Prevent Cracked Leather: Easy Maintenance Tips

Cracked leather can jeopardize the longevity and aesthetic appeal of your furniture or goods, leading to costly replacements, making leather restoration a crucial consideration.

To avoid such outcomes, implementing proactive care techniques, timely repairs, and appropriate treatment is essential in maintaining leather's durability and appearance.

Here are a few tips.

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

Regular cleaning and maintenance significantly prolongs leather items' lifespan, ensuring they retain their allure and functionality.

By frequently wiping down leather surfaces with a damp cloth, dirt, and oils that can cause cracking are effectively removed, reducing the need for extensive leather restoration later on.

Avoid "over-wetting" and "under-drying" as these practices can contribute to the leather's degradation.

Use Gentle Cleaners

Gentle cleaners safeguard leather surfaces by maintaining the natural oils and finish. Proper cleaning helps preserve its longevity and aesthetic appeal, reducing the need for costly repairs.

For optimal results, utilize cleaners labeled as "leather-safe". These products are specially formulated to clean without stripping away essential oils, ensuring the leather remains supple.

Leather's longevity highly depends on maintaining its natural oil balance.

Consistently using mild cleaners like those recommended by experts, such as Color Glo International, helps preserve the leather’s texture. Their professionals ensure your leather goods receive the highest standard of care, extending their lifespan and maintaining their beauty.

Avoid Excess Moisture

Overexposing leather to moisture can accelerate wear and cause cracking. It's essential to manage and limit contact with water.

1. Clean Spills Immediately: Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to prevent absorption.

2. Use Protective Covers: Employ waterproof covers or treatments to safeguard against accidental exposure.

3. Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation to avoid humidity accumulation.

4. Humidifiers: In dry environments, use humidifiers to balance moisture levels.

5. Store Correctly: Store leather items in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight.

Avoiding excessive moisture helps maintain the leather's natural oils and flexibility.

Failure to manage moisture increases the risk of cracking, which disfigures and potentially ruins leather items and their dye properties.

For expert guidance and solutions, consider partnering with Color Glo International, a leader in leather repair and maintenance.

Frequent Dusting

Frequent dusting is crucial to maintaining leather furniture and goods, helping to preserve their integrity and extending their overall lifespan.

Dust particles can act as abrasives, slowly wearing down the leather’s outer layer.

Regularly, dusting leather surfaces with a soft cloth, preferably one (such as microfiber specifically designed for delicate surfaces) can prevent such damage.

This practice also helps in maintaining an attractive, well-kept appearance, preventing dust from accumulating and potentially embedding into the material.

Incorporating dusting into your routine protects the leather from unnecessary wear, promoting cleanliness and prolonging its aesthetic and functional life.

Furthermore, as a complement to your cleaning regimen, Color Glo International offers professional services that can restore your leather’s natural beauty, ensuring long-term preservation and care.

Proper Hydration Techniques

Leather's optimal hydration balance is achieved through regular conditioning. Applying high-quality leather conditioners, such as those by Craftsman’s Choice, ensures the leather remains supple and resistant to cracking. These conditioners penetrate deep into the fibers, replenishing essential oils and maintaining the leather's integrity. Proactive hydration not only preserves the aesthetic appeal but also significantly extends the lifespan of your leather products. For best results, conditioning should be done every six months or more frequently in drier climates.

Quality Leather Conditioners

Utilizing quality leather conditioners and restorative dye is essential in maintaining the suppleness and durability of leather products.

1. Select Genuine Leather Conditioners: Choose products specifically designed for leather, avoiding household oils and lotions.

2. Frequency of Application: Condition your leather items every six months, adjusting based on climate and usage.

3. Patch Test: Always test the conditioner on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn’t discolor your leather.

4. Apply Evenly: Use a soft cloth to apply the conditioner evenly, ensuring thorough coverage of all surfaces.

5. Buff After Application: After the conditioner has been absorbed, gently buff the leather to enhance its sheen and softness.

Consistent conditioning will prevent cracks and extend the life of leather furniture and goods.

By following these steps, you not only maintain aesthetic appeal but also enhance the overall lifespan of your leather products.

Natural Oils Application

Applying natural oils to leather can maintain its suppleness and prevent cracking, enhancing durability and appearance.

• Choose Appropriate Oils: Opt for linseed or mink oil, as these are known for their efficacy in conditioning leather.

• Clean Before Application: Ensure the leather is clean and dry before applying any oil to avoid trapping dirt and impurities.

• Test on Small Area: Always test the oil on a small, inconspicuous area to check for any adverse reactions or discoloration.

• Use Sparingly: Apply the oil sparingly, using a soft cloth to avoid oversaturation, which can damage the leather.

• Follow Up: After letting the oil absorb, buff the leather with a clean cloth to remove any excess and achieve a polished finish.

Using natural oils enhances the leather's pliability and restores lost moisture, promoting longevity.

Integrating this practice into your leather maintenance routine will safeguard against cracks and preserve the material's natural beauty.

Craftsman Choice Leather Care Products

Craftsman Choice leather care products are meticulously designed to provide superior protection and maintenance for your leather goods. Leveraging years of expertise in skin and hair care, Craftsman Choice has developed a range of leather conditioners and cleaners that ensure your leather remains supple, hydrated, and free from cracks. Their products are formulated with high-quality ingredients that penetrate deeply into the leather, restoring its natural oils and enhancing its durability. By choosing Craftsman Choice, you are investing in the longevity and aesthetic appeal of your leather items, making them look as good as new for years to come.

Protect from Environmental Damage

To mitigate environmental damage, a proactive approach is essential. Protect your leather from direct sunlight, which can cause fading and cracking. Position leather items away from heating sources and windows to prevent unnecessary exposure to dryness, which is detrimental to the leather's integrity. Additionally, maintaining a stable humidity level in the environment helps in preserving the leather's natural moisture, thereby extending its lifespan and preventing premature deterioration.

