Spark Knowledge

  The discolored results of numerous machine washings and the Early fading of manufacturing textiles are indications of a lack of quality. This is why color fastness tests are gaining international meaning. There are a quantity of test methods systematically used for colour fastness and for dyes. The more significant are: - Grey Scale for Assessing Change in Colour: This Grey Scale is for assessing changes in colour of leather in colour fastness tests, for example, wash fastness, perspiration fastness, etc. The scale consists of nine pairs of grey colour chips all representing a visual difference and contrast. - Grey Scale for Assessing Staining: This Grey Scale is for assessing the degree of staining caused by a dyed leather in colour fastness tests. For example, the staining of wool and cotton fabrics in the wash fastness, perspiration fastness, etc. The scale consists of nine pairs of grey colour chips each representing a visual difference and contrast. - Colour Fastness of Leat...

  As a leather repair and restoration expert, I receive e-mails with photos from people all over the country and beyond. Sometimes they are seeking solutions for pretty dumb actions that have caused serious damage to their leather furniture. With 30 years experience inspecting leather furniture either on-site or in my leather restoration studio, I have also witnessed first-hand abuses and hear comments proving that idiocy is an occasional human phenomenon. Here is a list of my top ten dumbest in no specific order as any one can grab the top spot. Names are removed to protect their reputation. 1. I used my leather ottoman as an ironing board. The leather is totally shrunken and distorted. Can you help me? 2. I saw an article on the internet that said to use bleach to clean leather. It didn't work so great. The leather is clean I guess, but it's disintegrating on me. What can I do? 3. I steam cleaned my leather sofa with the upholstery attachment to my steam cleaner. The leather ...

Leather is a natural product created through the drying and tanning of animal hides. Leather and leather products are preferred not only due to the durability but also their versatility. There are different types of leather with each type often depending on the nature of animal skin that was used and the methods employed during the drying and tanning as well as any additional treatment applied. Each type of leather has its most appropriate uses. Leather products come in many shapes and form. It is a popular material for clothing, handbags, briefcases, furniture, car upholstery, book covers, bindings and drums. Leather products have managed to hold the consumer market captive for years thanks to a healthy balance of two attributes: low long term cost and durability. Is buying leather products really cheap? In the short term, no - but in the medium and long term (which is often what matters), yes. The shelf price of these products is considerably higher than products made from other mate...

  There are so many different types of automotive leather seat repair, all with different situations and applications. There are holes, scratches, gouges, cuts, scrapes, worn or cracked, and just down right grungy looking leather seats. I think I got them all covered, well in this article we're going to talk about how to repair a small hole in a leather seat lean back, for those of you who don't know what a lean back is well it's the upper part of the seat. Now when I say small this can apply for a tear up to 1 1/2" to 2", probably might go a little bigger, but lets not push it, if it needs to go to the upholstery shop for an insert then that would be better then a crappy looking leather repair on something that probably wouldn't hold anyways. When in doubt, insert it. Prepping a seat is the key to success in any leather repair, and a lasting leather dye job. So, prep the whole lean back, and while your at it just clean the whole seat, why not, but you don...

  Leather Stain Removal * For leather that has been treated with aniline, as well as for pigmented leather, a colorfastness test should be done. To do this, you must apply some leather cleaner to the leather and then hold a clean, lint-free cloth against it. The cloth should be white in color so that it is easy to see if the color runs from the leather and soils the cloth. If the color does not run, take a sponge, and apply leather cleaner to the leather. Make the stained region foam by making gentle circular motions for all applications and apply leather cleaner in light coats. Do not rub! Let the foam remain on the leather for 3 to 5 minutes, and then blot with clean, lint-free cloth and reapply if area is heavily soiled. * Fresh stains from things such as blood and food can be cleaned up quickly with a damp cloth. While fresh stains can be treated and cleaned at home, ground-in stains should be attended to by a professional cleaner who deals in leather. * Grease stains can be re...

  The leather odors may be relatively easy to deal with on a small scale, but on a large scale they can seem altogether impossible. Good quality leather will smell quite strong for several years, really. So the real question that should be asked is: Are you sure you want to remove the leather smell from your leather products? Some people actually find the smell of leather rather sexy, and it's a good indicator that your leather is of high caliber. Who doesn't want to have that leathery smell on their leather items? But to each his/her own, and if you'd rather that your leather product (whether it's a jacket, car upholstery, the sofa or even your handbag) smells something else entirely, then follow the tips and advice below. For what it's worth, you have something made of animal hide. You should probably expect it to smell like animal hide. Leather Smell Removal * The only true cure (sorry for that pun) for leather musk is age; wait for the smell to go away as the le...

  There seems to be a certain appeal to products that are made of leather. Whether you are purchasing a leather jacket, leather jeans to take you back to the eighties, a wallet, or in this case a leather office chair; people seem to love leather. It could be the status symbol already embedded in the mind, the comfort of sitting in a soft leather chair, or the fact that leather is what you are used to that keeps people coming back for more. People seem to be most confused by what options are available as an alternative to leather and how do these alternatives compare to the real deal? The fact is there are many alternatives to leather, and each has its own separate aspects to be had. It is important to realize the differences and benefits of leather and alternatives, especially when contemplating purchasing a new chair. It is safe to say you want to know what options are available and what is going to be best to suit your wants and needs. When shopping for a new or used leather offi...

