Leader in Restoration Techniques Offers the Dos & Don’ts of Leather Care

Creative Colors International, Inc.
Published: January 29th, 2014

Creative Colors International Discusses Smart Ways to Sustain Leather's Luster and Cut Costs in the New Year

January 29, 2014 // Franchising.com // Mokena, IL – According to a December 2013 study by BMO Harris, 30 percent of all New Year's resolutions for 2014 will be related to personal finances. In today's economy, consumers find every way possible to save money while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle. Unfortunately, maintaining furniture for homeowners and business owners can become difficult as leather, vinyl and fabric quickly concedes to the daily grind and loses its luster, making people think they need to choose between getting rid of it, paying a costly fee to replace it, or tolerating it as is.

Many people mistakenly believe that common mishaps like scratches, tears, burns, cuts, scratches, stains and/or fading indicate a piece of furniture is ruined so they'll spend a large amount of money to replace it; however, with proper care and maintenance, leather can stay looking new and retain its flexibility, durability, comfort and beauty for much longer. Creative Colors International (CCI), the leader in affordable on-site repair, reconditioning and color restoration of leather, vinyl, plastic, and carpeting, offers the ultimate solution to outlandish replacement charges to help consumers and business owners stay true to their New Year's resolution of cutting costs, saving customers up to 90 percent of replacement fees.

"Fabrics like leather are expensive to purchase and unfortunately, do not stay looking shiny and new for very long if uncared for," said Mark J. Bollman, President of CCI. "We've seen and worked on so many pieces of furniture that could have stayed looking new had proper measures been taken early on; we always advise our clients to be proactive with leather care by following steps that are easy to implement and can help them greatly cut costs down the road."

To help consumers preserve their leather furnishings and goods before repair or replacement is needed, the CCI team of experts offers the following dos and don'ts.

Dos

• Avoid sharp objects near leather such as scissors, pens, keys, children's toys, etc. Leather is skin and is subject to cuts, tears, burns and surface scratches.
• Be aware of dark colored clothing and blankets as the dye may rub off on leather when the material is dry and will bleed on leather when the material is wet.
• Be careful with dairy product near leather as dairy spills will leave spots; even after cleaning, the oils in the dairy will eventually rise back up to the surface.
• All leather needs to be wet dusted routinely as dirt, dust and clothing leave behind traces. Wet dusting is the simple process of taking a white cloth towel, immersing it in warm, clean water, wringing out as much water as possible, and wiping down the leather material.
• Allow wet or damp leather to air dry naturally, away from any source of heat. Apply a small amount of leather conditioner when leather is nearly dry to help restore flexibility. Follow this with a full conditioning treatment when leather is completely dried out.
• Throughout winter, promptly remove any salt deposits from shoes and boots by lightly sponging with clean water, as recommended above for wet dusting.
• To help prevent mildew, protect leather from excessive humidity.
• To help protect leather from drying out and cracking in a dry environment, regularly condition it.
• For leather clothing and accessories: Always hang leather coats on wide, padded hangers, use shoe trees in shoes and boots, and stuff empty handbags with tissues to retain their shape.

Don'ts

• Do not place newspapers on your leather furniture as the ink bleeds through and is very difficult to remove.
• Do not use paint, ink, nail polish or antiseptic dyes around leather since they alter the coloring and will leave a stain.
• Do not use waxes, silicone products or other leather preparations that impair the ability of the leather to "breathe".
• Never use caustic household chemicals to clean leather. Avoid leather preparations that contain alcohol or petroleum distillates, such as Windex, Fantastic, turpentine and mineral spirits.
• Do not use mink oil or other animal fats as they will darken the leather and can turn rancid, causing the stitching and leather to rot over time.
• Do not store leather goods in plastic bags or other nonporous covers. If clothing must be stored in a garment bag, keep it open for ventilation.

For more information on CCI and their proprietary systems, visit www.wecanfixthat.com.

About Creative Colors International

Launched in 1991, the Creative Colors International (CCI) franchise system was created through its affiliate, J&J's Creative Colors, the original industry leader in refurbishment techniques and systems. J&J's Creative Colors was founded in 1980 by Jim and JoAnn Foster. Today, both companies continue to be family-owned and operated by the second generation Foster family. Catering to the abundance of upholstered items in every home, business and vehicle, CCI is the ultimate in on-site repair, restoration, cleaning, protection, and dyeing of leather, vinyl, plastic and fabric. Through proprietary technology, CCI restores damaged seats at a fraction of replacement costs, saving customers up to 90 percent. CCI repairs are stronger than the original area and are nearly invisible to the naked eye. In the Automotive, Furniture and Commercial Markets, CCI offers on-site repair and restoration to all types of leather, vinyl, fabric, plastic and carpeting by repairing and redyeing holes, cuts, tears, burns, scrapes, fading and discoloration. For more information on CCI's services and franchise opportunities, visit www.wecanfixthat.com.

SOURCE Creative Colors International

Media Contact:

Stefanie Zimmerman
Fishman PR
847.945.1300 x 267
szimmerman@fishmanpr.com