How to Clean Leather Belts

Leather belts are such versatile accessories. They help you make a stylish statement and are perfect for tying everything together from a casual outfit to a more sophisticated ensemble. It doesn't take much to keep your leather belts in mint condition. To make things that much easier, you can use the same simple steps that we featured in last month's blog on How to Clean your Leather Handbags. 

The key product to use if Liquid Soap Flakes. 

Just as we recommended for leather handbags, you can hand wash your leather belts about once or twice a year. Liquid Soap Flakes contain only pure soap with no additives or fragrances, making them a great choice for those with sensitive skin. They do not contain palm oil as the soap is derived from rapeseed and sunflower oil. Liquid Soap Flakes is well-suited to washing leather belts as it doesn't dry out the leather.

You'll need a basin, a towel and some Liquid Soap Flakes. 

Method: 

1. If you look closely to its left, you can see that the belt we used had a grey fungal 'bloom'.

2. Use a basin in which you do your regular hand washing. Pour in a capful of Liquid Soap Flakes. Then immerse the belt in some warm water.
 

3. Wash the belt as you would a delicate fabric like silk or wool. You can remove light dirt stains by gently rubbing the soiled areas.

4. Almost immediately you will see spectacular results as the Liquid Soap Flakes goes to work and washes away the dirt. Once you are done washing the belt, rinse it in some fresh clean water.

5. Then dry it using a soft fluffy towel and leave it to air-dry overnight.

6. The finished article should look as good as new!

How to Clean a Leather Handbag

There’s nothing like a great leather handbag for an instant style boost. Aside from making a stylish statement, and whether it’s structured or slouchy, a great handbag can help you look pulled-together and do double duty for work or the weekend. Here are our money-saving tips on how to keep your tote in tip-top condition and get the best bag for your buck.

 

 

About once or twice a year, wash your leather handbag – and yes, we said wash, hand wash that is, in some Liquid Soap Flakes. Liquid Soap Flakes contain only pure soap with no additives or fragrances, making them a great choice for those with sensitive skin. They do not contain palm oil – the soap comes from rapeseed and sunflower oil. Liquid Soap Flakes is well-suited to washing leather handbags as it doesn’t dry out the leather.

Method:

Use a basin in which you do your regular hand washing. Pour in a capful of Liquid Soap Flakes. 

Then wash the bag as you would a delicate fabric like silk or wool. You can remove light dirt stains by gently rubbing the soiled areas. 

Once you’ve washed it, rinse the bag by dipping it in clean water to remove all traces of the Liquid Soap Flakes. Then leave it to air-dry overnight, or for as long as required and reshape the bag when you do so.

This should do the trick and keep your bag looking as good as new. Here are some final tips on storing leather handbags. 

• Do not store leather handbags in plastic, as they can dry the bag out or stick to the leather.  

• Stuff the bag with tissue paper or an old T-shirt to maintain its shape.  

• Place the handbag in the felt bag it came in or a pillowcase and store upright.

How to Clean Your Convertible’s Soft-Top

Summer’s a great time to get out and about with your convertible – with the top down of course! Here’s a great tip from Dri-Pak customer, Sheila Thorpe, who used Liquid Soap Flakes to clean the soft-top of her convertible.

Just take a look at the top of the car after cleaning.

Begin by dissolving some Liquid Soap Flakes in water and then apply it on the soft-top using a soft children's nail brush. According to Sheila, ‘This combination worked perfectly because the nail brush does really get into the fibres of the fabric. You might want to avoid using the nail brush too often though, as it may raise the pile - but for tough stains it’s a great combination.’ She added that the roof will also need to be re-proofed afterwards in order to restore its waterproof properties.

Dri-Pak’s Liquid Soap Flakes removes grime and ingrained dirt without affecting the appearance of the convertible car's fabric and it’s suitable for all colours.

So go ahead and give it a try. Drop us a line at: http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/contactus.html#.U-NfiKPQris using our online form and tell us how you get on with cleaning your soft-top convertible.

For more of our tips on cleaning your car, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk2yft5LX_c

The Great Garden Tidy Up

If your garden is need of a boost, Soda Crystals are highly effective when it comes to tackling the build up of dirt to help restore garden ornaments and furniture, while some Bicarbonate of Soda goes a long way.

 

  

 

One of the materials that Soda Crystals can clean with ease is stone.  Stone plant pots and ornaments can be revitalised with a combination of Soda Crystals and hot water (half a cup of Soda Crystals to every litre of water) to help remove caked on grime such as mud.  Liquid Soda Crystals can also be sprayed and left on the stone surface to help remove extra-stubborn dirt. After leaving the solution to treat for an hour or so, brush vigorously with a stiff brush and rinse off. The same method can be used on terracotta and plastic plant pots to help banish unsightly marks and dirt. 

Soda Crystals are great for cleaning wooden decking too, which often collects algae and moss. Over time the algae and moss can build up and ruin an otherwise spotless garden. Using a mixture of hot water and Soda Crystals, evenly spread the solution over the decking and leave it for an hour. Then rinse off to reveal great results.

Dustbins can easily get very dirty and start to smell so it is important that they are cleaned regularly. Pour a solution of Soda Crystals and hot water into the bin and leave it to treat for an hour, then drain it and allowed to dry well. You can help remove foul odours with a generous sprinkling of Bicarbonate of Soda. 

 

Bicarbonate of Soda is also part of Dri-Pak’s useful cleaning range as it can deodorise fridges, shoes, carpets and much more. You can read up on its uses on the website, and find great information on our other products.