How to clean, care & protect pull-up, waxed and oiled leather

In order to know the best methods to clean and condition Pull-Up, waxed or oiled leather, it is first important to understand some basics information about the leather. 

What is Pull Up leather?, What are the main characteristics of this type of leather? and Pro's & Con's of Pull Up leather 

Pull Up leather is a type of aniline leather that is coloured with aniline dyes that are sealed using natural oils and/or waxes instead of paints, pigments and top coats. They end up having a coloured wax or oil finish on the top. Pull-Up leather is therefore also called as waxed leather or oiled leather. They are mainly used for making shoes and bags but they have also been used for making furniture.

Pull-Up leather has a sanded surface underneath the finish. However, on some Pull Up leather, the natural grain remains undamaged. The grain structure can be fine or coarse with either a gloss or a matt finish. The main characteristic of these leather types is they develop patina very quickly. Pull Up leather also have a lighter colour when they are stretched or when they get scratched.

Pull-Up, waxed and oiled leather tend to develop patina very quickly in comparison to other leather types.


Pro's & Con's of Pull Up Leather

The leather gets scratched easily and you can remove some of the colour if you rub the surface with a damp cloth. On the plus side, Pull Up leather is extremely soft and feels very natural. They develop a beautiful patina and have a lived in look. They are porous leathers and hence need to be protected from the outset as liquids can penetrate the surface and cause stains which can be difficult to remove.  

Important to note: Pull Up leather should not be confused with PU leather. These are polyurethane coated split leather called PU-Leather or Bicast. Please refer to the appropriate manual. 


Important! Such leather must be maintained differently! Otherwise you can cause damages.

Do not confuse Pull Up leather with PU leather which is split leather with a layer of polyurethane coating (vinyl) applied to the surface.


How to clean & protect Pull Up leather?

Most new oiled and waxed leather(Pull up leather) are usually porous. Water, wine, coffee and other fluids will penetrate into the leather and can cause stains that are hard to remove by general cleaning. Find out how porous your leather is by running a simple test. Rub or drip a drop of water in a hidden area and check if water penetrates the surface. If it is Pull Up leather, you will notice it penetrates the surface. In such cases COLOURLOCK Waterproofing Spray for Leather & Textile is the first choice for protection. If the water doesn’t penetrate into the leather, COLOURLOCK Aniline Cream or COLOURLOCK Gloss Cream is recommended as care depending on the gloss level. The use of the cream is better when scratches have to be removed. The creams do offer a more intensive protection and if you want to use the creams, we recommend using it in conjunction with the Waterproof Spray. First, apply the waterproof Spray and wait for a few minutes. Once the surface has a base level protection, apply wither the Aniline cream or Gloss cream for enhanced protection.

Dust down waxed and oiled leather with a soft cloth or a feather duster. It can also be wiped with a slightly damp cloth. Don't get the cloth too wet and don't rub too hard, all the while ensuring you don't stain the surface or remove any colour.

Oiled and waxed leather get traces or patina after a very short period of usage. That is a desired effect of this type of leather. 

Slight traces of tear and wear can be polished with a soft, dry cloth. The fat or oil on the surface moves and the scratches can barely be seen. In case of more and stronger traces of wear, the cloth may slightly be moistened with water. Heavier traces can be polished by using Aniline Cream or Gloss-Cream (depending on the gloss grade of the leather) with a soft cloth. Always test the procedure first for safety in a hidden area! Extremely sensitive leather should be treated with Waterproofing before the polishing.

Dark areas can be lightened by stretching the surface. In all procedures try as much as possible to get an even tone on the surface. If treating shoes, always treat both shoes, entire surfaces of bags and all the seats of a couch.

Recommended products

Waterproofing Leather & Textile, 200 ml, Aerosol Spray
The Waterproofing Spray is a gentle anti-stain protection for sensitive nubuck and suede leather as well as textiles. Available in 200 ml and 500 ml cans. Areas of application: Garments, shoes, cushions, bags, saddles, tents etc.ApplicationAlways test any products first on a hidden area in case they affect the colour.Spray on a clean and dry surface horizontally, from a distance of approx. 40 cm, thinly and evenly. Allow to dry. For heavily strained surfaces repeat as necessary. It should also be reapplied after cleaning. Apply according to instructions and warnings on the label.Important: The waterproofing will not make absorbent leather fully water-resistant. It increases protection, but the surfaces nevertheless have to be treated gently.
Available Sizes

£11.65*
Aniline Cream 150 ml
Aniline leathers are open-pore smooth leathers. Such leathers are wonderfully warm and natural, but more delicate than surface-dyed smooth leathers. Aniline leathers are not always the same. Some leathers have a fine grain and are pre-impregnated, other leathers are more coarse-pored and absorb any liquid immediately. Aniline Cream is suitable for the fine-pored and pre-impregnated leathers, and for the more delicate leathers, Impregnation and Aniline Protector are the first choice. Aniline Cream can also be used for greased and oiled leathers. Again, there are variances. Some greased or oiled leathers are very matte and coarse textured, others are fine grain and softer and silky matte. For the semi-gloss leathers, Aniline Cream is the first choice and for the matte and coarse grease leathers, Elephant Leather Preserver. For less common, more lustrous aniline leathers, Gloss Milk is the alternative to Aniline Cream. Adequate care is particularly important for open-pored leathers, so that the leather is somewhat less sensitive and can be cleaned more easily. However, the most important protection always remains a careful handling of the natural product leather. Because of the sensitivity of open-pored leathers, all products must always be tested first in the concealed area for changes! APPLICATION Because of the sensitivities of open-pored leathers, all products must always be tested for changes in the concealed area first! Never apply the products directly to the leather, but rather apply the cleaner to a sponge or cloth and always rub the care product into a soft cloth first. Always apply the products in a circular motion from seam to seam to avoid stains or streaks. For everyday care we recommend Aniline Cream. Aniline Cream is an effective stain protector and keeps the leather supple. Traces of use on greasy leather are evened out by Aniline Cream. Aniline Cream should only be applied to clean leather. Ask us for a suitable cleaner for your leather. Check the application of the Aniline Cream first on a concealed area for changes! Moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with the Aniline Cream and apply to the leather surface evenly from seam to seam in a circular motion. Allow to soak in briefly (10 min.) and repeat if necessary. New aniline leather should be treated several times in stress areas during initial treatment to prevent stains and discoloration. After application, heat the surface slightly with a hair dryer. This increases the protective effect. Stressed areas should be re-treated every three months. For less stressed areas, intervals of 6 to 12 months are sufficient. Older leathers or leathers that are regularly exposed to sunlight or other sources of heat should be additionally cared for with Aniline Protector. Aniline Protector provides the necessary re-fatting for dry leathers and protects against fading. For larger leather upholstery landscapes, we also carry Aniline Cream in liters. The products have a shelf life of several years if stored frost-free and not too warm.
Available Sizes

£17.85*