The Art of Care: How to properly treat your penumbra products
I must admit, I can be a bit lazy regarding my belongings. The first time I wore a collar for an extended period, I did absolutely EVERYTHING with it. Sports, showers, washing my hair… The whole shebang. Without bothering to consider whether it might need some tender loving care in the form of grooming products. It’s not a big deal, of course, if you can easily replace it at any time (which, surprisingly, I didn’t have to. Although the collar is no longer in use, it still looks beautiful). However, if you’re not blessed with a fully equipped workshop, you should handle your treasures more carefully, and that’s what this article is all about.
Why is care important?
Leather is a natural product and tends to dry out and become brittle over time. Regular care keeps the leather supple and protects it from dirt, moisture, and other external influences.
While our vegan leather alternatives are less sensitive, some degree of care is still advisable to keep them looking as good as new for as long as possible.
How often should your product be cared for?
The frequency of care depends on how often you use your product.
As a rough guideline: Leather shoes are recommended to be cared for every two weeks. However, they are generally subjected to much higher stresses than collars or restraints. If your products are in frequent use (such as a daily worn collar), we recommend taking the time to clean and care for them once a month to ensure long-lasting enjoyment. The less often you use your accessories, the less frequent care and cleaning are necessary, but don’t neglect them entirely.
Proper storage of your products
When your products are not in use, it’s best to store them in a cool, dry place, preferably in a fabric bag or box. Avoid exposing the leather or vegan alternative to direct sunlight for extended periods, as this can cause the material to fade and become brittle.
Also, ensure that your products do not come into contact with sharp or pointed objects, as damage to the surface is not easily reversible.
In conclusion: Overcaring can also damage the leather, so don’t overdo it in terms of frequency.
Regular care is also recommended for vegan products, although we need to focus less on replenishing the material here. Rely on your intuition, and focus primarily on regularly removing potential dirt from your products.
Step 1: Cleaning
Removing any dirt or dust is essential before you start caring for your product. Use a soft cloth, water, and, if necessary, a mild cleaning agent. Be careful not to make the material too wet, as excessive moisture can be harmful, especially to leather.
Invest in high-quality care products and make sure they are free from harmful chemicals or aggressive cleaning agents that could damage the leather or vegan alternative.
Dampen the cloth with a gentle cleaning solution and remove dirt and dust with light pressure. Avoid rubbing too hard on the material surface to prevent damage. Remember to also clean the soft inner side, which usually rests against the skin, to remove sweat residue.
Allow the material to dry after cleaning. Place it in a well-ventilated, warm place so that the water can evaporate slowly. However, avoid rapid or high heat to prevent overstraining the material.
Step 2: Proper care for your products
Regular care is essential to ensure the longevity of your leather products. This will protect them from drying out and becoming brittle.
For leather care, we recommend using a leather balm containing wax. In addition to caring for the leather, this creates a thin protective film that shields your products from environmental influences.
Leather in general
Application:
- Use a soft cloth or clean sponge to apply a thin layer of leather balm to the clean and dry outer and lining leather.
- Allow the balm to work for several hours to moisturize the leather and make it supple.
- Then, if necessary, wipe off any residues of the care product with a dry, soft cloth.
Special case: Antique leather
You don’t really need to do anything special with our antique leathers. However, they do come with a few peculiarities.
Unlike most of our other leathers, the surface here is not sealed, which has the following effects:
- The leather absorbs water more quickly. So, be particularly careful when cleaning; just slightly dampen your cloth and allow the leather to dry thoroughly after cleaning. You’ll notice that the leather darkens when it comes into contact with water. Still, after drying, it should return to its original color.
- The leather also absorbs leather care products more strongly and may darken as a result. Therefore, be sparing when applying your care product.
- Over time, the antiqued leathers develop a beautiful, unique patina. They are much livelier than our classic leathers and only reach their full potential through you using your products. However, this also means that scratches and the like are quickly visible at first. In most cases, however, you can easily rub them away with a little pressure.
Special case: Leather from the floris collection
Our floris leathers are made in a special way and already come with a protective wax layer, which also achieves a beautiful depth effect.
To avoid damaging this wax layer, please refrain from damp cleaning or care products and only gently wipe the leather with a dry cloth as needed.
Of course, you can clean and care for the inner lining as we recommend.
Vegan leather alternatives
Caring for vegan leather alternatives is often easier than genuine leather. Simply clean them with a mild cleaning agent and a damp cloth. You can also use special care products for vegan leather alternatives to extend their lifespan.
Conclusion
Proper care of your penumbra products, whether made of genuine leather or a vegan leather alternative, is the key to their long lifespan and maintaining their beauty. By regularly cleaning and using high-quality care products, you can ensure that your product stays in top shape and provides you with stylish companionship for a long time. Remember that each material has different needs, so it’s important to adjust the care accordingly. By following these tips, you can ensure that your accessory stays beautiful and provides you with stylish companionship for a long time.