Sunlight Exposure

Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can significantly damage leather, causing it to fade, dry out, and eventually crack, a situation that often necessitates leather restoration. Ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the leather's surface, depleting its natural oils and moisture.

This deterioration process weakens the leather's fibers, making it more susceptible to damage. Over time, this exposure can lead to visible cracks and an overall worn appearance.

Preventing sunlight exposure is essential to maintaining your leather's quality. Consider positioning leather furniture away from windows or using UV-protective window treatments.

Additionally, applying a UV protectant specifically designed for leather can provide an added layer of defense, complementing regular treatment to maintain its quality. These products are formulated to absorb UV radiation and reduce its impact on leather surfaces.

If your leather furniture or goods are already showing signs of sun damage, it's crucial to address the issue promptly. Professional services like those offered by Color Glo International franchisees can effectively restore sun-faded and cracked leather, rejuvenating its appearance and extending its lifespan.

Remember, regular maintenance and protective measures are paramount in preserving your leather's condition. Partnering with experts such as Color Glo ensures that your valuable leather items receive the best care.

Temperature Fluctuations

Leather is sensitive to extreme temperature changes, which can cause significant damage, including cracking and drying out.

Fireplaces and heating vents should be positioned away from leather pieces.

While air conditioning can help, overly cold environments can also harm leather by promoting stiffness and brittleness; hence, it’s crucial to maintain a moderate temperature.

By maintaining consistent temperatures in your living or working spaces, you can prolong the life of your leather furniture and goods, preventing the brittleness and cracking that can occur from abrupt temperature changes. For comprehensive care, contacting professionals like Color Glo International can offer invaluable expertise and meticulously tailored solutions for your leather needs.

Humidity Control

Leather thrives best in environments with controlled humidity.

Excessive dryness can sap leather of its natural oils. This lack of moisture leads to cracks and breaks, significantly diminishing the aesthetic and functional value of your leather items. Conversely, excessive humidity can foster the growth of mold and mildew, further damaging the leather.

Aim for a balanced humidity level.

Using a humidifier helps to maintain optimal indoor humidity levels - not too dry, not too humid - creating an ideal environment for leather preservation.

Before & After - Cracked, worn leather. Color Glo International

Repairing Cracked Leather

Repairing cracked leather starts with cleaning the affected area using a high-quality leather cleaner to remove dirt, oils, and residue. Once clean, apply a leather conditioner to restore moisture and pliability, focusing on the cracks.

For more severe cracks, consider a leather repair kit that includes a filler and colorant to match your item's original hue. Again, our Color Glo specialists are stationed nationwide for expertise in seamlessly blending repairs when they seem out of your scope.

DIY Fixes for Small Cracks

First, gather the necessary supplies, including a leather cleaner, conditioner, filler, and colorant designed for leather goods.

Begin by thoroughly cleaning the cracked area with a high-quality leather cleaner. This step is crucial, as it removes any dirt or oils that might interfere with the repair process. Clean the leather gently to avoid causing further damage to the material.

Next, apply a leather conditioner to hydrate and soften the area around the crack. This makes the leather more pliable and easier to work with. Use a soft cloth to rub the conditioner into the leather, allowing it to penetrate fully before moving on to the next step.

For filling the cracks, use a leather filler that matches the color of your leather item. Carefully apply the filler into the cracks using a palette knife or similar tool, smoothing it out to create an even surface. Allow the filler to dry completely, and then apply a matching colorant if necessary to blend the repair seamlessly with the surrounding leather.

Professional Services

When dealing with significant leather damage, professional services are particularly advantageous. Color Glo International, a leader in the leather repair industry, offers unparalleled expertise and advanced restoration techniques.

Our specialists are adept at assessing the extent of leather damage, ensuring each repair is meticulous and effective.

Utilizing state-of-the-art materials and techniques, Color Glo specialists restore leather furniture, auto interiors, and personal goods seamlessly (examples include color matching and re-dyeing).

Professionals can address complex issues that do-it-yourself methods might exacerbate, maintaining the item's original integrity and value.

Furthermore, engaging with experts from Color Glo International ensures a comprehensive service, providing not just repairs, but also advice on ongoing maintenance to prevent future damage.

Ultimately, the peace of mind that comes from professional care is invaluable. Allowing experts to manage leather repairs guarantees sustained quality and longevity.

Benefits of Color Glo International

Choosing Color Glo International offers numerous benefits for maintaining and restoring leather goods.

Founded in 1975, Color Glo International has established itself as a premier leather and vinyl restoration company. Their extensive experience ensures top-notch service.

With a global network, Color Glo provides consistent quality and expertise across various locations. This allows us to cater to diverse client needs effectively.

Our proprietary restoration techniques not only fix visible damage but also reinforce the leather's structural integrity. Clients can expect long-lasting results.

Selecting Color Glo International means investing in quality. Clients receive expert consultation and precise repairs, ensuring their leather items remain pristine.

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Color Restoration and So Much More

Color restoration and more

Color Glo International is the world leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of automotive, aircraft, marine and furniture.  Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today we can be found in hundreds of markets throughout world. Color Glo products are proven everyday to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.

We initially began our franchising in the United States and have since then expanded into Canada and over 50 countries worldwide. Our focus is restoring and repairing common defects such as worn and faded interior components such as leather upholstery, headliners, burns and broken plastic or composite molding. These problems are found in the interior of every automobile, RV, truck sports vehicle, plane or boat in use today. You can learn a bit more about How RV Owners and Dealers Benefit From Color Glo.

