A Leather Guide To Protect Your Items from Salt
Salt? What salt?
If you live in an area where it snows, you know how the salt that gets on the road and sidewalks gets everywhere! I’ve noticed walking into my house there is salt stuck in the bottoms of my shoes. You’ll even notice how it will leave “salt spots” on shoes, carpets, etc.
Salt is not a friend to leather and has some negative effects. One of the main issues with salt is that it will stain your leather. With prolonged exposure and no treatment, salt will ruin the stunning look of your leather, and dry it out.
Salt will cause the drying out of leather which can render your leather unwearable. Once leather starts to dry out, the fibers deep in the leather can break. Once they break, the damage is irreversible. Broken fibers will cause the leather to crack, leading to the end of its lifespan.
What do I do if there is salt on my leather?
Short and simple. Get it off! It is essential to wash your leather correctly to ensure no salt is on your leather shoes/boots after taking them off. It is not a long process and is vitally important.
· First you will need a bowl with warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap (only a couple drops!). Mix well.
· Use a soft cloth to dip into the solution. Make sure to wring out the cloth to remove extra moisture.
· Gently wipe the affected areas to remove the salt residue.
· Now use a soft cloth that has been dipped in warm water and wring it out. Rub gently to remove any of the soap solution.
· Allow your items to dry. A healthy temperature is 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s too cold, it will lock too much moisture into the leather.
· Once dry, remember to apply a conditioning cream. This will enhance the leather’s appearance and offer an extra layer of protection.
*DO NOT use any alcohol-based cleaning products or alcohol itself on your leather. Alcohol is a terrible cleaning agent as it will deplete the moisture needed to keep it looking great. Cleaning off something that dries out leather (salt) with another thing that removes moisture (alcohol) is never a good idea if you want to keep your leather healthy. *
Prevention
To help provide extra protection for future excursions into the snowy and icy conditions, you’ll want to condition your shoes. This will add extra protection not only from salt, but moisture, too.
Our leather cream is exceedingly effective in protecting your leather for the future. Our blog How To Use Leather Cleaning Products shows how to precisely use our leather cream to ensure your leather is protected the best you can. We recommend treating your shoes two times during the season because of the harsh exposure to the elements.
RESTORE | WATERPROOF | PROTECT
Our handmade, all-natural, semi-thick wax conditioner offers maximum protection and restoration, adding years of life to your leather goods. Ideal for leathers that need extra protection, touched up, and those frequently exposed to the elements.
If you have non-leather shoes, we have a product to help you. Mad Cow’s waterproofing spray offers long-lasting protection and superior waterproofing. It is not designed to protect your shoes from salt, but it is there to protect them from water and snow.
WATERPROOF | PROTECT
Our Waterproofing Spray is made from a Carnauba Wax dispersion, providing the qualities of wax protection in a liquid spray. Ideal for most non-leather materials that need waterproofing and protection. Simple, safe and powerful.
Winter is something we cannot avoid. Salt will ruin your leather, so it is essential to take as many precautions as possible. Proper cleaning will help and using Mad Cow’s leather cream will help give you the protection you need. Want to try it out? Check out our leather cream at our store: MC STORE!