Why do leather clothes smell?
What a good question, right? Everything has its explanation as we will see below.
Leather is produced from tanned animal skins, for this reason, products made from this material often give off a peculiar smell. It is not about anything harmful and it is something very natural, but sometimes it is not too pleasant due to its intensity.
A very frequent question that our clients ask us is how they can remove the smell of leather from their articles. And as we always tell you, at La Tendeta del Cuero we like to listen to you and for this reason, we are going to give you some advice to eliminate the smell of leather from your articles. Since leather or fur is used to make countless items such as jackets, bags, wallets, backpacks, belts, sofas, fanny packs, etc... it can become annoying when you enter the house, a room or open a closet.
Today we will explain some tips on how to remove the smell of leather. You must bear in mind that not all types of leather can be cleaned in the same way, since depending on how it has been treated, we could even spoil it. Therefore, if you have any questions, it is better to contact us and we will advise you without obligation.
If you want to know what type of skin the product you are holding is, you can see it in our Guide on skin types and finishes .
TIP Nº 1: ALLOW TIME TO GET RID OF THE LEATHER SMELL
It may seem obvious, but there are garments that will keep the smell for years!!!.
It is not normal, but sometimes it can happen that they last so long depending on the type of tanning they have used.
For example, there are articles or garments made with skins from Morocco or India, where they usually use camel urine along with other ingredients to tan the skins. That is why there are leathers that have a stronger odor than others, or that will last longer.
Let's take the case that it is made of national or European leather. The best advice we can give you and the least harmful to the skin is to let the smell dissipate over time.
The bad thing about this advice is that you have to be patient... However, there are other more immediate and effective remedies that will help us suppress the leather aroma.
TIP No. 2: VENT LEATHER GARMENTS OUTDOORS
It is the easiest and cheapest way. You just have to let it dry in the open air for about 2-3 days. Of course, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight, since that would spoil the color, nor should it be exposed to rain or humidity, since the leather should not get wet.
It is also the safest technique to avoid damaging the skin by not applying the products correctly.
TIP #3: MIX WATER AND VINEGAR TO REMOVE THE SMELL OF LEATHER
If the smell of leather is extremely strong, you can wipe it with a cloth dipped in the mixture of warm water with a little vinegar. After doing this, it would be a good idea to let the leather air out, to also eliminate the smell of vinegar. Once dry it can be stored in its place.
TIP Nº 4 - COFFEE TO REMOVE THE SMELL OF LEATHER
Another way to remove the smell of leather is by using coffee. They must be coffee beans, not ground coffee, otherwise the skin can stain.
It consists of introducing the leather object and the coffee beans almost hermetically in a bag or container, with a handful being enough.
We must ensure that they are distributed evenly, for this we shake the bag or container and leave it closed for at least 24 hours. Once this time has elapsed, it must be left to ventilate for a few hours and both the smell of leather and coffee will disappear.
TIP Nº 5 - BAKING POWDER AS IT ABSORBS ODORS
Baking soda powder has many uses for cleaning the home or for various conditions of the digestive system, we can also use it to absorb odors, since it is one of the best products for this purpose.
Put the leather item in a cardboard box, cover it with baking soda, and let it sit for at least 4-5 days. Vacuum up the baking soda and the smell should be gone.
Important, do not use water to rinse it as you could damage the leather.
TIP Nº 6- NEWSPAPER
Paper being more porous than leather makes it excellent for absorbing odors. You should pack your leather products in newspapers or packing paper.
The paper fibers act as "wicks" that eliminate odors from the leather, we recommend leaving the leather packed inside the newspapers for at least 24 - 48 hours.
TIP Nº 7 - PROFESSIONAL CLEANER
If all the previous tips have not been effective, you can resort to professional products.
At La Tendeta del Cuero we have a product for professional use that is used to clean leather effectively and without damaging it. It is the Neutral Soapy Cleaner. A simple application of this cleaner and your garment will be clean and shiny without losing color or damaging it.
And here are our tips to eliminate the smell of leather. We hope they have been useful to you.
Greetings and until next time!!