A lot of sports equipment available on the market is crafted from real leather. Sports gear like hockey gloves, cleats, footballs, and baseball gloves are made of real leather to enhance their durability and endurance. Leather sports gear is bound to get dirty and worn with use. However, with proper care, you not only extend the lifespan of leather sports gear but can also make the leather more flexible which could have a positive impact on your performance on the sports field. In this article, we will offer you a guide on how you can clean and condition leather sports gear.
Leather Sports Gear Maintenance
Cleaning and Conditioning Leather Sports Gear
Depending on how often you use your leather sports gear, you can schedule their cleaning along with conditioning. If you use your sports gear several times a week, then you need to make a habit of cleaning them on a weekly basis. However, items that are used less frequently, require less cleaning. They can go longer between cleanings. As for conditioning, you need to condition your leather every 6 to 12 months so that it can retain its suppleness and flexibility.
Steps for Maintaining Leather Sports Gear
Step 1: Dusting – When it comes to leather sports gear, the first step to protecting them and enhancing their life span is cleaning. Make cleaning your sports gear a habit, and they will stay with you for years. To clean your gear, start by dusting off loose dirt, dust, and grime from its surface. This is a very important step when it comes to sports equipment because they often get dirty from the field and this dirty can result in tiny scratches, decreasing the allure of the gear.
Step 2: Cleaning – The next step of maintaining your gear is cleaning. Make sure to clean your leather with a bespoke leather cleaner. Before you begin in cleaning process, do a patch test. Apply a small amount of cleaner on a discreet area to check how the leather will react to the cleaner. Once the cleaner passes the patch test, apply a small amount of it to a soft cloth. Then use the cleaner moistened cloth to wipe and remove stains and dirt from the surface of leather sports gear.
Make sure to pay extra attention to the soiled areas. However, do not scrub too hard as scrubbing can damage leather. Once your sports gear is clean, allow it to dry naturally for a few hours, preferably overnight. Also, keep in mind that some leather sports gear like leather baseball gloves needs to be cleaned from both sides.
Step 3: Condition – Once the leather is completely dry after the cleaning process, you can condition it. Conditioning is necessary because over time leather gets dry and will begin to fade. A good leather conditioner helps restore the moisture content of leather all the while protecting it from environmental elements and enhancing its life span.
Therefore, good cleaning, followed by proper conditioning is a must if you wish to maintain your leather sports gear. Again, before conditioning, do a patch test by applying a small amount of conditioner on a discreet area to check if there is any bad reaction. Once the patch test is done, take a soft cloth or rag, and apply a small amount of Whites Pearl Leather Conditioner to it.
Then use this cloth to gently massage the conditioner into the leather. Whites Pearl Leather Conditioner is crafted from natural ingredients that breathe new life into leather. The conditioner also possesses water-repellent and sun-protection properties that make leather more durable. Once you have thoroughly conditioned your sports gear, let it dry for 2 to 24 hours. Once the leather is dry remove excess conditioner and check if it needs another coat of conditioner. if the leather still areas a bit dry, you can apply another coat of conditioner.
Also Read
Advantages of a Leather Conditioner
6 Major Causes of Leather Damage
Ultimate Guide to Leather Care