A Little Bit of History

Since it’s beginning in 1975, Color Glo has become the recognized leader in the mobile automotive reconditioning industry. Founded by Everett C. Smith to address the growing demands, Color Glo has from the very beginning been the benchmark of this industry. Having been in the reconditioning industry for years, Mr. Smith knew that the existing products were not of the quality he would need to build a strong and successful brand. Although it was very costly and challenging, he decided that for his company, the only direction that would satisfy his pursuit of perfection and quality was to formulate his own line of exclusive and proprietary products.

Color Glo opened their own research and development labs to formulate the best products in this industry. He hired chemists that had strong backgrounds in new product formulation and research, and over a period of several years is team developed the original Color Glo proprietary line of restoration and repair products. Today the original 8 products in the line have grown to over 100 different and unique products. Each of the over 100 products are developed and selected to work seamlessly within the Color Glo system.

What We Do

This table gives you an overview of the materials we fix, where they’re found and the specific problems we can repair, restore or re-dye. We can find a solution for any problems that arise where these materials are found.

Color Glo Specialists

Our Color Glo franchises are located around the globe.  In the US our 75+ franchises are all mobile units. They come to you! Color Glo's mobile-based technicians will come to your home, office or other location to repair damaged plastic, vinyl, leather, fabric and upholstery. Worn, torn, stained, burned, scratched or otherwise damaged materials can be restored to like new for just a fraction of the cost of replacement.

We are located internationally in over 50 countries. These are location-based shops, set up to provide complete and professional repair and restoration services.

You can find all our CGI International franchises on our website location finder under “Locations”.

Renewable Resources

A very relevant attribute to Color Glo is our commitment to the environment and our commitment to be a green company. Color Glo’s process uses specially formulated proprietary water based and environmentally friendly, non flammable, odor free products.

Our environment is a growing concern and special factors are often taken into consideration when a potential customer is choosing a company for repair and/or restoration. This is where Color Glo comes in. Special attention given now to these considerations can be used to our advantage highlighting the continued implementation and research Color Glo International Environmental impact of products (subject to strict quality controls according to ASTM standards) that led to the creation of color-based eco-friendly, water based, odorless and nontoxic products.

Our environmental policy is based on the belief that no one operates in isolation. Everyone shares the same earth, and everything we do matters to those around us. At Color Glo International, we put people first. The health, safety, and welfare of our customers, employees, and the people of the communities we serve are paramount. That is why we take our commitment to environmental stewardship seriously and have developed specific principles to guide us in our work. At Color Glo, we will ensure that our employees & franchisees have the training, skills and knowledge necessary to adhere to these principles.

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Color Restoration and So Much More

Color Glo international and Color Glo franchisees world-wide are specialists in color restoration and repair of vinyl surfaces, accessories and furniture. Color Glo specialists are available to help restore your valuable property. We offer an on-site service, safety and convenience, eliminating the downtime of transport and ensuring our best work. Our work is permanent and environmentally safe. Color Glo specialists use non-flammable, odorless, water-based products that dry quickly.

Keep your investment for years to come. Revitalize. Restore. Save money. Contact us today for more information.

Why You Should Restore Your Old Shoes

How to restore old shoes

A man’s or woman’s shoes are a reflection of who they are. We pick from options like wingtip and stiletto amongst many other to define our character and walk with pride. In essence our shoes say a lot about us and you certainly don’t have to spend a fortune to get footwear that tells the world you’ve made it.  If you have an old leather pair, (or even suede or canvas) a little effort and insider knowledge is all you need to go from tattered to dazzling.

Here’s a few methods and ideas on why you should restore your old shoes.

Hoard your shoes

Ok not literally, we’ve all seen the shows… BUT a great pair of shoes doesn’t come along very often. When chance has it that you’ve found that beautiful combination of comfort and style, your heart literally aches when you have to finally slip them into the circular file. Fortunately, whether you’re dealing with flats, sneakers, heels, sandals, hiking shoes, or even an old pair of leather shoes that you’d like to look new -you’ve got options.

Don’t buy new. There are ways to clean, patch, and reinforce your way to new-looking footwear, no matter what kind of shape they may be in. You’ll need a few tools and a good attitude and the party can get started. Those boots that were made for walkin’ can avoid the forsaken and abandoned.

Restoring leather shoes

If your old leather shoes have weathered rain, snow, water, sun and more then you are not alone; this is a common problem for men and women. That favorite pair of shoes will get beat up more than most. Over the years, even the best quality shoes can become a little tired-looking. You can carefully clean your shoes to transform them and it will also bring areas of repair opportunity out. Start with these tips:

• Use a brush with soft bristles to remove all traces of surface dirt, dust, mud and debris.

• Wash your shoes with a moisturizing saddle soap. This is actually good for the leather and will remove excess wax from previous polishes.

• Stuff your shoes with newspaper and allow them to air-dry. Don’t put them near a radiator or in direct sunlight.

Once your shoes are clean and dry, you’re ready for the next step in the rejuvenating process.

Polishing your leather shoes

There’s no magic here. All you need is a tin of good quality polish, a little moisture and a soft cloth and you’re off and running. You know you love to display them as much as wear them, so go on now… polish like you’ve never polished before.

• Wrap part of the cloth around your index finger.

• Dip your finger in the polish and use your digit to apply polish to the shoe.

• Cover a small patch at a time, working in a circular motion.

• When you feel the area becoming a little rough, add some water. We recommend dabbing the cloth on a wet sponge rather than the age-old method of spitting!

• Keep building up layers of polish, adding water as necessary, until you get a lustrous sheen.

• Persevere until you have a smooth even shine.

Dyeing your leather shoes

If your shoes are badly scuffed and polishing looks like it isn’t going to be enough, you can use dye to restore them to new. With a bit of time and effort, you can even add some custom finishes like an ‘antiqued’ toe.

It’s vital to make sure that your shoes are completely free from polish, soap, wax or oil before you start, otherwise the dye will not be properly absorbed by the leather. You can buy a specialist stripper product to do the job.

