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How to Clean a Leather Belt
A leather belt is a great accessory to keep yourself looking sharp at the office or around town. But, taking care of a leather belt isn’t something most folks think about. Cleaning a leather belt is not like washing other pieces of clothing.
Most of them are made from thick leather that comes from cowhide. To keep the cowhide from cracking or staining, you’ll have to keep the leather in good health.
The good news is that you don’t need much to clean a leather belt. Here are some of the things you’ll have to get to clean up your belt:
- Saddle soap or leather cleaner
- Some rags
- Warm water
Activated charcoal, baking soda, and cat litter are also handy since they can be used as a deodorizer for the belt.
Once you have what you need, follow these steps:
- Dip one of the rags in water and wet the surface of the belt to loosen grime and dirt.
- Pour the saddle soap or leather cleaner onto a different rag and wipe along the grain of the belt to your liking.
- Remove excess cleaner with a rag dipped in water.
- Dry the belt overnight by air-drying it.
How Often Should You Clean Them?
You should wash most leather items twice a year, and leather belts are no exception to this. The leather needs to be cleaned as it builds up grime and dirt over time.
When you wash your belt, don’t forget to condition the leather when you’re all set. If you do this, the leather will continue to look new and shiny. It also helps keep the leather from cracking or peeling over time.
How Do You Keep a Leather Belt in Good Condition?
The easiest ways to keep a leather belt looking good are to wash it every six months, condition it when you’re done, and keep it dry.
Conditioning leather comes down to using the right products. If you know what kind of leather your belt is made of, you can easily match it to a good conditioner. From there, you’ll follow the instructions to get your leather belt looking shiny and new.
Why Does Leather Require Special Care?
Leather requires special care because of where it comes from. Most leather accessories come from cured cowhide.
Because it comes from something organic, the lack of natural oils can cause it to crack over time. Without conditioning the leather, it will degrade.
Should You Polish a Leather Belt?
If you want to keep your belt looking fresh, then some polish can help with that. If done correctly, the polish doesn’t hurt the belt or cause it to wear out faster.
Polishing your belt should be done after it is clean. Once clean, apply the leather polish and work it into the leather with a dry cloth. Use the cloth to buff the leather and evenly spread the polish.
How Do You Get a Stain Out of a Leather Belt?
Most stains that show up on leather are oil-based. Because of this, you need something that can absorb the oils out of the leather without harming the leather itself. Corn starch is a cheap and easy way to do that.
- Cover the stain with cornstarch. If the stain is old, you might want to rub the cornstarch into the leather using your finger.
- Now you’ll have to wait until the stain absorbs into the cornstarch. It could take a while, depending on how old the stain is.
- When the stain is gone, wipe away the cornstarch with a dry brush and leave the belt to dry.
