Leather, Suede and Furs

The cleaning of leathers, suede's and furs is a very delicate one. It is very important you keep the information given to you on your garments, as it explains how they should be taken care of and cleaned. If you have lost this information it is a good idea to contact the place where you got it from so they can provide you with the details before you get it cleaned.

When you bring in your garments, we will inspect it with you, and find any stains and material flaws on them, and provide you with the appropriate information. Certain stains are more difficult to remove then others, and it is important that you tell us what the stains might be so there is a better chance of stain removal.

Before the cleaning leather, suede and fur products, you will need to sign a form, giving us permission to clean the product and that you understand all the precautions pertaining to the cleaning of the items.

Colour loss is likely to occur in the cleaning of these products, how much colour loss depends on the actual materials itself and how badly soiled the item is.

Every care and precaution is given to the items, so ensure you get the best possible service.

Information on Glue Stains and Texture Change on Leather (Especially Pig Skin)

Information provided by International Fabricare Institute

What Is The Problem/s?

- Dark areas that can appear after the cleaning, normally at double thick areas.

- A drastic change can occur in the surface texture on different skins used on the same garment.

What Does It Look Like?

- Very dark objectionable areas can appear along the double seams.

- Textures of skins may no longer match; one skin may be smoother on the surface than another skin next to it.

What Caused It?

- Adhesives used to glue some parts of the leather together were not completely resistant to the dry cleaning solvent (As glues can melt in the dry cleaning process).

- The area on the actual animal from which the skin was used often determines the texture. Some areas might be much less compact and possibly have rougher surface fibrils.

How Can It Be Prevented?

- Glue stains can be avoided if the manufacturer uses an adhesive that is more resistant to dry cleaning solvent.

- Objectionable texture changes can be prevented by a better selection of skins that match when making the garment.

Who Is Responsible?

-The manufacturer is responsible for using the types of glues and adhesives.

- The person who selected and matched the skins during the construction of the garment is responsible for the objectionable texture change.

Pigskin Information - Pigskin suede is normally a stiffer and heavier skin with a very short nap and it also has pores in the skin. Pigskin is strong and durable, a hard wearing skin. It can become heavily soiled and it might not readily give up the soiling. The chances of the suede getting completely stain free are unfortunately the lowest of the suede skins.

Puckering Seams Information - The puckering of the seams is usually considering an indication of the shrinkage in the garment. However this condition can be linked to shrinkage of the threads or incorrect thread tension during the sewing. Some puckering might be seen before the garment has been dry cleaned or laundered but the actual agitation of the care process will usually aggravate the condition. Careful finishing processes can sometimes make the puckering easier.