European Leather Repair of Seattle, Washington presents how to restore and maintain Cruise Ship leather upholstery. Cruise lines have leather furniture worth 100’s of thousands, if not millions of dollars on their ships. Heat, suntan and body oil, and abuse all take their toll on leather furniture. Cleaning and maintenance will keep this expensive investment looking good, and last longer.

1. European
Leather
Repair
Refinishing • Repairing
Restoring
!
P
L
EWE TAKE CARE OF OUR
HDO
HOW
LEATHER FURNITURE ?
An easy-to-follow guide on
the care of leather furniture.
Also: Identifying stages of wear Restore or replace?
European Leather Repair, Inc.

2. CRUISE LINES HAVE LEATHER FURNITURE WORTH 100’S OF
THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THEIR SHIPS.
Heat, suntan and body oil, and abuse all take their toll on leather
furniture. Cleaning and maintenance will keep this expensive investment
looking good, and last longer.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

3. STAGES OF USE/WEAR OF LEATHER FURNITURE 1
Some surface damage: Ground in soil and scratches/stains.
This damage usually begins to be visible after about 2 years
of use but is not very noticeable to the casual observer.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

4. STAGES OF USE/WEAR OF LEATHER FURNITURE 2
Finish cracking: The first line of defense for the leather has
begun to fail. The cracking of the finish will allow moisture and
air to pass through the cracks, and then the leather fibers will
begin to dry out.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

5. The finish on this
leather is worn and
cracked, but it can
be recolored
without replacing
or reupholstering.
If the furniture is
not restored, it
leads to the next
stage.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
425-486-3605

6. STAGES OF USE/WEAR OF LEATHER FURNITURE 3
Leather cracking & splitting:
The interlocking fibers of the leather are
lubricated by oils.
Once the finish has cracked and begun to open up,
the oil will evaporate and the leather fiber will
become stiff and start to crack.
Soon the leather will reach the point of no return
and need to be replaced.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting

7. STAGES OF USE/WEAR OF LEATHER FURNITURE 3
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

8. IN MANY CASES, THE FURNITURE CAN BE SAVED —
AND YOU SAVE MONEY!
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
BEFORE: New purchase price $2100.00
- Now worn, soiled & stained
AFTER: Looks good as new!
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

9. IN DRY DOCK OR IN SERVICE, EUROPEAN LEATHER
REPAIR TECHNICIANS WILL RETURN YOUR FURNITURE
TO A LIKE NEW
APPEARANCE.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

10. RESTORATION SAVES NEW PURCHASE AND
RE-UPHOLSTERY COSTS
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
Before
After
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

11. FURTHER EXAMPLES - SIDE BY SIDES
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
BEFORE / AFTER
Fast
Safe
BEFORE / AFTER
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
Reliable
Long
Lasting

12. HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHER FURNITURE
Test the leather: Wipe the leather with a damp rag. If the
leather turns dark-it is a very sensitive, absorbent leather
and you must be very careful with it. Clean only with a
small amount of leather cleaner on a damp rag. Always
clean from panel seam to panel seam.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
If the leather does not turn dark, it is a finished leather
and should be fairly easy to clean. Use a leather cleaner
with a damp rag and medium pressure—not hard!
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
Reliable
Long
Lasting

13. HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHER FURNITURE
For hard to clean finished leather: Apply leather cleaner to
surface and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes allowing the cleaner
to loosen the dirt. Then clean again.
Avoid cleaners that advertise “protection” for the leather. The
polymers and silicones contained in these products never
“bind” with the leather. Instead, they actually attract and
trap dirt!
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting

14. HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHER FURNITURE
While there are many leather care products on the market, it’s
best to stick with a basic leather cleaner & conditioner. Avoid
products with additives.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
European Leather Restorer is just such
Fast
a product. It is an easy-to-use, one-step
Safe
Reliable
cleaner & conditioner delivered in
Long
Lasting
1 gal. containers, minimum 4 gal.
order size.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

