Originally Posted by Pam Sarky (Post 5090181)

Just wondering if anyone knows of a leather cleaner for my suite. Ive just washed it down with warm water and aerial washing powder. Although its cleaner I am sure with a specialist product it will come up gleaming :D

Originally Posted by Issie (Post 5116843)

I use baby wipes on mine .....comes up gorgeous every time :)

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 5116862)

Sometimes I just wipe the baby over ours. lol

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy (Post 5116814)

I'm gonna do a KW now :D :D

Leather used on suites is general split leather (on most DFS suites for instance) its almost the cheapest quality you can get. The leather is split at the tannery, back and front and then tanned / treated. Its very thin, and often its coloured would you believe by being spray painted!

Saddle leather is generally much better quality and not split, and thats why (I'm guessing) you would pay as much for a saddle as a three piece suite from DFS, if not more :D

Thats why I mentioned that you can use something like low concentration dreft to clean it if you cant get a proper leather cleaner, and a good conditioner afterwards is a must and should be done every 6 months at least. Failing to do it over time can lead to cracking. Saddle soap is oil based, and can actually damage leather if not applied properly as too much oil can seal the leather and in time make it rot, especially here in Spain where the humidity can be high.

I think saddle soap is still used a lot in equestrian quarters, but all I was trying to say that because of the make up differences of the leathers it doesn't always mean that one product is good for both items. Its a geeky thing, I know, but I learnt all this sh!te on a number of courses over 4 years with leather suppliers etc etc. I wish I could forget it all, but it keeps coming back :eek:

Finally, can I just point you to the leather section here http://www.hermanmiller.com/hm/conte...tiles_Care.pdf

A large US furniture suppliers advice (Only because Safeclean was a US company and thats the links I have)

Thats my bout of seriousness over for today, I thnak you and goodnight :D

Originally Posted by rugbymatt (Post 5117231)

All leather is split, it is the same method of producing bridle leather as it is to produce upholstery leather.

8 Years ago I qualified as a master saddler, its something I still occasionally do, but sadly it is not something that I can make any money in so I do what earns me money.

Leather needs a glycerine high fat conditioner to "condition" it. The majority of propriety conditioners on the market have either glycerine, cocoa butter or beeswax, or all three, the difference is that most of them are very expensive, a bar of Carr Day and Martin saddle soap is £1.50, and there is enough to treat 100 sofas in a bar.

One of the reasons I don't particularly want to go to Sotogrande is that too many people know that I am a saddler there and I don't want to slave for no money in a hot country.

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy (Post 5117451)

OK:D
Guess all my training was wasted :D
Can only tell you what I know mate and thats summed up in the link I gave you for leathercare, guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that one ;)

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy (Post 5116814)

I'm gonna do a KW now :D :D

:D

Originally Posted by rugbymatt (Post 5115982)

next time you are in Jerez, or get Keithy babe to get you some.

Originally Posted by keithwalters (Post 5117458)

Heh! What´s this "I´m gonna do a KW". You mean provide helpful advice and generally be a supportive, informative, valuable member of this site?

Originally Posted by rugbymatt (Post 5117457)

absolutely......


but your wrong.

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy (Post 5117471)

No I'm not but I'm not prepared to argue with you over something like this ;):D

Originally Posted by keithwalters (Post 5117458)

Heh! What´s this "I´m gonna do a KW". You mean provide helpful advice and generally be a supportive, informative, valuable member of this site?

Originally Posted by Mitzyboy (Post 5117480)

Thats right, and look what happens, years of training down the swanny .... I dunno, one of the biggest Upholstery cleaners in the UK undone by an ex saddler who does a bit of gardening now and again :rofl:

Originally Posted by rugbymatt (Post 5117486)

shut it hippy!!


There are about 200 Master Paddlers in the UK, live and learn!!