Cleaning Patent Leather
June 9, 2018 7:16 AM Subscribe
I have a designer patent leather wallet that is gently used but the leather has lost some of its luster. No amount of cleaning it with Windex (per instructions I've found online) seems to fix it - the leather remains kind of dull and splotchy looking. Is there anything else I can do to rehab the patent leather? Do I just need to put more elbow grease into it? Or is the wallet a goner?
Note: The leather is a light/pale color, not black or dark, so that makes it more tricky (as I understand it). I've never tried to clean the patent leather with anything other than Windex and a soft/microfiber cloth, nor have I ever applied any other substances to the leather in an effort to moisturize or clean it. This is just grime from over the years. And yes, I know I should have been better about maintenance care/cleaning of the patent leather, but we're unfortunately past that point now. I just want to know if there is anything I can do *right now* to clean it.
Note: The leather is a light/pale color, not black or dark, so that makes it more tricky (as I understand it). I've never tried to clean the patent leather with anything other than Windex and a soft/microfiber cloth, nor have I ever applied any other substances to the leather in an effort to moisturize or clean it. This is just grime from over the years. And yes, I know I should have been better about maintenance care/cleaning of the patent leather, but we're unfortunately past that point now. I just want to know if there is anything I can do *right now* to clean it.
Best answer: Don't use Windex or ammonia-based cleaners on anything acrylic- or plastic-based. Depending on how the shine was created (modern patent often has a plastic coating, the old style is some kind of oil) you may need to get it re-coated at this point.
A shoe repair place that also does purses would be a good place to look into your options.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:11 AM on June 9, 2018
A shoe repair place that also does purses would be a good place to look into your options.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:11 AM on June 9, 2018
It may not be leather at all. I would clean it and use paste wax, the same kind you might use on a car, but I have not tried this. I'm a big fan of old-school shoe polish on most leather, but it could discolor it, even the clear version.
posted by theora55 at 9:49 AM on June 9, 2018
posted by theora55 at 9:49 AM on June 9, 2018
Best answer: Back in the day I used plain old Vaseline to clean patent leather shoes and purses. Worked great.
posted by fuse theorem at 10:46 AM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fuse theorem at 10:46 AM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
You could try this product, which is formulated specifically for patent leather. Depending on the condition of the leather, it could possibly help.
posted by skilar at 5:37 PM on June 9, 2018
posted by skilar at 5:37 PM on June 9, 2018
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posted by showbiz_liz at 7:29 AM on June 9, 2018 [2 favorites]