15. HOW LEATHER IS MADE
TYPES OF LEATHER AND PRODUCTION STEPS:
Tanning
is the process whereby a natural, degradable material—
an animal hide—is chemically changed into a non-degradable
material—leather. This is done using primarily chrome tanning
salts and is a process that can take several days.
After
the hide has been tanned, it is a grey/blue color—this is
where the term “wet-blue” comes from. It is now ready for the
coloring steps.
First,
a hide is put into a coloring vat, where dyes can soak into
the leather. It can be left there for from fifteen minutes to an
hour.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting

16. HOW LEATHER IS MADE
TYPES OF LEATHER AND PRODUCTION STEPS:
Then,
the “flawless” hides—those with no barbed wire
scratches, brand marks or other skin damage, are separated and
classified as “aniline” leather. Nothing more is done to these
except perhaps a light color or clear coat. These hides are
considered of the highest quality and are the most expensive.
The
rest of the hides—the majority actually—then receive a
pigmented finish coating. (The industry term is “paint”. But not
house paint! It is an expensive, high quality paint developed to
match the specific physical characteristics of leather.) Lastly, a
clear, tough Top Coat is applied which protects the leather from
stains, scuffs, etc.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting

17. HOW LEATHER IS MADE
TYPES OF LEATHER AND PRODUCTION STEPS:
So
European
Leather
Repair.com
Aniline:
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
now we have two types of leather which are identified by
the ways they have been colored:
Vat dyed only—maybe a light color or clear coat is
also applied, but the most obvious thing about aniline dyed
leather is that it is very soft and the dyed leather grain can be
seen.
While
this is visually the most attractive of all leathers, it is
sensitive to stains, sun fading and can be difficult to clean. It
is not suitable for use in high-traffic public areas.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting

18. HOW LEATHER IS MADE
TYPES OF LEATHER AND PRODUCTION STEPS:
Pigmented
finish: Vat dyed, then color and Top Coat are
sprayed onto the surface. These leathers can also be very
attractive (and expensive!) but are not as soft as aniline
leathers. On the other hand, they stand up well to heavy
use, do not fade in the sunlight and are easy to clean.
Anything
we did not cover? Give us a call and we’ll help
you with those “special” issues.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting

19. 30 YEARS ON TWO CONTINENTS
European Leather Repair is owned and operated by
Marc Allan who began restoring leather in 1980. In 1981
he started a leather restoration business in Munich, Germany.
There he developed techniques and working together with
BASF, Clariant, Sandoz and other chemical companies,
successfully developed a line of leather restoration products.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Marc Allan, Owner
Master Craftsman
Returning to the U.S. in 1989, he formed European Leather
Repair, Inc. in Seattle, Washington. The company quickly
established itself as the premier leather repair company in
Washington State, and earned a national reputation for quality
workmanship and products.
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting

20. 30 YEARS ON TWO CONTINENTS
Since 2002, European Leather Repair has
serviced the cruise industry, having restored
leather furniture for Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal,
Holland America, Norwegian, Princess
and Royal Caribbean cruise lines.
European
Leather
Repair.com
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Fast
Safe
Reliable
Long
Lasting
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605

21. CONTACT INFORMATION
European Leather Repair, Inc.
European
Leather
Repair.com
Shop & Shipping:
2100 196th St.SW #125
Lynnwood, Wa. 98036
•Refinishing
•Repairing
•Restoring
Mailing address:
2020 Maltby Rd. SE
Unit 7, #134
Bothell, Wa. 98012
Fast
Safe
Ph. 425.486.3605 :: Fax 425.486.3633
Reliable
Contact: Marc S. Allan
Cell 206.963.6988
mallan@europeanleatherrepair.com
Long
Lasting
European Leather Repair "The Cruise Industry's Leather Expert" •
425-486-3605