National Clothesline

Accepting suede and leather for cleaning can be easy and profitable or full of headaches and claims.

The difference between the two is a thorough understanding of the nature and characteristics of the skins which are the materials from which suedes and leathers are made.

If you accept suedes and leathers for cleaning, it will be worth the time it takes to read each article in this series to become familiar with the nature of suede and leather. I will try to make this as brief as possible with every word of interest and importance.

Every person accepting suede and leather garments should study this information and be ever alert to avoid problems.

If the customer is forewarned and prepared for possible problems before processing, many lengthy discussions and arguments can be avoided and customer goodwill can be safeguarded.

Consider your own feelings when you buy a product or a service. You enjoy dealing with informed, alert personnel. Suede and leather garments are different from cloth garments in many ways. You absolutely need to know the facts about suede and leather in order to successfully accept them for cleaning and refinishing.

Proper acceptance of suedes and leathers requires the correct identification of the various skins.

All suedes and leathers are made from animal skins and can be placed into two major categories: sueded leather and smooth leather.

Sueded leathers are animal skins with the hair removed and the flesh side of the skin rubbed by an abrasive wheel to raise a velvet like nap on its surface, which then becomes the outside surface of the sueded item.

Suedes are identified by the name of animal the skin comes from. There are several types of sueded leather. The three most common types of sueded leather are: sheepskin suede; cowhide suede; and pigskin suede.

All suedes are highly susceptible to staining from spillage of liquids, rain or contact with wet objects unless they have been treated with a special leather water repellent like Royalshield by Royaltone. The special leather water repellent can easily be applied by any one with an aerosol spray or by air spray gun as an added service for $10 extra for added income and profit.

Sheepskin suede is made by dyeing and sueding the skins of sheep and lambs. It is light in weight, soft in texture with a velvet like suede nap. Sheepskin is the softest, most delicate skin of the three types.

Sheepskin suede can usually be cleaned and refinished with the least effort and with the highest probability of success.

Cowhide suede is made by dyeing and sueding the skins of cows and calves. It is called by many names, including bush coat, rough out, rawhide, split cowhide and calfskin. It is typically a stiff, heavy, thick skin with a coarse nap. It is a tough, hard wearing and durable skin.

Cowhide suede can be cleaned and refinished satisfactorily but usually requires more effort than a sheepskin.

Pigskin suede is made by dyeing and sueding the skins of pigs. It is typically a stiff and heavy skin with a very short nap with pores like human skin. It is a very durable, tough and hard wearing skin. Pigskin suede can be satisfactorily cleaned and refinished but usually requires more effort than either a cowhide or a sheepskin.

Smooth leathers are made from the skins of animals that have had the hair removed and have been dyed or painted on the hair side of the skin, which then becomes the outside surface of the leather item.

Leathers are named for the type of surface finish they have on them rather than the name of the animal they came from. There are three major types of leathers: painted leather; cuir savage leather (or analine leather); and naked leather.

Painted leather is made by applying a special pigmented leather finish (a leather lacquer paint that stretches with the skin) to the surface of the skin. The result is a surface coating which is smooth, slick and shiny.

Painted leather is usually the most serviceable and durable of the three types of leather. Painted leather is like a piece of wood that has been painted with a pigmented lacquer paint so that you no longer see the wood grain.

Cuir savage leather (or analine leather) is made by dyeing color into the skin and then either buffing or applying a light coating of a special clear leather finish to the surface of the skin. This gives the effect of seeing the color down in the skin through a transparent surface sheen finish

Cuir savage leather is attractive, delicate, soft, comfortable, slick feeling and porous. It is not as serviceable as painted leather and will readily absorb soil and liquid stains if they contact the skin. They are, therefore, very easily stained due to liquid spillage, rain or contact with wet or soiled objects unless specially treated with Royal Shield water repellent.

Cuir savage leather is like a piece of wood that has been stained and then painted with a clear lacquer so you can still see the grain of the wood.

Naked leather is made by dying color into the skin. There is no surface finish. It is a very soft, dry, porous leather. It is the least serviceable of the leathers and will scuff easily and will readily absorb soil and liquid stains that contact the skin. They are, therefore, easily stained by liquid spillage, rain or contact with wet or soiled objects unless treated with Royal Shield water repellent.

Naked leather is like a piece of wood that has been stained with a stain so that it has color with no surface finish and you can see the wood grain.