Some belts unfortunately become cracked and dull after some time. Many are familiar with the problem – if leather belts or other leather products are not sufficiently cared for, the leather wears out quickly. It becomes brittle and even tends to harden. Therefore, you should always care for your belts sufficiently to increase the lifespan of the belts. Here are a few tips for proper care
Proper care for belts
petroleum jelly
Apply a thin layer of cloth a thin layer of Vaseline and let it soak in overnight. In the morning, the belt will shine again!
Leather grease or oil
In addition to Vaseline, a high-quality leather grease or leather oil is of course suitable for optimal belt care. Use it to grease the belt regularly.
Moisture
Moisture is beneficial for the belt and keeps the leather supple. If the belt is worn less frequently, however, it can harden. Therefore, the belt should be hung up from time to time in humid air (night air is optimal).
Milk for white belts
To care for white leather belts, you should rub them down with milk every now and then.
Do not use body lotions or udder cream!
You often read that body lotions, creams, or udder cream are valuable for treating belts. However, you should keep your hands off these!
Why?These products are simply designed for the skin and aim to absorb quickly. This factor is therefore completely useless for a leather product. Furthermore, the following happens: creams and body lotions contain emulsifiers as well as normal fats and oils. When exposed to air, these substances are not absorbed by the leather, but become rancid and start to smell. This can even lead to the destruction of the leather. The stench is usually impossible to remove, and the belt becomes unusable.
Tip:If you use long-term stable fats and oils, the belt will not go rancid.
Now, you have certainly heard of cases where the leather did not show any odors or damage despite the use of "wrong products." In this case, you were simply lucky. The belt will have been made of a lighter, older material that tolerated the treatment. The excess substances were simply absorbed by the leather; this is usually possible once or twice before the leather reacts to the treatment.
However, the fact is: younger leather goods are simply ruined by the wrong choice of product – but the result is often only visible after weeks.
Also fatal: Shoe polish. This has no place on belts. It doesn't harm the leather, but the color remains on the surface and also stains clothing or upholstered furniture.
Read also:Â A gentleman from head to toe
Photo by Janine, meinhaushalt.at
