Leather gloves are an elegant wardrobe item. As with any clothing, gloves tend to get dirty; to maintain their proper appearance, they must be carefully taken care of. The easiest way is to wash them. But numerous sources claim that this is absolutely impossible. How to be Read on in the article.
Can I wash them at home?
Pay attention to the following nuance. Leather is a flexible and elastic material . Under the influence of moisture, it stretches even more and is more prone to deformation, so the gloves will have to be washed and dried carefully. Washing should be done quickly, you do not need to soak the gloves in hot water for several hours, otherwise after such manipulations they will definitely have to say goodbye.
Important! Before washing, take a look at the label on the product: it usually indicates how to wash or clean gloves. If the label is missing, do a small test: moisten the least visible area on the glove: if the skin behaves normally, that is, it does not stretch excessively or sag, you can wash the whole pair.
Washing process
Before washing, inspect the gloves externally: if they are not completely contaminated, separate areas can be washed . If you can not do without a full wash, then follow all safety precautions.
For the procedure you will need:
- detergent (it is better to use a mild baby or glycerin soap);
- terry towel or microfiber.
First you need to bring a soapy solution . Dissolve a little solid or liquid soap in warm water. Pay attention to the water temperature - 35 ° C is enough, otherwise the skin will twist or sag several times . Next, put gloves on your hands and start washing. Do not ignore this step: if you wash the gloves as an ordinary thing, they will definitely deform. On their hands they provide a good frame.
The movements during washing should be as if you are just soaping your hands. Make smooth and light movements, do not press too hard and do not twist your fingers. The force should be applied only at the locations of rough seams.
Do not wash gloves for too long . The guideline will be the color of the water: as soon as it stops getting dark, you will understand that all the dirt is gone. Please note that some skin may be colored, so shedding for a long time. Distinguish paint from dirt in water.
After the procedures, you will have to thoroughly rinse the pair without removing it from your hands. A long “gurgle” is not worth it - just a couple of minutes. You can use both running tap water and prepare a basin with clean room temperature water in advance.
Important! Never wring gloves! Shake off excess water without removing them from your hands. Lay the towel on a flat horizontal surface: gently put wet gloves on one edge, cover them with the other end on top. Press lightly, but do not put anything on top. Leave in this position until excess moisture is absorbed.
Features of washing light and dark skin
The method of washing depends largely on the color of the leather product. Light and white skin is much more delicate than dark skin, therefore it should be handled more carefully and cleaned in a gentle way. Light gloves should not be completely wetted, since it is likely that yellow stains will appear on them . You can clean them with a solution of milk and soda:
- gently rub the skin.
Light, tender skin can be cleaned with ammonia. For this, 2 tbsp. l ammonia must be diluted in 8 tbsp. l ordinary water. It is good to wipe the sunken spots with the resulting solution. To enhance the effect, add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice to the solution . With their help, long-standing or persistent stains are well removed.
If your pair of gloves is made of dark brown or black leather, then there should not be any problems with cleaning it. Try to prepare a solution of:
- 5 tsp hydrogen peroxide;
- 5 tsp washing powder or gel for washing;
- 1 tsp ammonia;
- half a glass of ordinary water.
Mix all the ingredients, using a cotton wool or a small sponge, apply a soap solution to the surface. Pay special attention to greasy spots. After that, rinse the steam with cool water or wipe with a sponge dampened with water. This method is also quite gentle, because it eliminates complete soaking in water.
What to do with the lining? How to process from the inside?
Gloves eventually become contaminated not only from the outside, but also from the inside. You can wash the fabric lining in the same way. To do this, turn the gloves inside out and wipe with a soap solution or a mixture of water with peroxide and ammonia.
Important! If the gloves are very worn, then you can wash them whole. To do this, turn the pair inside out and put it in a basin with water. Do not soak for a long time: just a few minutes .
Soapy water must be washed off with clean, cool water. You can use vinegar solution, which will further clean the lining.
How to dry leather gloves?
Never wring leather products . It is better to leave them in a horizontal position so that excess moisture expires naturally. You can briefly leave them wrapped in a terry towel so that the water is absorbed.
Further drying should not occur in the normal lying position . Ideally, use a special hand-shaped frame on which gloves are pulled. It can be made independently using thick wire. After this, it remains only to wait for complete drying.
Important! Never dry leather goods on a battery or near other heat sources! This also applies to direct sunlight. From hot, dry air, the skin will rough and crack.
What to process after drying?
After drying the gloves naturally, do not rush to put them on immediately . Dry and dehydrated skin needs to be nourished. Castor oil or glycerin will help with this (you can use a regular hand cream). Apply a little grease to the cotton pad and quickly wipe the surface. Do not use too much oil, otherwise it will not be able to absorb, and greasy stains will remain on the gloves. Leave the gloves on the form for another half hour until the product is completely absorbed.
Advice! The shoe department sells leather shoe care creams. They are equally suitable for the care of leather gloves.
How to refresh and give shine to the skin?
