A leather wallet, like any leather product, requires a special approach and adherence to certain subtleties in care. With frequent use, it loses its respectable appearance and may acquire an unpleasant odor.
- To prolong the attractiveness of the product, immediately after purchase it should be treated with a leather spray. After applying the product, the accessory will retain its color longer and will be less susceptible to scuffs and stains.
- Natural material requires special storage and care conditions: do not expose to high temperatures, do not overly moisturize, do not use bleaches and alkaline cleaners, and it is not recommended to clean with gasoline and acetone.
Preparation
To ensure maximum success when cleaning your leather wallet, it is important to prepare the product. To do this, lay out all the contents and do not forget to shake out any small debris. After this, inspect the surface of the item for stains and heavy dirt. If the product is relatively clean, then a simple treatment with a soap solution is sufficient. If there are stains on your wallet, then special products will help remove them.
In any case, before cleaning, keep the item for a day in a room with a temperature of +27 °C. Then the skin will not shrink or wrinkle after treatment. In addition, remember not to dry the product in direct sunlight or near heating devices.
General rules
Preparing the product for cleaning is a very important step that should not be avoided at all. The preservation of the shape of the thing and its appearance will depend on it.
First of all, the wallet must be emptied of all contents: business cards, money, notes, credit cards. Then you should get rid of the accumulated debris by simply shaking it out. After such actions, you can inspect the accessory for any dirt, especially stains.
It is recommended to leave an empty wallet in a room with an average room temperature of 27°C for approximately 24 hours. This will protect your favorite accessory from possible shrinkage and wrinkling of the skin.
Leather products are sensitive to temperature, humidity and aggressive solvents and are prone to damage from sudden changes. Such accessories should be cleaned at an air temperature of up to 30°C degrees, and dried at up to 50°C degrees.
How to clean a leather wallet from dirt
For the procedure you will need water, preferably distilled, liquid soap, ammonia and a piece of soft cloth. Clean the product as follows:
- Dissolve 2-3 grams of liquid soap in two glasses of distilled water. Add 1 tsp to the mixture. ammonia and beat the mixture until foamy.
- Dampen a soft cloth or sponge in the resulting solution and treat the surface of the product with it.
- After cleaning, remove any remaining liquid with a soft towel.
- Buff the surface until shiny with a fleece or wool cloth.
It is advisable to apply a special skin protectant after the procedure. Then the item will remain clean and attractive for a long time.
This method of cleaning a leather wallet is only suitable for minor stains. If there are stains or abrasions on the surface, use special products, which will be discussed below. But remember, before using this or that drug, try it on an inconspicuous area. Then you will not spoil the thing under any circumstances.
Update
Does your wallet look old? How to return it to its previous appearance? A leather wallet needs to be properly cared for. Such products are quite expensive, and not everyone has the opportunity to change it annually. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the skin with all available means.
For white items, it is recommended to use Vaseline. This product has a fatty base, it penetrates everywhere and fills microcracks.
Apply a thin layer of Vaseline and leave the wallet alone overnight. In the morning, you need to wash off the remaining ointment with soapy water and wipe your wallet dry.
Vaseline prevents cracks and other damage, protects the wallet from moisture penetration and removes stubborn dirt.
Castor oil prevents cracking. It is recommended to periodically treat leather wallets with this product.
Removing ink
Almost everyone encounters such pollution. And it is not possible to remove them with plain water. Special leather stain removers, for example, Saphir, are excellent in this case. But if you don’t have them at hand, then it’s worth finding out how to clean your wallet from ink and pen marks using home remedies:
- Soak a cotton swab or sponge in a few drops of alcohol and treat the stain. Dry the area with a hairdryer turned on to the minimum temperature.
- Apply hairspray to a cotton pad and wipe the surface with it.
- Treat the stain with a cloth soaked in nail polish remover. Please note that this method is not suitable for painted products.
After cleaning with any means, do not forget to polish the surface with a rag. And it is advisable to treat the wallet with a special leather product.
Coffee
How to clean a leather wallet from stains from this drink:
- Remove any remaining coffee from the surface and wipe the leather with a damp cloth. Apply 1-2 drops of vinegar to the stain and cover the liquid with a napkin. After half an hour, wipe the stain first with a damp and then with a dry cloth.
