How to Clean Ostrich Leather
Ostrich leather is made from the skin of ostriches. Approximately 12 to 14 square feet of durable leather can come from a single adult ostrich.
The markings that result from an ostrich leather piece’s location on the ostrich body--scales from the legs, and dot hole or bump patterns from pulled quills--when combined with various transparent dyes, give ostrich leather a distinctive appearance, making it an exotic fashion material highly prized in fashion circles. Ostrich leather requires little in the way of cleaning other than removing dirt and enriching the material to prevent cracking.
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Wipe dirt from your ostrich leather item with a soft, lint-free, damp, textured microfiber cloth. If you're dealing with something extremely dirty (for example, dried mud on boots), rub off the mud with a dry cloth and then follow with the damp cloth.
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Apply a thin layer of ostrich leather-approved conditioner or shoe creme to the leather surfaces, and then wait for the product to dry completely.
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Gently rub your ostrich leather in a circular motion to buff the leather after it has dried.
Things You Will Need
- Water
- Lint-free textured microfiber cloths
- Ostrich leather-approved conditioner
- Ostrich leather-approved shoe creme (optional)
- Talcum powder (optional)
Tip
If you're dealing with a spill, wipe it from the leather immediately. Blot the stained area with a damp cloth to transfer the staining substance to the cloth, and then wipe the unstained areas so that the entire leather surface will dry evenly. If your ostrich leather item has an oil stain, sprinkle talcum powder onto the stain to absorb the oil, wait at least half an hour, then brush the talcum powder from the leather with a soft, textured microfiber cloth.
Warning
Use of detergents or chemicals to clean ostrich leather can result in cracks and stains.
Always test your ostrich leather-approved conditioner or shoe creme on an inconspicuous area of the leather before use, to make sure the product doesn't fade or bleed the dye, or damage the material.
Never expose your ostrich leather item to direct heat sources, because heat can dry out the leather as well as discolor it. Always store or place your ostrich leather item in a shaded area away from direct sunlight.
References
Writer Bio
Based in Southern Pennsylvania, Irene A. Blake has been writing on a wide range of topics for over a decade. Her work has appeared in projects by The National Network for Artist Placement, the-phone-book Limited and GateHouse Media. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Shippensburg University.
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