Wieso wird Leder brüchig und was können wir dagegen tun?
Heat, cold, UV light and moisture - harmful environmental influences not only put a strain on our skin, but also affect our leather accessories. The result: the leather becomes dry and brittle, so that in the worst case it can no longer be repaired. To avoid this, leather needs regular care and attention. But don't worry! If you follow just a few simple rules, you can enjoy your leather products for a lifetime!
Leather is naturally a very durable material. But it is also a natural product and needs a certain amount of care. Without the appropriate care, the leather dries out over time, which can make it brittle and even crack.
Why does leather become brittle?
To understand this, it helps to take a closer look at leather as a material: genuine leather is an organic product made from animal skin. During tanning, this goes through different manufacturing processes that turn a perishable product into a durable, hard-wearing and at the same time supple leather. The type of leather and the tanning used influence the later properties of the material. For example, how sensitive the leather is to sun, dirt and moisture. However, the fact is: all leather needs care so that it does not become brittle and remains beautiful over time. This is because the skin and the tanning and dyes dissolved in it react with substances from the environment. This means that the material properties of the leather deteriorate over time.
Can brittle leather be repaired?
"If the leather is already brittle, it is already too late," explains Manfred Goll, master leather maker and production manager at BRAUN BÜFFEL, "you can try to treat the leather with a fatty leather balm to prevent further breakage, but you cannot get rid of the cracks."
Leather processing is only possible to a limited extent. Therefore, as is often the case, it is better to be safe than sorry and a new leather product should be well cared for from the start so that it does not need to be repaired in the first place. Older, surface-dyed smooth leather that is subjected to heavy wear can become brittle as the surface becomes scratched or the surface color rubs off. If the damage is not too great, it can be repaired or at least beautified and protected from wear using suitable leather care. Whether a product with already brittle leather can still be repaired naturally also depends on the type, processing, quality and color of the leather - and of course also on how badly the leather is already damaged.
If the leather is of high quality, only the color of the surface-dyed leather rubs off, the leather underneath remains undamaged. If the leather is unstable, the leather under the color layer can break open and the color layer cannot compensate for the lack of stability. In this case, it is almost impossible to repair the leather.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT LEATHER FROM BECOMING BRITTLE?
The good news is: unlike the plastic that is often used today, leather is a natural product that lasts practically forever if used and cared for properly.
Ideally, the leather should be properly cared for from the start so that brittle spots do not appear on the leather in the first place. How does proper leather care work?
CLEANING LEATHER
The regular care routine begins with thorough but gentle care. Pay attention to the type of leather and find out which care product is suitable for your leather product. Open-pored leather types, for example, are very sensitive to moisture and therefore need to be cleaned differently than leather types with a sealed surface. Leather should never be dried on a heater or in direct sunlight, as the heat dries out the leather even more and makes it brittle.
LEATHER CARE
After cleaning comes the care. Here, the leather is provided with sufficient moisture - again similar to our skin - so that the leather does not become brittle, but remains beautiful and elastic. Here, too, it is important that the leather receives the appropriate leather care according to its type. For example, there are special leather creams or lotions for smooth leather, nappa leather and different types of suede.
IMPREGNATING LEATHER
Last but not least, the leather must be impregnated regularly so that dirt, light and moisture have no chance of penetrating too deeply into the surface of the leather and causing it to become brittle.
If you carry out this care routine once or twice a year, you will protect your beloved leather accessories from drying out and, as a result, from brittle spots on the leather. This way, the leather will remain beautiful and supple for a long time and you will enjoy it forever. Promised!
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