So you’ll choose your color and have to remember that if you’re dyeing shoes you must always go darker. Brown or burgundy to black is fine, but it’s harder to dye black shoes a lighter color – the black will always show through the dye.

• Chose your shoe dye with care – it’s good to read reviews before you buy!

• Use a small, fine brush to apply the dye.

• Apply the dye to small areas of the shoe at a time, until the whole shoe is evenly covered.

• Allow to shoe to dry for at least twenty four hours.

• Carefully re-touch small areas or apply another coat of dye if the coverage isn’t even.

• Lock the color in with a good polish.

It takes some time and attention, but you can achieve a rich, vibrant brand new shoe if you are determined. You can also resole your leather shoes! Not many people take on this task themselves, though it is DIY compatible if you really want. There are great resources on Youtube to aid you in your quest.

Image source: parisiangentleman.co.uk

Restoring Suede and Canvas Shoes

Not every shoe you love is leather. You may have a pair of Vans or Chuck Taylors that are like comfort food when you slip them on. These can be restored as well to deliver a few more years of satisfaction.

Before & After Images found on instructables.com

If you really want, you can round up toothpaste, steel wool, a plastic scrubber and your utility sink. You can apply the toothpaste onto the steel wool and scrub the dickens out of the soles and suede/canvas. You probably won’t hurt it. This process can be repeated until the light of day starts to emerge and then rinse them under the water.

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Do you have old shoes that need a little love?

Color Glo international and Color Glo franchisees world-wide are specialists in color restoration and repair of leather garments, accessories and furniture. Our European franchisees specialize in restoring purses and shoes. Our work is permanent and environmentally safe. Color Glo specialists use non-flammable, odorless, water-based products that dry quickly.

Keep your investment for years to come. Revitalize. Restore. Save money. Contact us today for more information.

What Is Color Restoration?

What we do. Color restoration and repair services.

Color Glo International is the World Leader in restoration and repair of leather, vinyl, velour, cloth and hard plastics commonly found in the markets of Automotive, Aircraft, Marine and Furniture.  Formally incorporated in 1975 Color Glo began franchising in 1982. Today in hundreds of markets throughout world. Color Glo products are proven everyday to offer the correct results and best value every time they are put to the test.

We initially began our franchising in the United States and have since then expanded into Canada and 50 countries worldwide. Our focus is restoring and repairing common defects such as worn and faded interior components such as leather upholstery, headliners, burns and broken plastic or composite molding. These problems are found in the interior of every automobile, RV, truck sports vehicle, plane or boat in use today. See the MATERIALS WE SERVICE.

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Residential 

Leather, Vinyl, Fabric, Carpet, Cloth, Velour, Wood Grain, Hard Plastic. Color Glo specialists are available to help restore, clean or re-dye your valuable property. We offer an on-site service safety and convenience, eliminating the downtime of transport and ensuring our best work. Our work is permanent and environmentally safe. Color Glo specialists use non-flammable, odorless, water-based products that dry quickly.

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Automotive

Pet Damaged Seats, Cigarette Burns, Seats & Door Panels, Dashes & Consoles, Vinyl Roofs, Sun Decks, Convertible Tops, Carpet, Ripped and Torn Cushions. Would you like your vehicle to look even better than when you first brought it home? You will be amazed at the professional quality of our services. We can restore, repair, rejuvenate , and re-color all of the above fabrics and interiors. 

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Headlight Restoration

Having trouble seeing the road at night? If you have old, faded, dull and stained headlights or tail lights Color Glo can restore them at a fraction of the replacement cost. In just a few simple steps Color Glo can make your lights crystal clear again. We offer onsite mobile service, so we come to you! This means less inconvenience for you; our customer. We will come to your work or home and restore your headlights or tail lights - on site.

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Aviation

Our Speciality. Color Glo, together with Aero Interior Maintenance, offers services that are targeted at leather, vinyl, and plastic surfaces used for interior components of aircraft. These components would include aircraft seating, side panels and reveals, headliners, seat bases, window reveals, table tops, and drink rails. The industry uses many different types of plastics, vinyls, and leathers to accomplish both practical and maintainable surfaces but also to bring elegance to these interiors.

• Cleaning and conditioning – Would include basic cleaning of built up soiling, newsprint ink or ink stains, removing simple scuffs, applying a final coat of leather conditioner.

• Repairing worn areas – Many high wear areas such as seat arm rests and upper back cushions have the actual coating worn thin or all the way through the actual finish coating thus exposing the actual leather to premature wear and leaving it unprotected from the elements. Cleaning, repairing surfaces, and re-dying with multiple coats of finish will bring these areas back to a like new condition.

• Repairing & Re-dying of damaged areas – Many times faded colors, damaged surfaces from scuffs, scratches, and cracking can be repaired to a like new condition. This would include leather, vinyl, and hard plastics. These areas are then re-dyed back to an original color.

QUALITY CONTROL. Many companies have tested their products to prove that they will not alter existing burn certificates but what they haven’t done is create an FAA repair station that controls who uses these products, how they use them, and how they will qualify their work. This is called a quality control system. Using an FAA certificated system will assure that trained people are using these products, these products are traced from point of origin to point of use, and a quality control system is used to issue FAA approved paperwork to the aircraft owner returning the aircraft to service after the maintenance we provide is completed. Color Glo in correlation with AIM, use either FAA form #8130-3 or logbook entry forms at the customer requests. Rest assured that existing burn certifications will not be voided when AIM maintains your interiors.

OUR GUARANTEE. A common question is “How long will it last?” It is simple to make something look good going out the door but the real value to the end user is often found months later after these surfaces have been used and cleaned by the customer. We cannot control how you clean or maintain these surfaces after they leave our hands but we feel confident that it will wear well and often times as well as the original finish. Our guarantee is that we will make you satisfied or your money back, no questions asked. We have not experienced cracking, peeling, tackiness, product coming off onto clothing, and the many other problems that many products cause. We take great pride in the fact our products stand the test of time again and again. We have a long list of customers who continually ask us to perform our maintenance on every annual inspection of their aircraft. They have found that routine maintenance can keep the appearance and condition of these interiors in a like new condition even though they may have thousands of hours of actual use.

