What is leather protection
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Leather itself has to withstand a lot of abuse over the years. Jeans rubbing over it, dirty clothes, UV, high temperatures, low temperatures, dry air, humid air, liquids, chemicals etc. To keep the leather looking fresh and prevent it from drying out, a leather protection can be used.
Why protection
If leather is not properly protected, it will fade, crack, tear or degrade in another form or way. Since leather already has to put up with a lot of abuse, you want it to be well protected against use and simple age.
Leather, just like your own skin, needs maintenance to keep it flexible and looking fresh. To protect the leather in between regular maintenance, a protection can be applied to help it fight daily use and abuse.
Can I just use anything
There are certain products on the market to protect leather, all have their own properties. The opinion on what product should be used differs greatly from person to person. Some are convinced that synthetic polymer technology is the only way, others believe that simple old leather-wax is the only way to go. For a professional detailer, cost also comes into play. Can this form of protection be applied without having to charge the customer ridiculous amounts of money?
To determine what product is best, you really should evaluate many different variables.
- What price are you looking for?
- How much protection is needed (just a top up, or a restoration?)
- What are the properties you need from the protection?
- Do you have any tools you might need to apply the product?
- How will the leather be maintained?
- Is it real leather? or PU leather?
- Do you prefer old style products?
- Do you prefer new technology?
These variables might help you to guide you in the right direction.
Different types
There are several different types of protective products for leather. The properties can not only differ per type of product, but even between brands. Therefore it is very difficult to predict what properties a certain product will have.
- Natural spray-on (liquid)
- Synthetic spray-on (liquid or spray-can)
- Leather oil (thick liquid)
- Leather wax (paste form)
- Leather coating (potentially based on SiO2 technology)
- Leather cream ((thick) liquid)
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