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Nubuck Leather Care

Bidisha Mukherjee
Caring for Nubuck leather is not too difficult, provided you are using the right material. Read this story to get a brief overview of nubuck leather care.
Nubuck is an expensive and high-quality leather with a soft, velvety texture. It is popularly used for making furniture, shoes, and various other leather goods. The uniqueness of this leather lies in the fact that it is made out of the outer part of the animal skin. It quite similar to suede, albeit with better durability in comparison.
The problem with nubuck leather is that it has an unfinished surface which makes it susceptible to stains. In order to retain its natural quality for a long period, a proper routine must be followed.

How to Care for Nubuck Leather

The important aspects of nubuck leather care are cleaning and protection of the delicate material. Both these steps are explained below:

Cleaning

The most important thing to remember is that you should not use water for cleaning this type of leather, as it can cause permanent damage. Rather, you should use a few simple tools meant for nubuck leather cleaning. They include erasers, brushes, cleaners, degreasing products, and cloth pieces.
To begin with, you have to get rid of loose dirt and dust from the surface using the brush. Rub the brush gently over the leather surface in small circles. To remove dry stains, you can use a stain eraser. Rub it over the stain softly until it disappears.
If the leather is badly soiled, then you have to make use of a foam or liquid cleaner. Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer about using the product and follow the same. After brushing, spray the cleaner on the leather and rub it thoroughly with the cleaning cloth.
If there are oil stains on the leather, then a brush or cleaner is not going to be of much help. You have to take extra efforts. Firstly, try to extract the greasy substance with the help of a dry paper towel. Then apply a degreaser product on it. Stain removal should be followed by brushing the leather's surface. This is done to restore its natural texture. Once in a while, a steam cleaning procedure will be beneficial in order to retain its attractive look.

Protection

The numerous short, fibrous hair present on the surface of the leather tend to become flat after every use. Therefore, it is important to brush the area frequently. This helps to protect the velvety texture of the leather. Leather furniture or other such goods should also be brushed twice a month. This will also clean up the dust particles accumulated between the hair and keep the surface of the leather clean.
If the leather gets stained, do not allow it to settle and clean immediately. You must protect the leather's surface from water and stains with the help of a sealant. It is available in the form of a spray. You have to apply an even layer of the sealant on the surface and let it dry up properly, followed by another coat. It should be applied every month following the cleaning routine.
Do not use any products that are meant for suede on nubuck leather as they may have a damaging effect. You can purchase a leather care kit from a leather goods store. It contains all those products that are specially designed for cleaning nubuck leather.