How to Clean Patent Leather? Care & Preservation Tips

It’s very easy to clean patent leather. You can have clean, shiny, and well-protected patent leather if you follow a few simple instructions.

With a high gloss finish, patent leather is a type of leather. This is accomplished by coating the leather with a special material or, more frequently, by gluing a plastic film to the surface. Although occasionally used for clothing and other accessories, it is primarily used for shoes and handbags.

To keep it in pristine condition for as long as possible, this version of leather requires the same level of maintenance as other leathers do.

Luckily, keeping your patent leather clean is simple with a few tried-and-true techniques. Continue reading to discover the quick and simple steps for cleaning patent leather.

How to Clean Patent Leather?

Patent leather can be cleaned using a variety of techniques. It’s crucial to avoid soaking the leather in water in any scenario.

Soap and Water Method

1. With a soft bristle brush, remove any loose dirt or debris from the patent leather as the first step in cleaning it.
2. To get rid of dirt in any tiny crevices, use a gentle toothbrush.
3. A soft cotton washcloth should be dampened with a tiny bit of mild soap and very little water.
4. Use the wet, soapy cloth to clean the patent leather’s exterior.
5. With a soft polishing cloth, dry the patent leather.
6. Approximately 24 hours should pass while the item dries at room temperature.
7. Apply leather conditioner after polishing the patent leather with saddle soap.

Baby Wipe Method

Patent leather can be cleaned with regular baby wipes or wet wipes that have already been moistened. As you would a wet washcloth, apply the wet wipe to the patent leather. Buff the patent leather with a clean, soft cloth after using the wet wipe to clean it. A leather condition should be done as a result.

How to Clean Patent Leather With Homemade Cleaners?

When using homemade cleaning solutions on a cheap patent leather item, be sure to test them first in a discreet area.

• Mineral Oil is the main ingredient in many commercial patent-leather cleaners. Any scratches should first be treated with mineral oil, which should then be removed with a chamois cloth. Once you’ve polished the shoe to a shine, rub it all over.
• Petroleum Jelly. Patent leather gets a gleaming shine and resists cracking in the winter by being rubbed with a small amount of petroleum jelly.
• Vinegar. White vinegar should be applied to a soft cloth and then used to clean all patent leather items to bring out their sheen. The leather’s color might be slightly altered.
• Baby Oil. Use baby oil or furniture polish to give patent leather shoes a mirror finish. Use a soft cloth or paper towel to buff.
• Ordinary Eraser. An ordinary eraser can be used to remove the majority of scuffs from patent leather.
• Gentle Dishwashing Detergent. Use a mild dishwashing detergent or a vinyl and plastic cleaner for car interiors, like Meguiar’s, which is available at auto supply shops, if the material is imitation patent leather.
• Glass Cleaner. You can spray glass cleaner on patent leather shoes and buff them after applying a dab of petroleum jelly, castor oil, or both to them.
• Wonder Bread. My experience has shown that a slice of Wonder Bread works best for cleaning patent leather. Simply rub the slice over the object.
• Furniture Polish. With furniture spray-on polish, patent leather shoes are made to shine.
• Rubbing Alcohol. Apply a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to more stubborn marks before wiping with a soft cloth.

When to Clean Patent Leather?

Fortunately, cleaning patent leather is simple. Thanks to its robust, smooth finish, this material is one of the easiest types of leather to clean. Regular cleaning will keep patent leather in good condition, keep it looking shiny, and prevent scratches.

While you shouldn’t include patent leather furniture in your weekly cleaning schedule, you should consider each use before keeping it. This calls for wiping off your patent leather shoes to get rid of any dirt or debris after wearing them outside. When cleaning the other living room furniture, start with the patent leather couch if you have one.

Patent Leather Care

In many cases, deterioration causes old patent leather to become sticky over time. There isn’t a fix for this issue, unfortunately. If the condition of the leather is not too bad, cleaning it with a gentle leather cleaner might momentarily lessen the stickiness.

If the stickiness is mild, white vinegar can also be used and works well, but first perform a patch test in a discreet area.

As these products are effective for caring for high gloss surfaces, using a traditional furniture polish to clean and maintain patent leather works well. To see if there have been any changes, test first on a hidden area. If the leather is scratched, this technique should not be used. On patent leather, deep scratches cannot be removed.

Particularly vulnerable to solvents is this material. The top plastic/lacquer coating (gloss finish) will be destroyed and ugly stains left behind by solvents found in some cleaners, leather care products, and aerosol products. Rarely is it possible to remove these stains.

For Scuff Marks

Scuff marks on patent leather are one of its most frequent problems, especially when it comes to footwear. Fortunately, this is also among the simpler problems to solve.

Simply dip one of the microfiber cloths into a bit of olive oil, and then gently massage the surface of the leather, paying special attention to scuffed areas. Leave the oil on for about 20 minutes, and then wipe it off completely using a clean, dry cloth.

For Stains

While stains vary widely in impact and ease of removal, there are two fairly reliable methods for cleaning patent leather:

For fresh stains, apply a bit of Scotch tape directly to the stain. Peeling the tape off will frequently fully erase the mark because patent leather is resilient to many common substances.

In addition to the standard cleaning method, you might want to give using a magic eraser sponge a try. If you choose to go this route, make sure to test a small, less noticeable patch of patent leather first, as some varieties can lose their finish with anything more aggressive than a soft cloth.

How to Keep Patent Leather Items in Good Condition?

Patent leather is particularly prone to cracking, so it’s important to keep an eye on wear and tear even though its glossy, smooth finish makes it easy to clean.

Recall that patent leather is water resistant rather than waterproof. Do your best to stay away from spills and puddles. If a liquid or product is spilled on patent leather, it will fare better than most leathers, including calf and lamb skin.

Even though patent leather is naturally more durable than you might imagine, it is still not advisable to wear patent leather shoes outside in the rain. If your patent leather shoes do get dirty, it is best to have them cleaned as soon as possible.

Patent Leather Preservation Tips

1. Do not scratch your patent leather accessories. Patent leather should always be kept in pillowcases or dust bags when not in use. Keep patent leather away from objects that are dark in color.
2. A damp cloth is sufficient for regular cleaning.
3. The plastic or lacquer layer will suffer damage from conventional leather care products.
4. Apply no fat or oil. Since patent leather is not porous, the products won’t soak in because the leather is positioned behind the coat of paint or lacquer.

Conclusion: Clean Patent Leather

Before using any cleaners, you must clean your patent leather item because dust and dirt particles can cause minor scratches.

The best way to clean patent leather is with a damp microfiber cloth. But with lightly colored patent leather, caution must be exercised because the leather slightly absorbs color pigments and cannot then be cleaned.

FAQs