Robust and durable, leather is a natural material often chosenfor use in the harshest of environments. We take its relativestrength for granted. Leather is stitched together in everydayitems like shoes and boots, belts, wallets, purses, jackets, sofas,easy chairs, car and truck seats, sporting equipment and more. Evenfur coats are considered leather goods.

Preconceived notions tell us that leather needs to avoid contactwith water, and therefore cannot be cleaned in a wash process. Afunny notion when you consider rain, street puddles, earlymorning golf tee times in dewed grass, and dreaded winter slush areall things that come into direct contact with leather goods; andyet these things remain intact.

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When the juice isn't worth thesqueeze

Adjusters and claims professionals making assessments on smoke-or water-damaged leather contents often write off these items asnon-salvageable. Many dry cleaning service providers won't take thetime or trouble to restore leathers. The reason is obvious.Cleaning leather goods by hand is too time-consuming relative tothe revenue gain – it is almost impossible to return them topre-loss condition.

Removing soot or flood soil out of the zippered pockets of apurse or backpack takes time. Without a form of automatedtechnology, that also sanitizes items, odor and contaminates willlikely not be removed – especially when it is heavy soot or soil.What's more, Category 2 gray water or Cat 3 sewage, ormold-impacted leathers can't be proven safe when cleaned by hand.Without the benefit of using lab-proven, automated cleaningtechnology, bacteria, smoke and foul odor will most likelyremain.