How to Clean Patent Leather at Home

Patent leather is a leather which has a high gloss finish. This is achieved by applying a special coating on the surface or more commonly gluing a plastic film over the leather. It is mostly used for shoes and handbags, occasionally clothing and other accessories.

How to Clean Patent Leather at Home – Cleaning & Maintenance

We are often asked why patent leather is more sensitive than other leather types. One of the main reasons is that glossy leather has a surface that makes scratches and abrasions immediately visible. The human eye detects differences on glossy surfaces much faster than on matt surfaces.

Other types of leather are similarly sensitive, but their softness and the matte surface not only prevent damage, but damages are not so clearly visible.

Light colour patent leather has a special sensitivity to absorb dyes. It should therefore be stored away from other items that might cause colour contamination. Colour dyes penetrate into the leather and cannot be cleaned. Pen strokes and other similar discolourations will only have a chance to be cleaned away if treated immediately. Once the leather underneath the plastic coating absorbs colour, it becomes impossible to get rid of it!

Patent Leather Care

It often happens that old patent leather becomes sticky with time due to decay. Unfortunately there is no solution to this problem.The leather can be cleaned with a mild leather cleaner- this might reduce the stickiness temporarily as long as the condition is not too bad. White vinegar can also be used, and works well if the stickiness is mild, but ensure that you first do a patch test in an inconspicuous area.

Using a classic furniture polish to clean and maintain patent leather works well as these products are good for caring high gloss surfaces. Nevertheless, always test first on a hidden area to observe changes. This method should not be used if the leather is scratched. Deep scratches can not be removed from patent leather.

This material is particularly sensitive to solvents. Solvents in some cleaners, leather care products and aerosol products will destroy the top plastic/lacquer coating (gloss finish) and leave ugly spots. Such stains can rarely be removed.

In case of patent leathers, prevention is always better than cure! Read below some preservation tips:

Preservation Tips

Avoid scratching your patent leather goods. Always keep patent leathers stored in dust bags or pillow covers. Prevent contact of patent leather with dark coloured items.
A damp cloth is sufficient for regular cleaning
Traditional leather care products will harm the plastic/lacquer layer.
Do not apply oil or fat. The leather is behind the coat of paint/lacquer, so the products won’t soak in because a patent leather is not porous.

how to clean patent leather

Above is a classic case of dye transfer on a patent bag, we were able to remove the ghastly stains, because the matter was addressed immediately. In cases where stains are old and stubborn, we offer excellent re-dyeing solutions to our patrons – i.e., we dye the patent into darker colours to conceal the stains! Our leather repair specialists have been dabbling with patent leather for close to a decade now!

patent leather bag redye