The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
Because of the great differences in the tanning and coloring of upholstery leather, no one method of removing spots can be recommended. Solvents are likely to destroy color; in clear water, some colors may run. The effect of a cleaner should always be tested on some obscure part before applying.
In hot weather, leather upholstery sometimes sticks to the clothing. This is the result of using polishes or unsuitable dressings and calls for cleaning with soap. Leather dressings can be used with safety on some upholstery leathers and will prevent drying out.
When leather shows the effect of artificial heat by drying out and cracking, white petroleum jelly or neat's-foot oil can be rubbed on, the leather being given all the oil which can be absorbed. The excess should be removed by wiping with a clean, soft cloth. Another dressing is 2 parts raw linseed oil and 1 part vinegar, followed by polishing with a soft cloth or chamois skin.
To prevent leather from drying out, it may be rubbed with a mixture of 2 parts of lanolin and 3 parts of pure neat's-foot oil. Mixing should be over gentle heat in a double boiler. When cool, the mixture is applied with a pad or a soft brush. The leather should stand for some hours for the oil to be absorbed, and then rubbed with a soft cloth. This treatment is suitable for luggage, leather upholstery and leather bookbindings. In the case of books, precaution must be taken to keep the oil out of contact with the paper.
Tears and rips in leather upholstery can be repaired by cementing a piece of soft leather or stout fabric underneath, with care to attach the edges; for a neat joint, fuzz along the edges should be clipped off. Clear cement, such as Duco, can be used, or UHU all-purpose glue.
Upholstery leather can be revived and colored with shoe dye or by painting with a good-quality enamel, applied as it comes in the can and with no undercoat. The leather should first be cleaned by washing with soap (see section on leaning Leather).
Burns in leather upholstery or inlaid tables may be touched up by using fine steel wool (No. 000 or No. 0000) to remove all traces of the burned material. If the burn has penetrated deeper than the dye, the area should be touched up with a cream shoe polish of the same color. This should be applied until the burned area is a bit darker than the original finish.
