Learn about the different kinds of leather

When considering adding to your leather collection, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. What type of leather is best suited to your needs? To assist in some of the research, Fibrenew franchising is showing you the pros and cons of the three main types of leather.

Aniline Leather
Aniline leather is considered the most natural looking leather. Some people refer to it as “naked leather” because of how natural it looks. It is known to be very soft and comfortable. A lot of people enjoy aniline leather because it preserves each marking it receives, making each piece completely unique. While this type of leather can be very visually pleasing, it is a material that is easily strained. If you have a busy family or high traffic in your home, this is a type of leather you may want to avoid.

Semi-Aniline Leather
The main difference between semi-aniline and aniline leather is the light protective coat semi-aniline receives. This protective coat is useful because it makes the material more resistant to strain and stains, which helps it to last longer. The color in semi-aniline leather is also more consistent than in aniline leather. The downside to this type of leather is the protective coat leads to less uniqueness; the leather does not retain markings as well with the protective coat.

Pigmented/Protected Leather
The most durable type of leather available, pigmented leather is covered with a polymer surface coating that contains pigments. This coating gives the leather more resistance to scratching, scuffing or fading. Pigmented leather does not have the unique qualities of other types of leather, as the sealant prevents marks from staying on the material. Pigmented leather is an excellent choice for busy families who have high traffic in their homes. Pigmented leather is easy to maintain and makes for an excellent couch or lounge chair material.

As you can see, there are good and bad aspects to every type of leather available. Being informed about which kind works best for your lifestyle is important when purchasing leather furniture. Happy shopping!

3 Main Reasons Why Leather Furniture Should be Maintained

 Cleaning your leather products can seem unnecessary when you already have a busy schedule. Who wants to spend time wiping down their sofa when they could be doing something fun?

While it’s pretty normal to want to avoid cleaning, there are some important benefits that come from regular leather cleaning. We’ve broken down the top three for you in hopes that it will inspire you to keep cleaning!

Lasting pigmentation: The color and overall look of your leather is bound to be better when it’s been subjected to regular cleanings. It doesn’t need to be anything intense; just wiping down your leather products with a damp cloth on a weekly basis can make a world of difference!

Durability: Caring properly for your leather goods will lead to stronger leather, which will last longer over time. Having to replace a leather sofa or chair can be tedious; regular cleaning and upkeep will keep your fabric strong for many years. And don’t forget, Fibrenew professional leather repair can fix any tough fabric issues you may encounter!

Comfort: Sitting on cracked, aged leather is simply not as comfortable as lounging on a pristine fabric. Basic maintenance, such as wiping down your leather, keeping it out of the sun and using a good leather protector, will help keep your leather in excellent shape. You’ll never be worried about company disliking your sofa!

Keeping your leather in great shape isn’t very hard; a little time and effort is all that is necessary! Fibrenew is here to offer tips as well as assistance with difficult maintenance. 

Car and Motorcycle Leather Seat Repair

You may notice that, over time, your soft leather car or motorcycle seats become dry or faded. Many people attribute this to wear and tear, but it is actually caused by heat and light from the sun. Because the leather in your vehicle is likely to be exposed to a lot of sunlight and heat in parking lots, vehicle manufacturers use leather that is highly resistant to sun damage in their seats.

Most car seats are made from fully-finished leather, and it tends to hold up a lot longer in the sun than other types of leather. But, even the strongest of leathers will be damaged by heat and sunlight over time, so it’s a good idea to clean and protect your seats 6-8 times a year to boost their resistance to damage.

You can also try using window shields in a car or covers on a bike to keep some of the light and heat off your leather if you park in the sun for extended periods of time.

It is also a good idea to seek out parking spots in the shade instead of in direct sunlight.

How to fix dried out, faded leather

You can have a leather professional re-dye faded leather for a reasonable cost.  But, once the natural oils found in leather are gone, they’re gone for good.  Leather repair professionals can do a number of things to make it look better, but there is no way to truly restore it to its previous condition.  That’s why preventative maintenance is so important!

How to clean and repair your leather furniture

When it comes to repairing and caring for leather furniture, there are hundreds of options.  Furniture stores and online retailers offer up products that do everything from cleaning to dying leather.  However, you should proceed with extreme caution when you use these DIY products on your furniture.  I’ve heard and seen the effects of horror stories where these products ruined people’s leather furniture, so here are a few pointers on what to look out for.

1. Don’t use any products that contain alcohol or acetone.  Alcohol seeps into and damages the protective surface of furniture leather.  Acetone will remove the dye and color from leather.

2. Be sure to use products designed for upholstery.  Leather used for shoes, jackets and clothing is very different than that used in furniture.

3. Only use products designed for the type of leather you have.  Most furniture is made of aniline, semi-aniline or fully-finished leather.  Because of the differences in finish, it is very important to use only products designed for the leather you have.

4. Dying leather is a highly specialized art.  Professionals receive extensive training on color matching and dying, and it’s not at all likely that any DIY dye kit will produce very good dying results.  So, be very careful with these products – test them on a part of the furniture that no one will ever see before you use it on the visible part of the piece.

5. Stay away from products that say they are for multiple surfaces, even if one of those surfaces is leather.  Most of the time these products contain elements that will damage leather.  It is best to stick with products made specifically for leather.