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Marine & Recreational

Make that old boat, camper or RV look like new again! Color Glo can Restore, Repair, Clean as well as renew or often change the color of Leather, Vinyl, Cloth, Velour, Woodgrain, Fabric, Hard Plastic & Carpet used on Motorcycles, ATVs, Boats, Jet Skis, Motor Homes, Campers and much more!

Time and use have taken their toll on your once beautiful boat. You may be considering buying brand new vinyl or plastic seating or even replacing that great boat all together. Stop! There is another way!

Color Glo can restore all the interior of your beautiful and hard earned watercraft and recreational vehicles. Whether it be vinyl, boat carpet or even hard plastic, we can make the interior of your boat look new again. Who knows... you may even find our products make your boat look even better than new! Color Glo specialists can perform these services:

• Seats and beds repair.

• Boat tops restoration. 

• Engine enclosures restoration.

• Mildew removal.

• Woodgrain restoration.

• Hard plastic repair

• And much more!

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Medical Vinyl Repair

Refurbish and restore. Bring new life to old equipment and eliminate the costly expense of replacing important work center furniture and equipment with high retail alternatives. 

Medical Vinyl Restoration by Color Glo International

Dental Chair Restoration by Color Glo International

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Deodorizing

Whether your clothes or household items have a old musty odor to them from sitting in the trunk of your car, or to the annoying scent of mothballs; Color Glo specialists can remove almost all foul smelling odors with our deodorizing treatments. We neutralize and deodorize using environmentally friendly, biodegradable products.

Deodorizing treatments range from having virtually no scent, to fresh and clean scented garments, vehicles, furniture or any household item.

A professional service that will eliminate bad odors:

• In homes

• In Vehichles

• In Boats

• In Trailers

• Commercial spaces

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Commercial

Color Glo can Repair, Restore and Rejuvenate all your Office Furniture. Keep all your vinyl and leather office chairs for longer and restore them to a like new status. We do all our repairs on site which eliminates any possible down-time for our customers and keeps your employees happy and productive.

COST EFFECTIVENESS. Restored items demand higher resale value, increasing your margin potential if you're looking to sell them. Restoration also mitigates the very costly option of replacement and extends the life of your corporate furniture and office spaces. You will realize a huge cost savings when compared to the alternative.

On-Site Service

• Property never leaves the customers site.

• Convenient for our customers.

• Eliminates customer downtime.

• Your property is always secure.

Permanent Lasting Repairs

• Specially formulated proprietary water-based products used in this market.

• Non-flammable & odorless.

• Dries in minutes and usable same day. 

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Are you a business owner in need of color restoration/repair? Are you an entrepreneur who would love to build a book of business offering world-class services? 

Should I Use Silicone Based Conditioners In My Auto Interior?

Top questions about cleaning leather

1. Does my leather really need conditioning?
2. What kind of conditioners are best?
3. What about cleaning my car leather?

Color Glo specialists work to repair worn auto interiors and bring them back to life. 

Starting With The Basics

With decades of experience in cleaning and refurbishing surfaces, we've learned a few things along the way.  The single most important thing to remember is that we live in a marketing society that is overloaded with information - much of it incorrect. So how do you disect what is good and bad for you care interior, for your boat interior, for the health of your home, for your family... You catch our drift...

"In Our Opinion", based on experience

Research has only confirmed that leathers of today are not the leathers of yesterday. Hopefully, you've come to this same conclusion with many products in your life. Today's modern pigments, dyes and finishing processes have produced a car leather that is very resistant to the wear and tear that leather must endure inside the operating environment of our families, our jobs and our recreation vehicles. 

This also means that the days of searching for the best auto leather conditioner are mostly a thing of the past.  Since many of you may be "old dogs" and since old rules die very slow deaths, you will likely continue your search for the best auto leather conditioner that your money can buy, regardless of updated teachings. 

Quest on my friend.

About cleaning leather interior

• Virtually all car leathers used today are finished with a clear protective coating that is applied for protection and durability of the leather. What does this mean? It means you will actually be cleaning, treating, or conditioning a clear protective layer that is made up of different types of resins, polymers, synthetics. The point is that you are not dealing with the actual leather, but the clear protective layer; just like the clear coat on your car paint. 
• Keeping your car leather clean is the most important and critical part of the health and beauty of your car leather. In the experience of Color Glo professionals, keeping your leather clean and safe from elements consistently over the life of the car can keep your interior looking just like new 10 years later. 
• With all that said, SOME auto leather conditioners can still play a role in the health and beauty of your car's leather interiors. Do your homework or ask your local Color Glo specialist. 

So let's get to it

As mentioned, if you want your chariot to look clean and new for its lifetime, then weekly cleaning of its interior is a key point here, specifically for your leather. So what are the essentials?

Leather Care

Color Glo International specializes in leather cleaning and refurbishing. 

If you have an older car, you just might have leather that is un-coated with modern day clear coats. Your high-end luxury exotic has a completely different technology behind it's leather pilot's seats than your 1964 Ford Fairlane that took you on Friday night pink slip laps around the neighborhood.

Silicone dressing for automobile interior.

You should pass. Let's talk about out auto leather conditioner for a bit. Car leather today is the product of advanced engineering and manufacturing. It is highly resistant to wear and tear and daily use and abuse. Most of us that are in our early 40's and beyond, remember the day of hard cracked leather seats, hot surfaces, and deep conditioning. Gone are these days. 

