It is unlikely that the manufacturer will have any information about
how to deal with this. In our experience they do not supply quality
information about leather care.
Lexol was made for saddles and should be avoided onthis type of leather.
As the leather is already discoloured it will need a good deep clean before then getting in to a routine of maintenance.
You may need to use specific products if the leather has problems like
dye transfer from clothing and jeans which often happens on White
leather.
Try a good foam cleaner like Ultra Leather Shampoo an a Jean & Dye
Transfer Remover Kit if required to give your leather a good clean.
Stronger products or household cleaners may damage the finish so should
be avoided.
Please do not use saddle soap as this is far too harsh a product on
modern leather finishes and should be used strictly for saddles and
saddle leather.
Once you have your leather clean it will be easiest to look after your
leather on a regular basis rather than waiting until it gets dirty.
This will also prolong the life of the leather.
Keep your leather clean by protecting it with a leather protector and then regular cleaning.
Adding 'conditioners' which generally contain oils and waxes will change the appearance of
your leather over time as dirt will build up on the surface and cause a sheen.
Using the correct care methods and products will not alter the factory finish.
The type of leather you have is 'coated' leather. This is essentially a 'painted' leather
with a clear coat finish over the top. The leather may or may not be dyed through with
aniline dyes prior to the finish coating.
Essentially it is this top coating that needs looking after.
Cleaning is vitally important as the top coat will wear away if allowed to become dirty.
Dirt on the surface will also become ground into the finish by constant abrassion.
'Conditioners', balms, feeds etc (traditionally oil and wax based) cannot penetrate this
finish so are not worth applying - they can also leave behind residues on the finish which
will only attract more dirt if allowed to remain. 'Conditioners' will not do any
protecting on leather even if they say they do as there will not be enough active
ingredient in them to do anything.
A protector will make the finish easier to clean and also inhibit dye transfer etc
on pale coloured leathers.
Leather however finished has to remain breathable and it will allow the movement of
moisture back and forth (transpiration) so the use of water based cleaners and
protectors will keep the leather correctly hydrated which is essentail to keeping it in
good condition.
The routine for correct care should be
Protect from new
Maintain with a regular clean or maintenance product
Deep clean with a foam cleaner once or twice a year
Simple steps of cleaning & protecting will prolong the life of the finish on the leather
Hope this helps
judyb
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