Faux leather is a great alternative to the animal-derived material that has for years been the epitome of class and elegance. Many big brands are making a conscious choice of using man-made leather over genuine leather for a variety of reasons. And while faux leather looks and feels like genuine leather with a less heavy price tag, it also needs proper care and maintenance like the real deal. Below are the best ways to clean your faux, man-made leather accessories to make them last longer and look beautiful.
Simple Mix of Soap and Water
You can clean faux leather shoes, bags, and other accessories with the good old soapy water method. Mix a few drops of gentle cleansing soap with warm water in a spray bottle to make the cleaning process easier. Spray the solution on the faux leather and wipe it with a microfiber cloth.
Use a damp microfiber cloth to rise the surface and then another clean cloth to wipe it dry. Air dry until it is completely dry before using it. Make sure you do not use hot water as this can damage your man-made leather accessories. Also, microfiber is your best cleaning tool as it is gentle and effective and will not scratch the surface of your accessories.
Give it a Spin in the Washer
It may be a risky move, but it is possible to wash your faux leather clothing in the washing machine. Before you begin, make sure that the clothing is not labelled dry-clean only.
Turn the garments inside out and place them in a garment bag for some extra protection. Set your washer to the gentle cycle, with water set to cold, and use a gentle, natural laundry detergent as per the package instruction. Once the washing is complete, air dry the garments by laying them flat or hanging them up.
Get Odors Out with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a must-have cleaning and deodorizing product to have in your cleaning kit. For items like faux leather shoes, furniture lining and other accessories that are prone to holding on to odors from everyday use, deodorizing is an important cleaning step.
For large items like furniture, you can sprinkle baking soda on it and let it sit for a few hours to one day. Smaller items can be placed in a bag sprinkled with baking soda and do the same. Next, gently brush away, wipe or for best results vacuum the baking soda. Rubbing the baking soda can scratch the surface of your faux-leather items, so make sure to be gentle when removing it.
Stain Removal the Easy Way
If you have some tough stains or grime on your faux leather items, you can use a bit of little rubbing alcohol on a lint-free, microfiber cloth to get rid of it. But if that does not work, try using pure white vinegar to get the job done.
Color transfer or change can occur with certain faux leather, so make sure to spot-check before you try any cleaning or conditioning products.
Urad: One-Application-Does-It-All Solution
If going through the different processes of cleaning and maintaining your faux leather accessories seems like a hassle, then Urad leather cream is your solution. This all-in-one product is non-toxic and biodegradable and does all the jobs from cleaning to polishing.
As referenced here, Urad mixed with Tenderly is the best way to condition man-made leather, especially your leather wearables like gloves and jackets. Just like genuine leather, man-made leather also needs to be conditioned to maintain it. But harsh chemicals do more harm than good. Urad products are designed to work effectively without damaging your faux leather like other harsh leather cleaners.