Also, there are lots of people out there who have heard old wives’ tales about household products to use on leather.  Some of these can be helpful, but there are many that do not work and will ruin your leather furniture.  One example is using olive oil to fix minor dings and scratches on leather.  People also try using finger nail polish remover, shoe polish and window cleaner, among other things, to work on damaged leather.  All of these options can cause major damage to your leather down the road.

Any questions?  Have any experiences with leather products to share?  Post them in the comments!

Reasons: Cracked Motorcycle and Car Leather Seats

Most car interior leather and motorcycle seats are fully finished, and there are a couple of reasons why it cracks. Cracking usually occurs when the protective coating on fully finished leather is worn down or when there has been a manufacturer problem.

1. Body oil and dirt can cause leather to crack -

It is very easy for dirt and oils to collect on the surface of leather.  Together, these act like a fine sand paper, breaking down the protective layer on fully finished leather over time, eventually leading to visible cracks at the surface.  Once the protective layer is broken down, the leather underneath, which is incredibly porous, soaks up the dirt and oil sitting on its surface causing further abrasion and damage.

2. A manufacturer problem can cause leather to crack -

Tanneries put a layer of dye and a protective top coating on cow hide (almost like paint on drywall) to make fully finished leather.  Leather has a lot of give and will stretch and move as people sit and slide around on it, so the manufacturer needs to stretch it properly before they put on the dye and protective top coating.  If they don’t stretch it well, the leather will quickly stretch more than the dye can handle, and the coating will crack.

Once leather is cracked, a leather repair professional can typically fix it, however, it is much cheaper and easier to clean and take care of your leather seats from the start than to deal with cracking after it happens.

We’d be happy to answer any additional questions you have.  Please post questions in the comments below.

Franchising Opportunities

A Fibrenew franchise is a very profitable business, whether you choose to be an owner operator with a single vehicle or expand your business to include multiple technicians and vehicles. For less than the cost of an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) you will learn a skill, which when applied, will provide you with an income and give you the opportunity to grow a business.

Fibrenew is a "niche market" business refurbishing and re-dyeing all leather and plastic, offering clients a "GREEN" environmental and cost saving alternative to replacing or recovering damaged pieces. Since 1987 we have expanded our global presence to include over 202 franchise units in 8 countries, 100 of which are located in the U.S.A.

Fibrenew: A Lifestyle Franchise Business

•     Home-based, mobile business
•     Monday – Friday work week, set your own hours
•     Few or no employees to start
•     Low overhead and high profit margins
•     More personal & family time

The Fibrenew market is as broad and diverse as your imagination!

•     Car dealerships, rental agencies, fleet vehicles
•     Offices, restaurants, bars, theaters
•     Medical, dental, veterinary clinics
•     Transportation companies, insurance companies
•     Furniture stores, homes, fitness centers
•     Marinas, commercial and private aircraft

When you are awarded a Fibrenew franchise, you receive:

•     An exclusive protected territory
•     Use of Trade name and Trademark
•     Access to proprietary products and methods and manuals
•     Comprehensive training program
•     Complete inventory and equipment
•     Business cards, invoices, statements, envelopes and brochures
•     Ongoing technical support via phone and internet
•     Access to our Technical Library
•     Continuous education, support via seminars, workshops and conferences

“Hands on training & active involvement of professionals are vital to the success of any business.”

Click here to request a Fibrenew Franchise Information and a Fibrenew representative will contact you within two business days to discuss the opportunity of owning and operating a Fibrenew franchise.

Tips How to Hunt on Ebay for Old Leather Furniture

Sometimes leather furniture upholstery is way beyond repair. Either that or the repairs will cost more than the furniture is for. Instead, you may decide to go treasure hunting for old leather furniture rather than having it professionally restored. If you have never used Ebay before, you are in for a treat. The website has numerous options where you can search for an item that you are looking for and then either have the option to buy it now or bid on it.

When considering old leather furniture on Ebay, it may take a while to find because it isn’t something that is posted on a daily basis. You need to take into consideration how much you are willing to spend on a piece of furniture. You can’t forget to take into account how much it may cost to have it shipped to you. If you find a piece of furniture that is somewhat close to you in proximity, it may end up being cheaper to go get it and load it yourself after you have purchased it rather than having it sent via freight.

One thing about treasure hunting for old leather furniture on Ebay is that you need to be absolutely sure to know what you are getting. You don’t want another piece of broken down furniture that you will be disappointed in. Instead, feel free to ask the seller numerous questions and even ask for additional photos. If they are sincerely interested in selling the piece of furniture to you, they should be more than willing to accommodate for your needs.

There are a few things that you may want to ask the seller when you have treasure hunted and found an ideal piece of furniture for your home:
• What are the dimensions?
• Is there any damage to it?
• How did you take care of it?
• Does this come from a smoke free home?
• Does this come from a pet free home?
• What color is it?
• What company manufactured it?
• How old is it?
• Why are they selling it?

These are just a few suggestions to you to ask a seller when contemplating making a big purchase of furniture on the world’s most popular auction website. If it doesn’t work out for you, there are other treasures waiting to be discovered elsewhere. Happy hunting and visit us at www.fibrenew-franchising.com for more about leather upholstery and franchising.