How to Restore Water Damaged Leather & Suede

Hurricane Harvey has destroyed many things, but don’t let him take your favorite Double D Ranch pieces from you!

If any of your leather, suede, or velvet items have gotten wet or soiled from all of the disastrous floodings from Hurricane Harvey, we are here to help! It is recommended to send them to a professional dry-cleaner, but If you  want to clean them yourself, we've listed the steps below so just follow along:

GENERAL REPAIRS & NOTIONS REPLACEMENTS:

Did you know Double D Ranch offers FREE button, stud, or notion replacement?  

Yep, we do! 

In fact, not just for Hurrican Harvey garments, but we always have offered this service.  So, if you are missing a button, nailhead, hairpipe, etc., send it to us and we will do our very best to repair or replace these embellishments.

1. Call our customer service and apprise them of the issue.  800.899.3379
2. Tag or mark your garment clearly and send it to us.

FOR SUEDE:

1. DO NOT apply heat or set your garment out in the sun/heat to dry.
2. Instead, if your suede is soaking wet, try to absorb as much water as possible with a sponge or towel. but be gentle. Let dry completely at room temperature.
3. Dirt, mud or water stains?  Now is the time to treat! Working with the direction of the suede nap GENTLY brush off with a suede eraser or suede brush (a clean soft toothbrush will work). This should remove most water stains as well as mud or dirt. If you still have stains try mixing equal parts white vinegar and warm water and gently wipe away with a brush (dip the brush into the cleaning solution, not the suede) and blot with a towel to help absorb some of the water. We've also used Dawn dish soap with warm water. Take your pick.
4. Another trick to remove grim is an Artgum eraser.  Again, be gentle and brush residue away.
5. Once the suede is completely dry you can gently brush it back to life with a suede brush. Work in small circles until the nap is soft and comes back to life.                                                  
6. Most important things to remember:

• no heat,
• treat stains when suede is dry,
• be gentle with it - no scrubbing!

FOR LEATHER:

1. DO NOT apply heat or set your garment out in the sun/heat to dry.
2. If leather is soaking wet absorb as much water as possible with a towel. Hang on a wide padded hanger or something that won’t warp the shape. Allow the leather to dry until it is damp.
3. While damp, apply a leather conditioner and leave to completely dry.
4. If it still seems dry in places, add additional conditioner.

Note: Do not use furniture or car-seat leather conditioner.  

Garments need non-silicone products like these:

FOR VELVET:

• Will the embroidery bleed or fade?
• Will the nailheads fall off or cause damage to other parts of the garment.  
• Will the sequins loose their luster?
• Use your best judgment before attempting a DYI.

1. Velvet clothing items are recommended to be taken to the dry cleaners, however, if you’re like me you can either hand wash or wash alone in the washer - just be VERY GENTLE! Cold water here friends and avoid bleach and fabric softeners.
2. Hang or lay flat to dry.
3. If you are trying to save a pair of our velvet boots, I recommend you absorb as much water by blotting with a towel.  Then gently brush if needed and allow to dry.

If you don’t want to take this task on yourself I would highly recommend taking your items to your local dry-cleaner, shoe repair, or leather/suede specialist. For all my Houston gals I found one for you

I hope this answers your questions and more importantly I hope we saved your Double D! As for all affected by Hurricane Harvey and those out there putting their own lives on the line to rescue victims, we continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers. We are currently accepting donations on our website to aid those affected by Harvey, so if you are able to contribute click here.  Just know there is more than one way to help whether that be volunteering, sending food, supplies, or praying for those affected. Please, as always, feel free to ask us questions.

We love our Double D Fam!