Types of leather damage, their repair and prevention
Leather is a tough and durable material that can easily withstand abrasion and last for decades. However, just like all other tough materials, it is prone to damage if not properly taken care of. Natural materials like leather can deteriorate with heavy usage and exposure to various elements.
In this article, we will go through various types of leather damage and their causes. Additionally, we will discuss their repair and prevention. After going through the article, you will gain a good insight into how to take care of your beloved leather goods to ensure they last a long time.
Table of Contents
1.| Water damage
Water damage is indeed the most common type of damage that leather is prone to. While some types of leather can resist water to some extent, no leather is fully resistant to water. Leather is a porous material and can absorb water easily and quickly. However, after it dries, it can become stiff and hard, which can cause cracking and dryness if left untreated.
Prevention: Avoid allowing your leather goods to come in contact with water if possible. If they do get wet, apply leather conditioner after they have fully dried. You can also apply a waterproofing coating to the leather, which will protect it from water and moisture.
2.| Heat damage
Heat is indeed the second most common culprit after water damage, as people often try to dry their leather items with heat once they have gotten wet. However, this is a mistake that should be avoided at all costs, as heat can cause serious damage to the leather material. There can be various other reasons for leather getting damaged by heat as well.
Prevention: Avoid exposing your leather goods to high heat. Never put them in the dryer, avoid using an iron if possible, and don’t leave leather items in a hot car during summer. Store them in a cool and shaded place.
3.| Scratches and scuffs
Scratches are visible marks on the outer surface of leather, and they can often be removed by minor buffing and polishing with leather conditioner. However, scuffs are quite similar to scratches but can cause more serious damage as they may remove some of the finish of the leather. Scuffs can usually only be repaired by sanding and filling the surface with professional help. We prefer professional assistance, by the way.
Prevention: You should avoid allowing sharp objects like tools and accessories to come in contact with leather. Ensure proper storage and also avoid using abrasive leather care products.
4.| Cracks
Cracks are splits or breaks on the outer surface of leather caused by dryness due to excessive heat and water. You can prevent further cracking by applying leather conditioner.
Prevention: To prevent your leather items from developing cracks, keep them away from moisture and high heat. Avoid using alcohol or other harsh chemicals on leather, if possible.
5.| Fading
Fading occurs when the outer finish of leather becomes dull or light patches occur due to exposure to various elements like sunlight. Faded leather can be repaired by redyeing or polishing the leather.
Prevention: Avoid exposure to sunlight and high heat.
6.| Stains
Stains can occur due to spills, ink, oil, etc., and can cause serious damage to leather if left untreated for a prolonged time. For instance, oil stains can weaken leather if the oil penetrates deeper into the leather.
Prevention: Try to treat stains on leather as soon as possible. If there are tough stains, then you should contact a professional leather cleaner.
7.| Mold and insect infestation
Leather is a natural material, and like all organic materials, it is susceptible to mold infestation and rotting due to humidity and moisture, as it provides a suitable environment for microorganisms. Molds can not only cause damage to leather but also pose serious health issues to users, so they should be prevented at any cost. Due to humidity, insects can also find their way into the leather and may lay their eggs there. If you notice this, you should remove them immediately with a scraper or a damp cloth.
Prevention: Store your leather goods in a dry and cool environment. Never use plastic bags to store your leather items; instead, put them in a breathable fabric bag.
8.| Tears and rips
Tears and rips commonly occur with weak kinds of leather like bonded or faux leather. It seldom happens with real animal leather, as leather is a quite strong material. But if it does happen, even in real leather, it is the most serious damage that can occur. It can be repaired by sewing or patching the torn area and then polishing it to match the color with the surrounding leather.
Prevention: Avoid using low-quality leather, and even if it’s real leather, always purchase the right size when it comes to leather clothing and accessories. Periodic conditioning can keep leather strong and also prevent tears and rips.
9.| Wrinkles
Creases and wrinkles occur naturally with usage, and they don’t look that bad, for instance, wrinkles above the forearms of a leather jacket. However, they can also be caused by improper storage, like folding the leather, which will leave permanent creases and ugly wrinkles. By gently stretching them or applying conditioner regularly, you can hide them significantly.
Prevention: You can prevent ugly creases and wrinkles by properly storing your leather goods. You should never fold leather, or you can also stuff non-acidic paper in leather shoes to maintain their original shape when storing them.
10.| UV damage
One of the common types of damage that leather can suffer is UV damage caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight. Leather tends to absorb UV rays, which is not significant in newer leather goods but becomes apparent with age and usage. UV ray absorption can make leather dry and stiff, which can eventually cause cracking and tearing.
Prevention: UV damage can be prevented by storing leather goods in a dark, shaded place and avoiding direct sunlight exposure whenever possible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope our article has been helpful to you in understanding the types of leather damage and their prevention. However, you should always prefer buying high-quality real leather goods to prevent unwanted damage.
For more information on leather products, you can check our other articles or you can contact us. LeatherBlues is known as one of the best stores for real leather products. Explore our amazing collection of leather garments and services.
Related topics: How to clean a moldy leather jacket?