Artificial leather is a relatively new creation. It appeared in the 1930s, initially as a technical substitute for rubberized fabrics used for tarpaulins and raincoats, to enter the household more widely in the 1950s as an affordable material for making leather clothing and accessories. The main material for the production of artificial leather at that time was polyvinyl chloride (PVC), also called vinyl.
Almost until the end of the 1980s, the goal of artificial leather was to bring the appearance, texture, and properties of the material closer to those of natural leather. This trend reached its maximum development in the 1990s with the introduction of polyurethane (PU), which, alone or in combination with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), gave artificial leathers more softness and elasticity and a more varied texture. After 2000, ideas about artificial leather radically changed when, instead of being a cheap substitute, it began to be seen as an independent material, offering practically unlimited possibilities to designers and many new and different sensations to consumers. Artificial leathers are becoming more diverse, more durable, and more tempting.
Today, faux leather for clothing is everywhere in the form of jackets, leggings, skirts, and pants. It's probably the most fetishistic material you can find, even in the closets of people who would label you a pervert if you shared that the look of someone in leather turns you on. However, the wide distribution of faux leather does not lead to better knowledge. This is no less true of faux leather garments constructed or used for fetish purposes.
How do we clean our faux leather clothing after a particularly intense BDSM play?
In this article, we'll look at the different options for cleaning and maintaining faux leather, including tips on how to wash it so that it preserves its qualities for as long as possible.
If you're interested in how to clean your leather garments made of real leather, see our Article on Real Leather Care Tips.
JUST WIPE
The simplest way to clean fetish wear made of faux leather and smooth PVC is to wipe the surface with a soft cloth dampened with water. This simple method, applicable to most leather goods, could be extremely effective for quick cleaning of those BDSM garments that, due to their purpose, come into contact with bodily secretions most often. These are, for example, leather underwear or leather masks and BDSM hoods, which, during intense fetish play, usually come into contact with the full range of body fluids such as vaginal secretions, seminal fluid, secretions from the Cowper's glands, urine residues, sweat, and saliva.Wiping down faux leather with a damp cloth isn't a panacea, but done in time, it can save you a lot of nerves, wasted gear, and future health risks. In this article dedicated to the care of leather underwear, we've covered the highlights of this simple but highly effective means of removing the layers of bodily secretions left behind from your BDSM play.
In many cases, however, simple wiping is not enough, and your leather clothes, underwear, masks, and gloves would need a more serious cleaning. If they are made of genuine leather, you can take a look at our article dedicated to the cleaning and maintenance of fetish clothing made of genuine leather.
If your fetish clothes are made of artificial leather or shiny PVC on a textile base, your subsequent care for them can be greatly facilitated if the manufacturer has provided the possibility of washing them.
CHECK THE LABEL
If you've already ordered masks, lingerie, or faux leather clothing from us, you've probably noticed the adhesive label we put on all products made in our fetish studio. In addition to information on composition and maintenance, on the label of our PU leather and PVC products, you can read the following inscription:"Wash before use."
We have included this label to ensure that you are familiar with the contents of the label and all the possibilities that your new product offers.
If you have purchased your fetish clothing from another manufacturer or retailer and do not have care labels, it is a good idea to contact the seller and ask for information on how to treat the item.
As a rule, most modern types of faux leather allow washing. However, there are also cheap faux leather options with a very thin coating that would fall apart in the first wash, so check the labels or the information you have from the manufacturer to see if the item can be washed.
If your leather underwear, clothing, or BDSM mask is made in our fetish atelier and you follow the instructions on the label, they can certainly withstand a significant number of wear and wash cycles without losing their shine, softness, or strength. We cannot be responsible for other manufacturers'labels and care instructions, so we will look at ours and try to give you some extra tips that will guide you through the basics of washing faux leather garments.
WASHING FAUX LEATHER CLOTHES - THE SAME YET DIFFERENT
On the adhesive label that comes with our faux leather products, you will see the following laundry symbols:
Bleach is a strong oxidizer that would literally dissolve artificial leather, regardless of its composition. Regardless of where you purchased your leather clothing and what the manufacturer's specific instructions are, never use bleach or other chlorine-based cleaners. The chemical formula of bleach is NaClO.
Always turn the faux leather garment inside out before putting it in the washing machine. On the one hand, you protect the front part of the leather from mechanical damage in the washing machine drum; on the other hand, you wash exactly that part that can be washed because the front part of the faux leather does not absorb water well.
When washing faux leather clothing, never put the washing powder (dry or liquid) directly on it, because at a high concentration, the enzymes in the detergent would discolor or damage the leather. Use the appropriate compartment of the washing machine to load the washing powder.
Use colored washing powder. We would recommend that you use a liquid detergent, as it dissolves better and more evenly. Avoid fabric softeners if possible. Either way, they won't make the leather softer, but they can damage it.
DRYING: THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS
The next condition mentioned on our label, but relevant to all types of faux leather, is not to dry leather clothes in a dryer. The heat of the dryer, no matter how delicate the drying mode you choose, would damage the faux leather finish beyond repair. We recommend that you remove the leather garment from the washing machine as soon as the washing program is finished and leave it in a dry and ventilated place to dry naturally.Do not leave the garment wet in the washing machine or dry it in the sun. Either way, you'll be shortening its life. Excess moisture in the washing machine takes away from your wash cycles, and the sun's UV rays damage the leather's coating in-depth and accelerate its aging.
When you take the leather garment out of the washing machine, it will probably be wet and dripping with water. Do not squeeze it under any circumstances. Allow the water to drain, and if there are drops of water on the surface of the leather, you can dry it with a dry cloth without rubbing.