- Apply 2-3 drops of lemon juice to the coffee stain. Leave the product for 10 minutes, then wash off the liquid with a sponge and soapy water. Polish the wallet with a woolen cloth until it shines.
After any treatment, lubricate the surface with a special leather care product.
Removing heavy stains at home
Using some methods you can clean the item from the most severe stains. Before cleaning work, it is worth checking the reaction of the material to the cleaner. The test is carried out in a small area.
Ink stains
You will need alcohol to remove ink marks. Moisten a cotton swab or swab with it and carefully treat the stain. Wash off the product with a cloth soaked in water. You can prevent damage to the accessory by testing alcohol, vinegar or other active substance in a hidden area.
If nothing happens after 5 minutes, you can clean the product completely with the product.
Stains of grease and dirt
It is strictly not recommended to remove fat using sharp objects. Washing and ironing are also prohibited. There are several ways to remove fat deposits:
- Using an onion or lemon juice. Cut the citrus or onion in half and wipe the contaminated area. After 15 minutes, wipe the wallet with a dry cloth. Traces of onions are removed with soap foam.
- Apply 2-3 drops of turpentine to a piece of fabric and wipe the wallet.
- Fresh greasy stains are removed with chalk, talc, and starch. They are sprinkled on the skin, left for half an hour, and shaken off.
- Fatty stains are effectively removed with ammonia, water, and grated laundry soap. After spot application of the solution, it is washed off after 10 minutes.
- Coffee beans can also be used to remove fat. Ground coffee is mixed with warm water and the mixture is spread on the contaminated area. After drying, the item is shaken to remove any remaining product.
It is not recommended to remove greasy stains with solvent or alcohol - they contribute to the destruction of the structure of the material and spoil the appearance of the product.
Coffee residue or traces of blood
Traces of hot drinks and blood discharge are removed in the following ways:
- A fresh blood stain is washed off in cold water using a soft sponge.
- Salt corrodes the blood; to do this, sprinkle the dirt with the product, leave it for 1-1.5 hours, and then wash it off.
- Shaving foam is rubbed into the dirty area, after 10-15 minutes it is wiped with a damp cloth.
- Tea/coffee traces are removed with vinegar essence. Drop 2-3 drops of acetic acid onto the stain and wrap it with a wet cloth. After half an hour, wipe the wallet with a damp cloth, dry it, and polish it.
TOP 14 means to clean brass at home
If you don’t want to take risks and remove stains using traditional methods, you can use professional cleaning sprays, wipes, dry shampoos, and gels.
Fat
Such contamination occurs quite often, fortunately it is not difficult to remove them. In addition, there are many products that can cope with such stains. So, how to clean a leather wallet from grease:
- Onions will help remove dirt. Cut the vegetable in half and rub it over the problem area. Let the juice soak into the dirt, then treat the surface with a sponge and soapy water. At the end, don’t forget to rub your wallet until it shines with a towel.
- Apply 1-2 drops of purified turpentine to the stain. Leave the substance for 1-2 minutes and then remove it with soapy water.
- Starch, talc or chalk work well with fresh greasy stains. Sprinkle a pinch of any substance on the problem area and leave for 30 minutes. After the required time, shake off the powder.
Do not use substances such as benzine, thinner or alcohol to clean expensive products. These liquids are very aggressive and can damage the skin.
Storage conditions for leather items
Cleaning a leather wallet is a necessary procedure if you want to use it for a long time.
Leather products are always modern and to some extent characterize the owner as a respectable and thorough person.
A leather wallet is an expensive item, and care for it must be appropriate. We'll tell you how to clean a leather wallet and what simple remedies will help you at home.
Immediately forget about washing under running water. Moisture is contraindicated for leather products. Water can cause your favorite item to stretch or become deformed, and the wet insides will take a long time to dry, acquiring an unpleasant odor.
All that is required to clean the inside of the product is soap suds and a sponge. It doesn’t matter what you make the foam from, soap, shampoo, dish gel. The main thing is that it sticks well to the sponge and does not spread into the inner pockets of the product.
- Take everything that is there from your wallet. Often, the product’s compartments store not only money and credit cards, but also photographs, receipts, travel tickets and other necessary things.
- Apply foam to the sponge and quickly treat every single pocket and compartment, including under the zippers. If using a sponge is uncomfortable, think about an old toothbrush. With its help, you can clean hard-to-reach places in the corners, as well as seams on the product.
