Valuable recommendations on how and with what to smooth leather products
Clothing made from genuine leather is always in trend. Styles and models change, but this material does not lose its position.
If leather items are not stored properly between seasons, they may become wrinkled. Wrinkled skin looks untidy and requires smoothing.
You can do it at home using available means. Read the article about how and what to use to smooth leather items.
Content
Choosing a method for natural material
The elasticity and softness of natural leather help preserve the appearance of the item. But if folded or compressed for a long time, leather clothing can easily become wrinkled.
There are several ways to restore the shape and beautiful appearance of such things:
- Using household appliances.
- Using traditional methods.
- Using purchased household chemicals.
- By letting things sag under their own weight for several days. But this option may not help with severe wrinkles in rough skin.
When starting ironing, it is important to make sure that the item is clean.. Pockets are first checked and all foreign objects are removed from them.
The choice of smoothing method depends on personal preference, the quality of the leather and the condition of the item.
Smoothing using household appliances
If a genuine leather item is not wrinkled, then you should not expose it to heat unnecessarily.
Is it possible to iron wrinkled leather items with an iron?
You can iron wrinkled leather clothes using a regular iron. But it is necessary to take into account all the features of natural leather.
Rules for using the iron:
- It is recommended to iron products from the inside out.
- Smoothing is done through additional fabric with an unexpressed texture. Because otherwise, the pattern from this fabric may be imprinted on the skin when using an iron.
- The steam function on the iron must be turned off.
- Set the temperature on the iron to minimum, “silk” position.
- The area you just ironed must cool down before moving on to the next one.
- The ironed item should be hung loose for 30-60 minutes so that the shape is fixed and the item cools down.
- When ironing, the presence of overhead and decorative elements must be taken into account. It is necessary to ensure that, for example, the fringe of a leather jacket is not exposed to the iron, etc.
The video will show you how to iron natural and artificial leather:
Steaming at home
In order to steam a leather product, it must be positioned vertically. This requirement applies not only to raincoats and jackets, but also to dresses, trousers, and skirts.
Blazers, raincoats, dresses, vests and jackets are worn on hangers. Pants, shorts and skirts are secured to special trempels so that the item hangs freely.
Devices that can be used for steaming:
- steam generator;
- steamer;
- iron with vertical steam function.
Features of steaming leather clothing:
- Steam can be used to treat only jammed areas or the entire item.
- Begin processing with small parts, gradually moving to large ones.
- The stream of steam cannot be held in one place for a long time - no more than a couple of seconds.
- The distance from which steaming is carried out should not be less than 15-20 cm.
- The intensity of exposure should take into account the density of natural leather. Excessive exposure may damage delicate material.
- Steaming is best done from the inside out.
How to steam natural leather, video tips:
Traditional methods
An alternative option for smoothing out crumpled items is folk methods. They are based on the properties of the skin - its pliability and plasticity. But the use of brute force is unacceptable, as it can lead to damage to the item.
Steam bath
One of the simple but effective ways to smooth natural leather is steam exposure.
How to steam:
- Pour hot water, or even boiling water, into a bathtub or large basin.
- A leather item is hung loosely on a trempel above this container.
- They close the door to the bathroom.
- They keep the jacket for an hour and a half. Exposure to steam for a longer period of time can lead to significant wetting of the item, which can lead to damage to leather clothing.
- Excess moisture from the item of clothing is wiped off with a soft towel.
- Leave the treated product hanging in a dry place until completely dry.
Steam bath is the most gentle method of exposure, also suitable for suede, eco-leather and many other materials.
Press
Leather that is soft in structure can be straightened with a press. The role of a weighting agent can be played by objects with a flat surface, smooth, which will not damage the material and will not leave unnecessary impressions. This could be, for example, an encyclopedia volume.
Work order:
- The leather item is laid out on a flat surface. This could be a table, ironing board or floor.
- A fabric without a pronounced texture is placed on top.
- They apply a load.
- The item will have to be kept in this position for at least a day.
Purchased funds
It is easy to smooth natural leather using store-bought products. This could be cheap Vaseline or an expensive imported product in the form of a spray. This treatment makes the skin more flexible and softer.
If there is any doubt about the possibility of using a particular product, it is better to conduct preliminary testing by applying it to an inconspicuous area from the inside out.
Vaseline, vegetable oil, glycerin
Using walnut oil, glycerin or petroleum jelly you can get very good results. These products help soften the surface of leather items, due to which straightening occurs.
Recommendations for smoothing:
- It is convenient to process a leather item when it is in a straightened state on a horizontal surface.
- To treat areas such as sleeves or trouser legs, it is advisable to use thick rollers that are placed inside.
- Do not use excessive force when applying the product, much less pull the item with your hands.
- The prepared product is distributed over the skin area using a clean napkin or sponge (if the area is very small).
- The drug selected for treatment is applied with rubbing movements. There should not be a lot of product, as this will cause stains and streaks.
- After treating one area, you need to wait a quarter of an hour, and only after that move to a new place.
- After finishing the work, the leather item is hung with a trempel and given enough time to absorb and air.
The process of processing an item is very painstaking and takes a lot of time.
Household chemicals
Purchased household chemicals contain a completely ready-to-use composition. Many of them are designed in the form of spray bottles, which makes application easier.
The main purpose of such products is to soften the skin, give it shine, and straighten wrinkled areas.
Application procedure:
- A leather item is hung on a trempel.
- The selected product is evenly distributed over the skin.
- Distribute and rub in the preparation with a dry, clean cloth.
- For better absorption, the item is left to ventilate while on the trempel.
Popular means include the following:
Name | Manufacturer country | Bottle volume, ml | Action provided | price, rub. |
Unicum | Russia | 500 | Cleaning, softening, improving appearance, adding shine | 200 |
Poliboy | Germany | 200 | 400 | |
Balm "Renapur" | Germany | 250 | Softening, adding shine, adding shine, refreshing color | 900 |
HG 4 in 1 skin product | Netherlands | 250 | Nourishes natural leather, softens the surface, protects against sun and other external influences | 800 |
Collonil Carbon Leather Care | Germany | 150 | Delicate care, softening and protection | 1 000 |
Leatherette
Faux leather is very often chosen as a material for sewing clothes.
How to smooth it depends on the characteristics of the material and the method of its manufacture. Many methods suitable for natural leather are also suitable for artificial leather.
Processing should begin by studying the information on the label, including composition and care rules. Artificial material can be ironed from the inside out, at a minimum temperature, by steaming.
At the same time, the requirements for storage conditions for these clothes are the same as for genuine leather.
Useful tips
To achieve better results in smoothing leather items, it is recommended to use the following tips:
- If the smoothing agent used does not help, you can repeat the smoothing again or use another method over time.
- For genuine leather items that last for years, periodic treatment with nut oil will increase the elasticity of the material and reduce the likelihood of wrinkles and creases.
- During the ironing process, you should not allow exposure to excessively high temperatures or increase the duration of the procedure.
- None of the smoothing methods guarantees straightening of the skin.
Conclusion
A thing made of genuine leather, which is properly cared for, can serve for many years without losing its appearance.
Smoothing wrinkled leather clothing must be done carefullywithout attempting to use more treatment agent or higher temperatures.