Drying is the most important process, and if you treat it responsibly, you will significantly extend the life of your underwear, masks, and faux leather clothing.
The first thing you should not forget is that on the front side, the leather has little or no water permeability, i.e., your leather garment can only dry on the backing side.
Turn the leather garment with the textile backing inside out and let it dry. When you are sure that the textile base is dry, turn the garment from the front inside out. It will probably be slightly damp and may have water droplets. Wipe off the water droplets with a dry cloth to prevent water marks from forming on the smooth and shiny surface. If the coating is dry and there are traces of drops left on it or it has generally lost its shine, don't worry; you haven't damaged the leather. These are traces of the minerals (most often limestone) dissolved in the water. Take a damp cloth and gently wipe the coating to remove the marks.
Make sure the leather garment is completely dry before storing it in the closet. Some parts, such as the hems, elastics sewn into the leather, or the leather lining, are likely to be more difficult to dry because the base of the leather is on the inside. Sometimes water can literally leak out of these very places when the rest of the garment is already dry. Don't worry, this is normal. It's just that the leather garment needs more time to dry completely.
Turn the leather of the garment so that the individual parts dry evenly, and put it in the wardrobe only when you are absolutely sure that there is no moisture left in it to prevent the formation of mold.
STORAGE: THE SIMPLER, THE BETTER
Faux leather is extremely chemically stable. Unlike other fetish materials, such as natural leather or rubber (latex), which have a porous structure and easily react chemically with the textile dyes of other clothes, faux leather will not stain your clothes if you store it together with them, and it would also have a harder time absorbing their colors. This greatly simplifies storage, allowing you to keep your underwear, masks, and faux leather clothing where you normally store the rest of your clothes.However, there are some specifics about storage that you should keep in mind.
Beware of sharp objects. Zippers, buttons, and decorative elements made of metal or plastic can scratch the surface of the artificial leather or cut into it, leaving a permanent imprint on the smooth structure of its face. When hanging a leather garment on a hanger in the wardrobe, make sure that the metal elements on it, as well as the decorative elements of the adjacent clothes, do not press into the leather. The same applies to the choice of hanger.
Some hangers may have sharp edges or manufacturing defects that, over time and the pressure of hanging, would dig into the leather and damage its structure. To make sure that the hanger you choose does not hide dangerous roughness, you can feel it with your hand for roughness before hanging the garment.
Avoid clip hangers. Although intended to attach textile skirts and trousers, the clips would certainly imprint on the face of your leather skirts and trousers.
The use of hangers is not recommended for clothes made of elastic leather. Prolonged hanging on a hanger can stretch them and reduce their elasticity. Store these clothes folded and without pinching them with other clothes to reduce the pressure on them and hence the permanent wrinkling of the leather.
When folding a leather garment, try to do it along the edges. They usually match the base seams. Smooth the folds by hand to avoid them being sealed into the fabric structure and permanently wrinkling the garment. Do not apply pressure when folding. If you fold the garment in the right places, its separate parts will lie on top of each other without pressing them with force.
Avoid folding hard leather. If the type of garment or your storage space doesn't allow for other options, you can place a foam pad or rolled towel at the folds to pad the fold and prevent fraying.
Smaller clothes made of artificial leather, such as underwear, masks, and gloves, can be stored in textile bags.
If you have purchased the product from us, you have probably noticed that it arrives to you packed in just such a textile bag. It comes with our tag and a convenient velcro closure. Even if the bag seems useless against the background of the product you have been waiting for a long time, do not throw it away. It is specially made for your product, and it will feel the best in it.
In case you decide to keep the bag, you can wash it in the washing machine at 30 degrees in the hand wash mode.
CONDITIONING: TO SELL THE EXCESS
We are often asked what products we would recommend for the maintenance of our faux leather products.There are many leather care products on the market, created primarily for natural leather but addressed by their manufacturers for all types of leather, including faux leather. Most often, these preparations are based on paraffin and bear all kinds of glamorous names.
We're going to let you in on a little secret. For genuine leather products, these preparations can be very useful, but for artificial leather, they are simply pointless. The reason is simple: faux leather is chemically sealed and has little or no permeability to similar emulsions, i.e., they cannot impregnate it. With their help, you can enhance the shine of your faux leather clothes, but that shine will disappear as soon as you wipe the leather or it rubs against something while wearing it.
If you do decide to use leather care products, always test their effect on an isolated area of some of the hems to avoid more serious damage in case the result does not meet your expectations.
Faux leather is as shiny, as soft, and as smooth as the manufacturer intended it to be. There is no applicable chemical formula that can permanently change its original characteristics without damaging it.
INSTEAD OF A CONCLUSION
In this article, we've covered the most important things you need to know about the maintenance, cleaning, and storage of faux leather garments, including how to best wash and dry them. These guidelines are general and applicable to most faux leather garments. Faux leathers are different, however, and it's important to be aware of the exceptions. Very often, especially after an impulsive purchase, just such exceptions end up in our wardrobe. Therefore, it is important when choosing fetish clothing made of faux leather, especially underwear, masks, and gloves, which most often come into contact with body fluids, to check their label for the possibility of being washed. If you order online, be sure to look for information about the treatment of the product, and if it is missing, contact the merchant and request it.Fast fashion and fetish clothing sourced from East Asia have created the misconception that faux leather is a perishable material that you buy to throw away. These items are simply not meant to last. After all, you get what you pay for.
Faux-leather garments are not disposable. If you value the work put into them, as well as your own money, choose products that not only look attractive but will really be worth taking care of.