Cleaning and caring for greased and pull-up leather

What is oiled or pull-up leather?

Oiled, waxed or pull-up leather is leather where the uppermost colour layer is a tinted fat or wax layer. In furniture, this type of leather is also called “saddle leather”; it is widespread in bags and shoes and comes in many versions – smooth or coarse-grained, matt to glossy.

Oiled and pull-up leather have a patina that intensifies through use.

• Oiled leather: the grain of the leather remains visible; the surface is treated with tinted fat.
• Pull-up leather: the surface was sanded during manufacture, similarly to suede leather, but is glossier because of the tinted fat.

Characteristic of both: they develop patina through use. This is desired and not a defect. A scratch with a fingernail leaves a light line that can be polished out again by rubbing. When rubbed with a slightly damp white cloth, the leather transfers colour slightly. This is due to the tinted fats and is normal.

Risk of confusion with PU leather

Some leather is called “pull-up” but has a polyurethane-coated surface, making it actually PU leather. It looks similar but must be treated completely differently. The wrong care product can cause irreversible damage.

Distinguishing feature: run a fingernail over the leather. If a light line forms that can be rubbed out, it is genuine oiled leather. If no line forms, it is PU leather. When rubbed with a damp white cloth, PU leather does not transfer colour.

For PU leather, please read our separate instructions.

PU leather looks similar to oiled leather, but has a coating and is made from split leather.

Care for new leather

Contrary to expectations, new oiled and pull-up leather is usually open-pore. Liquids are absorbed and leave stain rings.

Quick test: rub in a drop of water; is it absorbed and does it darken the area? Then the leather is open-pore. Waterproofing for leather and textiles is the best initial care; it protects against stains and rings.

If the drop of water beads up and does not penetrate the leather, the leather is less open-pore and Colourlock Aniline Cream is the first choice. It balances signs of use and cares for the leather at the same time.

If in doubt, always apply waterproofing first; it is safer than the cream on sensitive leather.

Everyday cleaning

Dust oiled and pull-up leather with a soft cloth or duster. Occasionally wipe it with a slightly damp cloth; do not make it too wet and do not rub hard. Too much moisture or vigorous rubbing can cause stains or colour abrasion.

Polishing out signs of use

It is typical of oiled leather that it shows signs of use or patina after a short time. This is a desired effect of this type of leather. A scratch with a fingernail produces a light line.

Polish out light scratches and signs of use with a soft, dry cloth. The fat rubs out and the marks disappear. For stronger marks, lightly dampen the cloth. For very strong marks, dampen the cloth with a little Aniline Cream and polish out the marks.

Alternatively, you can also work with Scratch Away. Put a small amount of Scratch Away on a soft cloth (Viscose Cloth Set of 2) and first distribute the product evenly in the cloth. Then carefully polish the affected areas with light pressure in circular movements.

Dark areas can be lightened by gently stretching the surface.

For all these methods, always work across the entire surface – all seat surfaces, all main surfaces of a suite – so that a homogeneous surface is produced.

Always test first in a concealed area. For more sensitive leather, first use waterproofing, then polish out the signs of use.