Leather care

Photograph by Lockwood, 1945,
Image courtesy ClipArt.com

Leather Care

" 'She is yours,' he said. He took his strap off her throat, and unbound her hands.
'Submit,' I told her. She knelt before me, back on her heels, arms extended, head down, between her arms, wrists crossed, as though for binding.
'I submit to you, Master,' she said.
I tied her hands together; she then lowered her bound wrists; I pulled up her head. 'Can you read?; I asked her.
'No, Master,' she said.
'It says,' I said, 'I am the girl of Tarl of Teletus.' I then collared her."
John Norman, Explorers of Gor, p. 74

"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven."
Karen Sunde

arani's Master recently instructed her to do some research regarding the care and cleaning of her collar and cuffs. He also directed her to share what she learned with her brothers and sisters in slavery. this one is happy to obey, and prays that it provides enlightenment to her fellow slaves.

Let's say that you have been lucky enough to find a Master that moves you like you've never been moved before. Your belly burns for Him like it burns for no other. After spending a lot of time with Him, serving Him and talking to Him, you feel blessed because He has given you His collar. You are indeed fortunate, and arani hopes that you spend a long and happy time in His collar.

However, now that you have the collar, how do you care for it to keep it looking nice? Of course, you certainly want this symbol of your slavery to look as beautiful as the day your Master placed it around your neck. This means you're going to have to do a little work.

Because leather is made from the skin of an animal, it contains pores that can trap dirt and grime, just like your own skin. Over time, if the leather is not cared for properly, these small particles can rub and grind away at the leather's natural protective covering. They can eventually get into the fiber of the leather and cause it to split or crack.

A regular cleaning with a soft brush or dry cloth is essential for preserving the life of the leather. If the collar has gotten extremely dirty, it should be cleaned down to the pores. Some sources say that leather should be cleaned every 2 to 3 months, some say every 6 months. How often you clean your collar will probably depend on how often you wear it. Many products are available for this purpose, but arani has seen several references that say saddle soap is just about as good as anything. Never use caustic household cleaners, or chemical preparations that contain alcohol, turpentine, or mineral spirits. Good leather cleaning and conditioning products may be found in stores that sell good quality hiking boots or tack for horses.

Follow the directions on the can and use a damp cloth or your fingers to work the soap into a lather on the leather. Once the entire collar has been lathered up, immediately wipe it dry. After it is thoroughly dry, buff it with a soft dry cloth. (Note, if your collar is made of suede, do NOT use saddle soap to clean it.)

If you don't have a specially-formulated leather cleaner handy, and you need to clean your collar, try using a small amount of Ivory soap in warm water, applied with a soft cloth. Don't forget to wash the soapy solution off with a clean damp cloth--don't drench the leather--and allow it to dry naturally.

After a deep cleaning, a leather conditioner should be used to replenish the lost emollients. Again, there are many different products available, but they all serve the same purpose--to add moisture to the leather to seal it and keep it from drying. Many good products contain lanolin, beeswax, or mink oil. NeatsFootOil is also very good. Be sure not to use a product that contains silicone, as this can break down the natural oils in the leather. Dampen a cloth with the oil and rub it into the leather evenly, in a circular motion. (Or use your fingers, as they will provide a little warmth to help work the conditioner into the leather.) Once the entire surface has been covered, allow the oil to dry and sink into the leather. Then wipe it with a soft cloth to remove any excess oil. Remember to condition only leather that has been cleaned thoroughly, so you don't seal in the dirt. Do not be alarmed if the conditioner darkens the color of the leather slightly; this is normal.

If your collar is made of suede or something other than cow hide, such as some of the more exotic leathers (crocodiles, snakes, etc.), it needs to be treated differently. Some of these other animals have special membranes that keep the scales together. Because of this, these products should be cleaned and conditioned more frequently, but the procedures are essentially the same. Suede products should be brushed frequently with a stiff brush. Any dirt should be removed promptly with an art-gum eraser. For a stain, use a product designed specifically for suede.

When you are not wearing your collar, keep it in a clean dry place. Never store your leather in a plastic bag where it cannot breathe. Instead, cover it with a clean, dry cloth, preferably cotton. Be sure to remove your collar when applying hair spray or perfumes, and do not allow cosmetics to get on it.

If your collar becomes wet, it needs to be dried soon so that it does not mildew. Allow it to dry at room temperature. As obvious as this may sound, do NOT put it in the clothes dryer. If possible, use a dry towel to soak up as much of the water as you can--don't rub, just blot. If a towel isn't handy, shake as much water from the leather as possible. Do not put your collar near direct heat or sunlight to dry. When it is nearly dry, apply a coat of conditioner to restore flexibility. Follow this up with a full conditioning treatment when it is completely dry.

Your new collar should be treated immediately in order to help prevent permament stains from occurring. Remove any marks as soon as you notice them, the longer they go untreated the more they are likely to cause a permanent stain. If you can't remove the mark with ten good rubs with a leather cleaner, don't keep rubbing as you may damage the leather. Grease marks can be removed by rubbing GENTLY with sawdust moistened with benzene. Spills or stains on suede can be removed by treating as quickly as possible with dry corn starch. Let it sit overnight and then remove with a stiff brush.

Your sweat and body oil will deteriorate the leather eventually, no matter how well you care for it. However, most leather items can be rebuilt, replacing the deteriorated portions with new leather. It's done with saddles all the time.

One word of caution with regards to some of the afore-mentioned products. Mink oil and lanolin-based products can have a strong smell that can make some people ill. If you don't want to become physically sick to your stomach every time you wear your collar, you should check the odor of any product that you use on it.

arani wishes you much joy and happiness in your collar, and hopes that you are able to maintain it well and easily.

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