And that if you have road salt on your leather, especially your boots, it needs to be removed as soon as possible. Otherwise it can dry out the leather, and if left too long, will cause permanent damage.
But we have so many things to do -- taking care of your leather seems like one more hassle when you're ready to dig the flip flops out of the closet.
So I suggest you see your friendly Bootblack and get your gear cleaned up. Or, if you don't have a Bootblack nearby, you can do it yourself.
My method is to 1) clean the leather with glycerin soap and water. 2.) Dry. 3.) Condition.
Some advocate using a vinegar and water mix to get the salt off. I would only do that if the soap didn't work. But I'm no expert...use your brain and the Google if you don't want to take my word on it.
This week I had the honor to work on some salt-stained leather for a dear friend. First, a pair of gloves that she thought might be goners:
And the after picture:
Glycerin soap and water, wipe and let dry, then condition with Huberd's. Extra on the fingertips. There are other methods, this one is mine.
Also a pair of high-shine Harley Davidson motorcycle boots.
The before:
They don't look too bad, actually. Because they were well taken care of to start with. My client had worn them to shovel snow, and you can see some salt stains on the right boot (ie, the one closest to the paper towels).
The happy ending:
All shiny and nice, ready to reflect that brilliant spring sun!
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