Remember to Condition Your Leather – Leather conditioners can greatly protect leather materials from future water damage. Not only do they act as a barrier to water molecules, minimizing water penetration, but they can replenish your leather piece with the natural oils it had lost.
If you care for your leather shoes and boots properly, they can become wet (even extremely wet in some conditions) without causing permanent damage. If your leather shoes are being soaked on a frequent basis, consider investing in a pair of waterproof shoes to avoid having to treat them as often.
Blot the water with a clean, dry cloth, and then let the leather air dry. Once it's dry, you can condition it with a leather conditioner to help restore its natural oils.
Once the leather is damp, apply a good quality leather conditioner, which should help restore some of the lost oils. Massage into the surface of the leather and leave it to dry overnight.
The main problem when leather gets wet actually arises as the leather dries. When leather gets wet, the oils in the leather bind to the water molecules. As the water dries and evaporates, it draws out the oils with it. The leather's loss of natural oils causes it to lose its supple quality and turn brittle.
It is possible to soften and restore the leather by using Leather Revive. Leather Revive is a water-based oil emulsified conditioner that works to soften leather by replenishing the fatliquors.
Wearing a leather jacket in wet weather is possible, but it can lead to damage to the jacket if not done properly. Leather is a porous material that can be affected by water, leading to discoloration, stiffening, or cracking. Natural leather, in particular, is not naturally waterproof and can be easily damaged by rain.
The Cobbler's Choice Waterproofing Spray is an easy-to-use spray formula that is effective at creating a long lasting protective shield over your leather. The all natural formula is was designed to create a safe alternative to protecting you and your leather!
Condition it.
As the water dries and evaporates, it draws out the oils with it. The leather's loss of natural oils causes it to lose its supple quality and turn brittle. So, while the leather is still damp, but clean, apply a reasonably thick coat of leather conditioner to repair the damage done by lost oils.
It also moves the dyes around, destroying a smooth, even color and creating spots and streaks. The result can be a spotty, stained appearance and a loss of the suppleness of the leather, leaving it brittle… even cracked. If the water takes a long time to evaporate, the leather can even begin to rot.
An alternative DIY leather conditioner to use is natural baby soap. It might sound ridiculous but baby soap makes your leather soft. You don't have to risk staining your leather doing this. To make, just mix a spoonful of natural baby soap with water and add a few drops of vinegar to the mixture.
Place the shoes in a dry, well-ventilated area and allow them 24 to 48 hours to dry (depending on how wet the shoes got and how thick the leather is). To avoid cracking or otherwise damaging the leather, do not put the shoes in direct sunlight or near a heat source, such as a radiator.
The good news is – a little bit of water, if cleaned up quickly, isn't likely to hurt your leather. In fact, most car leather has a protective layer that will help prevent immediate damage. This coating is designed to give you enough time to clean up a small drink spill or rain before it soaks into your leather.
Real leather is porous and because of that, it cannot be 100% waterproof. Instead, think of leather as water-resistant. While your shoes or handbag will fare well while quickly stepping into the rain to get to your car, this isn't the same as submerging leather.
Raw leather doesn't actually mix well with water. The material possesses a certain level of natural water resistance, but when it gets soaked, the impact is quite destructive. Raw leather is permeable, so it absorbs moisture. As the material dries, it will stiffen and its luscious soft surface can be utterly ruined.
WD40 is a popular multi-purpose product that can be used for a variety of tasks, including waterproofing leather shoes and boots. The product works by creating a barrier on the surface of the shoe or boot that repels water. Though this is not the ideal waterproofing product, it can be used in a pinch.
Vaseline will temporarily waterproof your leather superficially but it is a petroleum based product that your leather will definitely not like! Petroleum products will dry out and cause your leather to crack.
A lot of hair spray contains alcohol, and alcohol damages the surface of all types of leather upholstery. While you may not see the damage right after you spray it on, you will notice that it breaks down the leather's ability to protect itself from damage down the road.
Water strips leather of its natural oils and when wet leather dries, you'll often find that it has become dry and brittle. While rain can ruin leather, the following steps can help you treat and fix water-damaged leatherto help preserve your valuable leather apparel.
Fatty spue - Bloom. Fatty spue, also called bloom, is a type of stain caused when residual fat from the leather reacts to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. It appears as a whitish patina or coating, which at first glance looks like white mould.
Yes, you can use waterproof spray on leather, but it's important to choose a spray that is specifically designed for leather material.
WD-40 not only adds moisture to your leather furniture but also softens them and leaves a protective layer on top. That way, your armchair or couch is less likely to absorb oils and dirt as you use it, and it won't stain as easily.
For leather work boots use WD-40® Multi-Use Product to restore your boots to good condition. Spray the formula directly onto areas with stains, grease, or other grime and let the product sit for several minutes.
Using household oils — like olive oil or mink oil — on your leather will damage it. Instead, use a leather cleaning and conditioner product, like Leather Honey Leather Cleaner and Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.
Before you begin to panic, though, take a towel and soak up as much water as you can. Then, replace it with a dry towel and rub the seats vigorously. After that, roll all of the windows down and place multiple fans in and around the car. Run the fans on a high setting for half an hour or so.