- Wipe the inside surface with a clean, well-wrung-out sponge to remove any traces of foam. Instead of a sponge, you can use a small piece of flannel or fleece.
- Start drying. To do this, leave your wallet open for a day. The room where a genuine leather product dries should not be hot and should not be exposed to bright sunlight. That is, if your balcony is not glazed, dry your wallet in the room.
Shiny areas
Such problem areas spoil the appearance of the wallet. The following homemade recipes will help you get rid of them:
- Mix equal parts of turpentine and ethyl alcohol. Gently treat problem areas with the resulting liquid. After 1-2 minutes, wipe the surface with a sponge and soapy water.
- Dilute 1 tsp in a liter of warm water. citric acid and the same amount of vinegar. Use this liquid to gently wipe the areas.
- If the dirt is deeply ingrained, use purified gasoline to remove it. To enhance the effect, add 1-2 drops of ammonia to the liquid.
Please note that all products against shiny areas are quite aggressive. Therefore, try not to get them on clean skin.
Cleaning the brown accessory
Ground natural coffee will help restore the beauty of such a product. To clean, dilute a little powder in water to form a paste. Apply it to stains and dirt and leave to sit until completely dry. Sweep away coffee residue with a soft brush and wipe the wallet with a cloth. Please note that this method should not be used for light brown products. Otherwise you risk staining them.
How to Clean a Red Leather Wallet
Conventional cleaning methods are not suitable for products of this color. After all, some products leave noticeable stains and streaks on the surface. How to clean a red leather wallet in this case? Use one of the following options:
- Apply a little Vaseline to the surface and leave for 5-10 minutes. Moisten a cotton swab with water and wipe the products, removing any loose dirt.
- Beat the egg white until foamy and mix it with 1-2 tablespoons of milk. Soak a paper towel in the mixture and wipe the surface with it. After this, dry the product.
- Cut the onion and wipe the surface with half. Vegetable juice will remove dirt, but will leave an unpleasant odor. To get rid of it, rub the bite on your skin.
Take special care of your red lacquered wallet. Such products cannot be wetted and cannot be washed. Therefore, avoid contamination and wipe the surface daily with a woolen or fleece cloth.
USEFUL TIPS
Coffee will return shine to the skin and add elasticity. Add a little water to the ground beans, dampen a rag with coffee grounds and wipe the product. After this, remove the coffee residue with a dry cloth and rub the surface of the skin with castor oil, glycerin or a special shine product.
An accessory made of nubuck should be cleaned with a soapy solution with the addition of ammonia. After cleaning, wipe the item with the following solution: 1 liter of water + 1 teaspoon of vinegar + 1 teaspoon of citric acid.
Patent leather should be wiped with a soft, dry cloth from time to time. Material imitating snake or crocodile skin should be cleaned with a woolen cloth. Wet cleaning of such a product should be done very rarely and carefully, and the skin should not be allowed to get wet through.
How to care for an item
In order not to think about how to clean a leather wallet, provide the product with proper care:
- Keep products away from direct sunlight.
- Try not to carry coins in your wallet. Their heaviness causes the skin to stretch.
- Periodically lubricate your wallet with castor oil. It will prevent cracks.
- Do not soak products in a basin, and certainly do not wash them in a machine. The skin absolutely does not tolerate moisture, so only dry and wet cleaning is suitable for it.
- Avoid contact with perfumes and cosmetics. These substances have a bad effect on the condition of the item.
Pay a little attention to your wallet, and it will serve you for a long time and at the same time retain its pristine beauty.
Additional recommendations
Finally, I want to share with you a few tips that will help preserve the original appearance of an expensive product for as long as possible:
Image | Recommendation |
Tip 1. Use a spray To protect the product from dirt, sweat and moisture, it must be treated with a special spray. Moreover, not only the price of the product is important, but also the type of skin for which it is intended. | |
Tip 2. Castor oil Periodically treat your wallet with castor oil. It will soften the skin and prevent the formation of cracks on it. | |
Tip 3. Do not dry the product on the radiator. And in general, keep it away from heating appliances. Due to extreme heat, the skin may become deformed. | |
Tip 4. Forget about strong substances Never use gasoline or similar substances to remove stains. They can irreversibly damage the material. |