The thoughts of massaging some magically engineered car leather conditioner into our car leather that can take it from a state of wear to gleaming new, is the stuff of legends. These philosophies still sit deep-rooted in our society's heads, but in reality, this is clever marketing to keep you buying into manufacturer's "kool-aid".

• Don't think you can apply auto leather conditioner without cleaning your leather first. The only exception is if your car is literally brand new. There will always be some form of dirt regardless of how clean your leather looks...so make sure you clean it first. Talk to your local Color Glo professional about mild cleaners that are designed to the job well. 
• Cleaning your car leather only will leave it with a satin, or matte appearance. If you want it to have a little shine then a dressing or conditioner may be the way to go, but be warned about dressings. Ryan explains why below. 
• Black or very dark leather interiors will typically have an inconsistent appearance after cleaning, making them more difficult to keep looking "like new".  For this reason, we do suggest using a conditioner/dressing in most cases to create a perfectly even appearance after the cleaning process. 
• As you may have noticed, humans get lazy and like to skip steps. So you might find yourself wanting to skip the cleaning part next time around and simply be seduced into applying a fresh coat of dressing. This will create a worse problem over time as you will be rubbing a fresh coat of dressing along with any dirt deeper and deeper into every area of your fine upholstery. Over time you will create a nice build-up of dirt and conditioners which will actually begin to deteriorate your automobile's protective top coat. Keep our number handy... you will need it. :-)
• Lastly, beware of the brands labeled as "long-lasting" or "water-resistant" as these silicone based dressings/conditioners will be difficult to clean completely off each time you do clean your car leather. Don't take the Tim Allen approach here form Tool Time and assuem that more is better. When it comes to dressings/conditioners, you actually want a product that will clean off easily each time and therefore allow for complete cleaning of your leather each time prior to a new application of conditioners. 

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Ryan Feeborn from Color Glo Oregon gives us his thoughts on silicone based dressings. 

A few tips on auto leather conditioners

Just be smart and educated about your leather and auto interiors. Now that you're armed with a little bit of information based on real world experience, you can use the recommendations above to begin your own search. You may want to implement a schedule on your calendar if you're serious about protecting your investments. The "garage" or Man Cave schedule. 

• Clean your car leather once a month. If done regularly, it's just minutes of your time. If you procrastinate, it's a much bigger job which requires some beer and complaining - maybe that's better for you.... A microfiber cloth dampened with cleaner and aggressive rubbing is all your particular car leather may require if done so regularly.
• Use a Color Glo leather conditioner if it makes you and your car leather feel a bit better about it all.
• Use a canned aerosol dressing after cleaning any colored car leather to create a nice sheen. This will provide a consistent appearance after cleaning your car leather. This auto leather conditioner/dressing will also address the black/dark colored leather/vinyl interiors issue mentioned above. 

Motor On!

The Fascinating History Behind Leather Couches

This blog post originally appeared on BuildDirect.com and was written by Anabelle Bernard Fournier

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Leather Couches: A Tour Through History

Imagine entering a living room with dark, naturally-colored leather couches. The effect is immediate: you have a sudden desire to run your hand along its cool, smooth surface. The leather gives in under your touch and makes that squeaky, satisfying sound. Yes, it’s real. And you want to stay in this luxurious, inviting room forever.

Leather has been used for thousands of years for clothing, armor and even as material for building tents in nomadic tribes. The techniques for transforming raw animal skin into supple material that was easily dyed, sewn and worn or upholstered have existed for just as long. It’s an ancient art, full of history and traditions.

The leather seat, whether chair or couch, also has a long and fascinating history. Did you know it has been present in homes for thousands of years?

There is proof that the throne of Arabian rulers was made of leather. Sitting on leather was his privilege and a sign of power and wealth.

In Roman society, you could find in the wealthiest and most powerful patrician homes leather lounge chairs. The men would lie back in them while they ate, drank and conducted business, while the women would sit on regular plain wood chairs.

Because of the amount of work involved in making leather, the material was reserved only for the elite. It was very expensive, and possessing a piece of leather furniture was considered a status symbol.

Leather Couches - Medieval times to the industrial revolution

This rather long period of time sees leather used in an increasing amount of household objects, including chairs and couches. The increase in trade between Europe and Asia and the discovery of America brought new kinds of furs and hides to Europe, increasing the interest in leather.

However, the leather-making process remained tedious and expensive, and leather furniture remained a luxury reserved for the rich. You would find leather-covered couches in the households of royal families, kings, and noblemen. Ordinary people would still have access to leather in the form of clothing and small accessories, but the furniture was out of their reach.

The industrial revolution and leather furniture

We all know what happened during that time: new machines increased production, and new techniques made the fabrication of everyday objects easier and cheaper. People started to give up making their own household items, as they used to do before and started buying them from manufacturers instead.

Leather didn’t escape industrialization. Although some steps still need to be done by hand, the discovery of new dyes and tanning techniques contributed to an explosion of leather goods, including furniture.

During the 19th century, the leather sofa began making its appearance in common, middle-class households. The leather seat was no more reserved for the rich and influential.

The leather couch became a symbol of comfort and “homey-ness”; a home without at least a small leather chair or sofa was considered unsuitable for receiving people. The addition of new colors and new hides made it easier to use leather furniture in a variety of décors. And the Victorians were avid home decorators!

The 20th century

As the 20th century progressed on, technology advanced and trade increased even more between countries. The leather couch remained an essential manly piece of furniture, usually in the form of the man’s easy chair, where he would sit after a long day of work. Leather couches served as the center of the living room, where the family would gather to listen to the radio, and later, to watch television.

In the 1960s, leather couches became a trend. Clothing and furniture designers began to use leather more widely, and leather appeared in colors such as white and bright green and red. The famous pod chair often had a leather lining inside. A home was not trendy unless it had a leather couch.