  Leather has to be cared for to prolong their use. They must be cleaned regularly to free them of substances that can slow down their performance when used for the production of articles. Every type of leather has a special way of caring for it. For instance, Deerhide, Buckskin, and Elk leathers can be cleaned by washing them with mild soap and water. However, do not squeeze or wring it dry because it brings wrinkles in the leather. Suedes are cleaned using a stiff bristle brush or fine sandpaper can be used to clean away dirt and most spotting on them. The suede is brushed vigorously until the dirt disappears. It is then wiped with a damp sponge. An art gum eraser can equally be used to remove dirt on suede. A commercial suede cleaner can be purchased and used to clean suede. Smooth leather is cleaned with several commercial leather cleaners such as Saddle soaps, Omega Carnauba cream as well as leather conditioners can be used to clean smooth leather. Saddle soaps are applied wit...

  Proper cleaning and care of leather goods with suitable leather cleaners may give supreme beauty and stylishness to your leather collections. Leather cleaners are used for cleaning leather furniture, leather saddles, leather car seats, leather jackets, motorcycle saddle bags and all leather goods. Leather cleaners help to remove human oils from leather goods. They also soften, moisturize and protect the stitching on the leather products. Professional leather cleaning is recommended for all leathers, and fabric garments coated with leather. A Ph balanced leather cleanser is perfect for cleaning the leather product. This will help to keep the original softness of the leather and prevent the drying out of the leather. The important thing to know about when choosing a leather care product is to identify whether it is a cleaner or a conditioner. Leather cleaners are available in the model of sprays and are simple to use. Dry cleaning does not give a proper neatness for the leather pro...

  * For leather that has been treated with aniline, as well as for pigmented leather, a colorfastness test should be done. To do this, you must apply some leather cleaner to the leather and then hold a clean, lint-free cloth against it. The cloth should be white in color so that it is easy to see if the color runs from the leather and soils the cloth. If the color does not run, take a sponge, and apply leather cleaner to the leather. Make the stained region foam by making gentle circular motions for all applications and apply leather cleaner in light coats. Do not rub! Let the foam remain on the leather for 3 to 5 minutes, and then blot with clean, lint-free cloth and reapply if area is heavily soiled. * Fresh stains from things such as blood and food can be cleaned up quickly with a damp cloth. While fresh stains can be treated and cleaned at home, ground-in stains should be attended to by a professional cleaner who deals in leather. * Grease stains can be removed to some extent b...

  I love wearing leather! When I put on a piece of leather, I feel special and rather important. Leather adds a toughness and natural ruggedness to the look of any regular individual. Leather, however, is much more than a fashion statement! It has extremely practical uses! Leather keeps out wind and cold better than just about any other material. That is one reason that leather has proven itself as an invaluable resource. It has not been used just for decades or for centuries, but it has been utilized and celebrated for millenniums! People, for thousands of years, have killed and skinned large animals for food and then used their hides to make durable coats, warm shirts, and hardy pants. On cold winter nights, ancient peoples slept under animal hide blankets to keep themselves warm. We also know that several tribes of Native Americans used leather when building their shelters. They treasured the durability and portability of their leather coverings. Today, leather has many practica...

  Leather can be thought of as a non-woven mass of fibrous collagen protein that is derived from the skin of animals and that has been rendered biorefractive. An animal skin is made biorefractive and thereby converted into leather by the tanning process. The tanning process permanently incorporates what amounts to biocide into the collagen protein. Other desirable characteristics are imparted to the leather through fatliquoring, coloring, dressing, waterproofing, shaping, and working. Fatliquoring is the process of incorporating fats, greases, and oils into the body of the leather. The presence of fats, greases, and oils in leather lubricates the fibers and tends to waterproof the leather. Without enough internal lubrication, the fibers will abrade and break due to friction, and the leather may crack. Leather is given a color by means of dying or pigmenting. Depending upon the means employed, the coloration can be incorporated through the entire thickness of the leather, or it can ...

Leather Myths: "I can't buy leather, we have small children" "I have leather because of our kids, now nothing bad can happen to the furniture". Both myths! I certainly agree that leather can be a great choice for active families with children of any age. In fact, my wife and I have 3 active kids ages 5, 8 and 11 and we own leather. BUT I think you need to keep a few things in mind to enjoy leather furniture with an active family: 1. Buy the right leather- We've been over this already in other articles, but it is very important that you buy the right leather for your family. You want a quality,mid-grade finished leather. It will handle the stresses and spills of normal family life very well. Most stains should sit right on the surface of the leather and give you ample time to wipe them away without staining your leather. 2. Know what to expect- Yes leather can be great for families. At the same time, truth be told, too many of my service customers call me bec...