I
•
Taking Care
Of Leather
& Suede
rr reat leather and suede
1 clothing like fur, to keep it
clean and long lasting. Leather
and suede garments should be
allowed to "breathe," which
means not jamming them into
a crowded closet and not stor-
ing in plastic for a long period
of time.
Leather and suede garments
should be kept in a roomy
closet. Cover only the
shoulders of a coat or jacket,
to keep the dust off, with either
an old sheet or a paper bag.
Never pin jewelry on leather
or suede, because it will leave
holes. Do not spray perfume
on leather or suede, either,
because it will stain. To prevent
soiling along the neckline,
wear a scarf.
If a leather garment gets wet
in the rain, wipe it immediately
with a damp cloth and let it
dry at room temperature. Do
not put it near a radiator or
stove.
After suede is dry, the nap
should be raised again by
gently rubbing with an old,
lintless terrycloth towel or a dry
kitchen sponge.
Spills on smooth leather
usually can be blotted up with
paper towels. However, remov-
ing spots or stains is tricky.
Spray-dyed or pigmented
leathers may sometimes be
cleaned with just the suds of a
mild detergent. But drum-dyed
leathers are likely to stain if an
amateur tries spot cleaning.
Since most people do not
know which dyeing process
was used on the leather, it is
best not to attempt removing
stains at home.
Professional leather cleaners
can usually cover up stubborn
stains on leather. Suede,
however, is another story.
Dress Shop
See our fall collection of
knits from Italy
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25603 Coolidge
Oak Park, Mich.
398-4240
29839 Northwestern Hwy.
Applegate Square
Southfield, Mich.
352-7202
August 1986
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