Leather couches and furniture today

Since then, the leather couch has retained its reputation of a premier, luxury piece of furniture. Leather furniture gives an instant boost of luxury and comfort to any living room and is still perceived as a status symbol, despite its democratization and cheaper prices.

Today, leather couches come in a variety of colors not previously imaginable: pinks and purples and turquoises and oranges. They are now as versatile as fabric couches and will fit any style and any décor. However, too much leather can look severe; you can soften it by using throw blankets and pillows in complementary or accent colors. Or you can hire an Interior Designer. 

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Do you have old leather couches, chairs or leather furniture that needs to be repaired? Contact the leather and fabric restoration specialists. 

How to Make Your Own Beeswax Leather Polish

DIY Beeswax Leather Furniture Polish

Leather, of course, comes from a once living animal. Just like our skin, it can dry out, crack, tear and have damage based on how its taken care of. You can use a waterproofing spray to delay the inevitable degrade of leather that happens through vicious cycles of wet / dry, cold / hot, etc. But eventually, your furniture, boots, purses or what have you is going to need some love. 

Make your own leather polish & conditioner

If you want to take care of your leather aging leather furniture, or better yet you really love your leather shoes, wallets, purses, and boots - especially if you have a problem with boots... then you'll need a good, organic, home-made waterproofing and leather balm to help maintain your leather goods to last a lifetime. 

Tools

• Measuring spoons
• Tins or cups for your polish
• Pyrex measuring cup
• Small pot
• Small aluminum pie plate (optional)
• Wooden spoon

Ingredients:

• Beeswax - solid
• Mineral Oil or Castor Oil
• Coconut Butter
• Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil

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Step 1

Setup is really easy. Flatten the small pie tin and punch holes into it (if you opt to do this). This allows bubbles to pass through it and it keeps your preparation from burning (the pyrex sitting directly on the pan bottom could cause burning). Next, fill the pot so that the water just cover the pie tin by 1/4 of an inch. Then set your Pyrex cup on top of the tin. 

Image: The Modern DIY Life

Ratios. Ingredients are broken down into three categories; solid, semi-solid and liquid. The ratio of each depends on the consistency of polish you are trying to create. A safe mixture ratio would be 2-1/2-1/2 liquid to solid and semi-solid respectively, however you can change it up depending on your application.

If you want a softer polish (say for furniture), you can increase 3-1/2-1/2 or even as much as 4-1/2-1/2 however, I wouldn't go much softer than that. The more beeswax / butter means a firmer mixture, while more oil means softer. It's your choice really...

Step 2

NOW, Add the beeswax and coconut butter. If you need a measurement to start with you can use a one-to-one ratio such as: 1/4 cup of beeswax and 1/4 cup of coconut butter.

Keep stirring then slowly add your almond oil or olive oil (1/4 cup). It will cool the mix causing lumps so add it slowly allowing the mixture to re-melt. When it's fully blended, you can start adding the mineral oil (1/4 cup). It's a thicker oil, so you'll need to really blend it.

Image: homefarmer.co.uk

You'll need to keep the heat on your preparation for another 5 minutes or so. Make sure that is DOES NOT BOIL. If you see some steam rising from the mixture, you'll want to reduce the heat and continue to stir. If you think too much steam has gathered on the outside or top of the Pyrex cup, just wipe it off and keep going. 

Pouring Your Mixture

Get your tins or cups ready by removing the lids and lining them up. Pour mixture directly from the Pyrex cup into your tins, filling them just below the lip of the container. You may want to find plastic cups or creative containers at your local craft store or dollar store. 

Image: homefarmer.co.uk

That's it!

Now, just let the mixture cool down. This concoction will work on a variety of materials and is very long lasting. This is actually the base mixture for common things you use, like lip balm, oiled canvas, waxed leather and more. It really boils down (no pun intended) to the ratios inside your mixture. 

Experiment. Have fun. Save Money. And if you need to clean your leather furniture first, then visit this post: How to care for leather furniture. 

Just look how this boot cleans up with a little home-made beeswax leather polish. 

Image: instructables.com

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Lastly, we found this gent over at Hands on History who gives us a nice video walk-through of how you can make this preparation yourself. His focus is medieval so he's a lot fun!

How To Care For Your Leather Furniture

Purchasing furniture can be frustrating as well as exciting for many people. If you're like most of us, when the time comes to make decisions, you begin to have doubts about your choices. This is pretty common with leather furniture. We've gathered up the best leather care tips to help aid you in your leather furniture buying decisions. Have no fear! Make leather furniture purchases with complete confidence. 

The piece of leather furniture can really make a statement. 

Leather Furniture Myths Debunked

Leather furniture gets easily damaged by children and pets. No. Your leather furniture is as safe as any other furniture in the house. For an added layer of "piece of mind", you can choose a protected leather for your furniture, which has an extra finish applied to it to make it extra-resilient to potential hazards. There are some dogs that think the couch is their chew toy and some cats that assume it is their scratching post. That is a different issue altogether. The later issue can be resolved by making your own cat repellant spray. 

Leather furniture is too cold or too hot. No. You're basing your leather discrimination on your automobile's leather seats in a midwestern environment. Outside is typically either "too cold" or "too hot". Leather furniture indoors will remain pleasantly cool in the summer and warm to your body heat in the winter, with no harsh beginnings as your home usually comfortable inside. Our only tip may be to keep it out of the direct sun. The sun can both heat the leather up and make it uncomfortably hot as well as fade its character.

Leather furniture doesn't last. Negative ghost rider. Leather furniture (if bought at a high quality) is something you purchase for a lifetime. Since leather is a natural product, the process of aging brings out its natural patina. To some, leather furniture may age like a fine wine, bringing out deeper layers of beauty over time. Generally speaking, leather furniture is a sound home investment. 

