Ostrich Leather Products Care Guide

Ostrich is considered high class leather, and has left its quill-laden mark on some of the world’s most trendy avenues. As you may have have guessed, ostrich is tremendously popular in fashion, garnering an immediate cult following with trendy ostrich feather hats, sassy handbags, and elegant boots and footwear. 

Don’t get the ostrich wrong though. She’s not just a pretty face. Apart from her abnormally flexible and soft hide, ostrich leather is one of the sturdiest, strongest leathers in the world. Her hide is naturally filled with oils, giving her an unusual resistance to cracking and stiffness. One of the best things about this leather is how easy it is to maintain. To the envy of pretty much every other supermodel out there, ostrich does not need to spend endless hours poring over tiny details to get her face straight. She’s just naturally good looking. And she’ll get even better looking as the years go by if she’s treated with the proper ostrich leather care she deserves. 

Avoid Contact with Direct Sun: First thing to remember with ostrich leather is that, while more resistant to elements than other leather breeds, the elements still affect it. Because most ostrich finishes are transparent, prolonged exposure under sunlight will fade your leather over time, and heat can dry it out fast. Instead, it’s best to keep your ostrich leather in a cool, dry place when not being used, and covered in a clean box or dust bag to prevent dust settlement. You will want to avoid exposing your ostrich leather to situations where she’ll get spills or wet, but when that inevitable oversight strikes, remove as much moisture as you can by dabbing it up with a soft, dry cloth. Remember: blot, don't smear. If there is a stain, use a damp cloth when blotting to transfer the substance, and wipe the rest of the leather with another damp cloth to ensure the item dries evenly. Take care of any stains sooner rather than later, before they can set in. If an oil or grease stain does set in, no worries! You’ll want to sprinkle talcum powder over the stain to absorb the oil, and wait about an hour. Brush the powder away with a soft cloth (not a brush or paper product), and the stain should be gone. Huzzah! 

At some point, it is also a good idea to give your ostrich products a proper leather cleaning, ideally every other week. Don’t use any soaps or solvents – exotic leather, and leather in general, doesn’t do very well with those.

Depending on what you are using your ostrich leather for, you may want to clean off excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth prior to cleaning it. If you are working with boots, for example, they may have a lot of mud caked on them which will make cleaning difficult. When the surplus is gone, wipe the surface of your leather gently and evenly with a damp cloth, and allow it to dry indoors in a cool place away from sunlight and direct heat. If the leather is still dirty, you will need to find a suitable cleaner. Veer away from commercial leather cleaners and leather conditioners as a rule of thumb with exotic leather and ostrich leather care. Instead, try to find a leather cleaner specifically designed for exotic leather.

--https://leathermilk.com/ostrich-leather-care