RAM LEATHER CARE

Leather Facts
Helping you understand the unique characteristics of leather!

That’s why experience is so important in choosing your leather dry cleaning specialist. Since leather is our specialty, we have three unique leather dry cleaning systems specifically designed for processing leathers.  Skin type, color, soil level, and stains determine which of the systems will provide the best results.  Cleaning, however, is only the first step.  In order to achieve quality results, the garments must be properly finished.

Loss of finish or color is common through normal wear.  Oxidation caused by exposure to UV light and age can cause color variations, particularly in suede.  As part of our normal cleaning process, Ram Leather restores the finishes and oils that may have been lost through wear or cleaning.  In cases of extreme oxidation or stains that cannot be removed or masked, we also have an additional process available to immerse the garment in a dye bath.  This is also an option to change the color of garments.  See the “Color Changes” under DESIGN ISSUES below.

SKIN CONDITIONS

Defects:  Many skins contain defects caused by wounds, insects, and veins.  Manufacturers are able to mask these defects using fillers or “plugs” which can be lost in the standard leather cleaning process.  Think of it as make-up for the hide!  It will hide imperfections, but may be removed during the standard leather dry cleaning.

Hair Holes:  Hair holes are a distinguishing feature of pig suede and will be more prominent on thin, weak skins.  Manufacturers will often mask these using fillers which can be lost in the standard leather dry cleaning process.

Overstretched Hides:  Leathers have a natural tendency to draw up slightly and contract as the skins dry out and natural oils are lost.  After cleaning, the skins want to return to their normal dimensions.  Slight shrinkage is eased by body heat during wear or through our tensioning equipment.  However, in some cases, shrinkage is significant and can be attributed to excessive stretching of the skins during the tanning process. 

Weak Skins:  Animal skins have naturally occurring weak areas.  Additionally, the thickness of the skins is determined by the way the tanners “split” or “skive” the skins.  Skins that are split too thin will have the tendency to tear with use or in cleaning.  Age and exposure to sun or damp environments will eventually cause skins to deteriorate and dry rot. 

SOIL AND STAINS

Aged or ground-in soil:  Soil and grease which has been allowed to remain on the skins for an extended period of time becomes “oxidized” and may be permanent.  More aggressive cleaning methods are required and may pull color from the skins.  We recommend leather dry cleaning your leathers every year to avoid this problem.

Stains that damage:  Certain substances actually eat into the skins and cause permanent damage.  It is important for you to tell us of these types of stains before cleaning to properly address the stain and avoid further damage to the skins.  Damage caused by these substances appears as shriveled or hardened/crystallized areas or “burns”.  While this is permanent damage, we have a process which can sometimes smooth out shriveled areas and minimize the appearance of the damage.  Watch out for these substances:  BLOOD, URINE, SALT, ALCOHOL, MILK PRODUCTS, and MILDEW.

Stickers:  We often see damage caused by stickers or labels such as name tags.  While the sticker itself does not cause damage, when it is improperly removed, it pulls off the top layer of the skin causing permanent damage.  We attempt to mask this damage in finishing.  If you have a sticker on your leather, leave it on and send it to us immediately.  We are very successful in removing them without damage.

Ink:  Most ink can be effectively removed in cleaning.  Ink on nude finishes which cannot be refinished may be visible after cleaning.  We will contact you and let you know what options are available to address the ink.

DESIGN ISSUES

Appearance:  The hides from many different animals can be used in the construction of one garment.  Manufacturers attempt to match hide texture, weight and color, but there may be slight to obvious differences between panels.  Skins from the belly area are known for their more textured or bumpy appearance.  These skins are often used specifically for their design effect.

Dye transfer:  Most manufacturers use colorfast dyes.  However, when dark leather is used with light cloth or when highly contrasting colors of leather are adjacent to each other, there is always a chance of dye transfer.  Because of our experience and the volume of leathers we process, we are usually able to avoid dye transfer by the method of cleaning.  In cases where dye transfer is a high risk, we will contact you before processing.

Color changes:  The penetration of dye varies from skin to skin.  Some dyes penetrate the skins coloring them uniformly; others show resistance and only dye the surface of the skins.  In other cases, the dyes used in manufacturing are solvent soluble resulting in loss of color with the standard leather cleaning process.  As part of our cleaning process, painted finishes are restored matching the original color as close as possible; however, some color change is possible.  “Nude” or unfinished leather cannot be sprayed without causing the skins to become stiffer.  Garments with multiple colors that need refinishing must be hand-painted.  There is an additional charge for this service.  We will notify you before cleaning your garment to give you options for cleaning and refinishing if that is the case.

Buttons, Buckles and Ornaments:  It is the manufacturer's responsibility to make sure all components on a garment can withstand the recommended cleaning process.  There may be times when accessories are at risk of damage or may cause damage.  These items are identified in our pre-cleaning inspection and we will advise you of any potential problems before processing.

LEATHER DRY CLEANING GUIDELINES