Leather furniture is only for rich people. No. Though leather furniture may look luxurious in many cases, you don't have to be a rock star to outfit your home with it. Even if buying at the top-end of leather furniture, you'll find that it lasts much longer than fabric and be a much better value for your home. 

Leather furniture is too hard to care for. No. It's all in routine, just like your other household responsibilities. Leather is very easy to care for. You'll want to use a conditioner every 6-12 months and wipe up spills as they are occurring with a clean cloth. Avoid using abrasive cleaning supplies like soaps, detergents, solvents, etc. These will only leave stains and dry up or damage your leather. Saddle soap? Only for catcher's mitts. 

This brings us to the next section. 

Tips & Tricks to Care For Your Leather Furniture

Here are some tips and tricks for keeping your leather furniture beautiful and easily cared for,  for many years to come. ** Some leather comes with very specific cleaning and maintenance. Always be sure to consult the manufacturer's recommendations before following this guide. 

1. In normal living conditions or what the manufacturer may consider normal usage, all that should be necessary to keep your leather furniture in tip-top condition is a regular vacuuming in the crevices and a dry cloth dusting to remove direct and dust build up. 

2. Purchase a good leather conditioner (your furniture retailer can recommend one). Make good use of it every 6-12 months. 

3. Like any upholstery material, leather can fade if over-exposed to the sun. Protect your leather furniture from sun, as well as outdoor elements. 

Use a clean terry cloth to wipe spills and clean up messes.

Methods of Cleaning Leather Furniture

Just like bleaching your hair using self-tanning spray... always try any cleaning method in a hidden area first. You would hate to turn your plush burgundy office furniture blonde in one vigorous cleaning extravaganza. 

For minor spots and spills, wipe up any excess liquid immediately with a blotting sponge or clean absorbent cloth. If necessary, use a lightly moistened soft cloth with clean lukewarm water, and let it air dry naturally. If you're using water, clean the entire area where the spot occurred.

• Do not use soap or soak the stain heavily with water. This may cause more damage than the stain itself.

• Do not use cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, detergent soaps, or ammonia water.

• For butter, oil, or grease stains, wipe off excess with a clean dry cloth, and then leave alone as the spot should dissipate into the leather after a short period of time.

• If the stain persists, it is recommended that a professional leather specialist clean the leather to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself.

• For minor or slight scratches on the surface, use a chamois or clean fingers to gently buff the scratch. If needed, moisten lightly with distilled water to work scratches out.

• Remember that leather is a natural product and requires some care to maintain the natural beauty of the hide.

• For cracks, tears, or punctures seek your local leather furniture restoration service to quickly fix the affected area and keep it from spreading to further damage.

Source: American Leather Furniture

Terry of Color Glo KC says "treat it like your own skin" 

Interior Design & Leather Furniture

Many people can't wrap their head around how to design their space with leather. They begin to feel like their home may be too "woodsy" or too sterile. Understandably, you've probably been to homes or cabins where this is exactly the case. Those are byproducts of home themes, not good spatial advice. 

If you feel like your loving that perfect leather furniture and you're now convinced that it's easy to take care of, but you just can't get your interior design thumb flexing, then hire a professional to help in your mission. We defer to a professional Interior Designer in Minneapolis. 

Leather Interior Design in Minneapolis. CW Lofts by Tiffany Hanken Design.

How To Care For Leather Furniture

Leather Furniture Care Tips

Leather furniture can be a large investment. Knowing how to maintain it is important in order to keep it in good condition for many years. Here are some DO & DON'T Tips for helping your leather furniture age like fine wine. 

Image courtesy of homeridae.com

Leather Furniture Care Tip 1

Avoid household cleaners like oil soap to clean your leather couch or chairs. Though they seem harmless and like a good idea, they almost stain and darken the leather. Another mistake many people make is mild soap, like dishwashing soap or other counter top soaps. WE KNOW, they great on your hands and everything feels nice but it can actually remove the color on your leather furniture. 

And saddle soap... it's great for your son's catcher's mitt, but will wreak damage on your expensive, top-grain love seat. 

Leather Furniture Care Tip 2

Soap and detergent. NO. As mentioned above, we can use mild soap on our skin because our skin is still hydrated and alive. Your skin can replace its own oils and do its own maintenance. Leather furniture will quickly become brittle and dry when using these products. Applying oil afterwards will only stain the leather and double the damage. 

Leather Furniture Care Tip 3

Sunlight is also not your friend when it comes to leather furniture. As you know, sunlight can cause wear and tear on everything that you let sit in it for extended periods, whether that be months or years. If you feel as though you are too cold or too hot inside of a room, the so is your leather furniture. 

• Avoid extreme temperatures
• Avoid placing good leather products next to radiators or air conditioners. 

Leather Furniture Care Tip 4

Spills are the devil. If spills happen on your fine leather furniture, you'll want to blot them immediately using a clean terry cloth towel. If you don't have a terry cloth towel, then paper towels will work too. 

Sometimes we like to eat on our furniture while watching the television or enjoying company. If you spill grease or oil on your leather furniture, use talcum powder or baking powder to help absorb it. You can also contact the manufacturer or your furniture or visit an upper-end furniture store that may carry a safe cleaner. 

BEFORE

AFTER

Leather Furniture Care Tip 5

How to treat brand new leather furniture. You can protect it right off the bat with a professionally applied protector. DIY enthusiasts may also want to tackle this themselves with an after-market product. There are plenty of after-market products out there. 

Our recommendation is to have your leather furniture professionally treated. If your couch or chair is older, you absolutely want to have a leather furniture cleaning service clean the furniture and apply the leather protector. This will ensure that you'll get the most mileage out of your new restored leather furniture. Check out these great examples of restoring leather furniture.

Color Glo international and Color Glo franchisees world-wide are specialists in color restoration and repair of leather furniture. Keep your investment for years to come. Revitalize your home and save money. Contact us today for more information. 

Original article posted at HGTV