and colour mixing (an essential part of all leather work) as even if they are not going to do any repairs they find they can talk to their customers with more confidence about problems that they may have and what can and cannot be fixed.

Anyone wanting to take things further than these 2 days have the opportunity to study for 2 more days which cover cigarette burns, two tone colour mixing and repairs (crucial these days as single colour pigments are rare) and then full pigment restoration (believe me there is more to recolouring than simply spraying on some colour) which uses the BRIT restoration system which does not involve a great deal of spraying.

As with any training course practice beyond the course is crucial and it is a good idea to get hold of some furniture or get some car seats from a breakers yard for this purpose.
Leather is a continually changing market and finishes change on a regular basis so keeping up to date is crucial and the learning process will never stop.

If you decided to do the full 4 days and get fully kitted out with everything you need the cost would be under £1000.00 + vat.  We also offer work referrals through LTT once you have trained.

Courses are available every month.

Hope this helps

[John Kelly]

I would recommend anyone wanting to get into leather restoration to contact Ben at furniture clinic. I was over there the other week and I was absolutely gobsmacked at what these guys are now doing.

[derek west]

john
thought they were just a franchise, checked out there web site and no sign of training!
derek

[robert meldrum]

Ben offers franchises

[JandS]

Derek

Your dead right, I love cleaning leather 3 pieces, it's like you say, therapeutic.
Could clean them all day and hardly any kit to hump about.
I keep mine in a sports bag.
What stuff you use?
I use the Prochem stuff but have bought some from LTT to compare with, just need a leather job now.
When people ring I emphasise straight away that it's a clean and condition and that won't take out all the creases.
Fortunately every one I've done has been fairly new and come up lovely.
Done 14 to date since last April and all but one have been cream.

John

[pete sween]

Guys, you should get in touch with Paul Moss. He does leather cleaning training and its very cheap compared to the big firms. Spent a couple of days up with him recently and he has a method that gets slammed by the firms (wonder why) but it works brilliantly.

As for cleaning analines etc, I would'nt bother, they hardly ever come well and customer is often dissapointed and more to the point, they only account for about 5% of the leather furniture in this country.

[LTT Leathercare]

Aniline leather does not clean very well but it is very simple to restore with the correct methods and products (aniline dyes not balms) and the customer is always highly pleased with the results.  The correct method cannot fail and as the customer has always paid good money for this type of leather you can charge appropriately.  There is far more on the market now than ever before but most cleaners walk away from it when they are missing a potentially lucrative area of business.

he has a method that gets slammed by the firms (wonder why) but it works brilliantly.

The reason that his method gets slammed is because it actually damages the finish on the leather (tested and proved) which is why it is definitely not recommended particularly for newcomers who know no better.  The fact that it damages the finish is why the results look so brilliant. : similar to the use of baby wipes.

If anyone is interested we are now holding Product Days on every first Tuesday in the month.  These are free and newbies can come along to get a feel of what it is all about.  Anyone else is welcome to come along (whatever level you are at) and can bring problems with them if you want to help get them resolved.  This way we can keep everyone updated with the latest techniques and products that are on the market as this is ever changing.
Anyone interested please simply let us know that you are coming (so that we can cater for you) by ringing us on 01423 881027.  The first date will be Tuesday 3rd February and every first Tuesday from then on.

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

The reason that his method gets slammed is because it actually damages the finish on the leather (tested and proved) which is why it is definitely not recommended particularly for newcomers who know no better.  The fact that it damages the finish is why the results look so brilliant. : similar to the use of baby wipes.

I sincerely hope we are not going to go through all this nonsense on here again  :

[Mike Osbourne]

Agree with Steve, we really don't want this again.

[robert meldrum]

I've been to LTT, same time as Steve and FC a year earlier, used the abrasive sponges, with caution and although they rip through dirt, they could easily damage the finish of many suites.

Both of the " big " companies, are actually small family businesses. Neither are charging outrageously, there are others who charge more.

If someone started training days and showed the unwary how to rip through heavily soiled carpets with amazing results, but using a potentially damaging product, how do you think they'd be received ? Especially if there was an inference that the established training organisations were wrong and they the maverick was right.

[JandS]

Oh go on    what was the method?
Or how far back was the thread?

John

[derek west]

robert
as someone who has done both courses, which would you recommend if you had to choose one, i'm assuming you did both restorations and not just cleaning process.
derek

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I buy Lux it works fine with my wire brush a bit like the spomges it does depend on what you are using them on and what with and the technique itself, how many people on here have used a high ph cleaner on wool because it was a minger of a job?

I use these sponges on certain jobs because I believe they are needed, let's not forget that we see the bad side of cleaning.

LTT and Furniture clininc HAVE TO show the users the politically correct procedures of cleaning as they are teachers to the trade they can't use corner cutting or 'enhanced' methods EVERYTHING has to be done to the book just like training by NCCA or IICRC.

I'm not going to get into the arguement of damage with these sponges because I haven't done any damage with them but they are not for every job but that's the same said for Craftex Champion isn't it?

Shaun

[Mike Halliday]

Paul moss advocated using the micro-sponges to clean leather, this is what the' big' companies didn't agree with.

I use them with excellent results, but I would recommend caution with there use because used incorectly you can cause damage

if i was just starting out and was not experienced in leather cleaning I would'nt risk using them.

[derek west]

surely if they damage the finish then a new finish can be applied.
derek

[Mike Halliday]

but then it goes into a whole different area of leather care, and the price doubles

[Ricky M]

I went with pete and co to that same day and videoed the whole day with Paul moss . I understand why the a few groups appose his method , but to listen to his words and understand what he is saying then he tells you exactly how not to and how to from his own tried and tested methods ,  he took an 8 year old cream pigmented leather suite with Holes , scratches dog and cat , Grease , biro ink , felt tip pen , etc and made it look shop floor new in around 3 hours ish .
He reco ed groups to buy from that slag him off . SAD REALLY but he wont lose sleep over it !
SO yes I know why ppl dont like his teachings

A real asset to our industry , I recon if you C the web then C a Day Out .

Ricky