How to Care for Buffalo Leather: A Comprehensive Guide

If you wonder how to care for buffalo leather, look no further. This guide outlines everything you need to know about caring for buffalo leather.

How Do You Care for Buffalo Leather

The feel of the natural leather grain is not something that can be replicated with a synthetic or manufactured material. Natural leather is made from the skin of animals, including buffalo and cow animals. Bison leather has been known to last longer than regular leather because buffalos are larger and tougher than cows.

Owning an item made of buffalo leather can be thrilling given its good quality and distinctive look. It is essential to take good care of your buffalo leather item to last long and retain its beauty. There are many different ways to do this, and the method you choose will depend on how much time, effort, and money you are willing to spend.

Whether it is a water buffalo leather bag (sourced from the hide of Asian water buffalo) or shoes, the level of quality and authenticity is definitely worth your investment. To help you better understand the entire process of caring for buffalo leather, we have created this comprehensive guide.

The Basics of Buffalo Leather Care

Buffalo leather is vulnerable to damage due to its thick skin, making it more challenging to clean than cow leather. It is crucial that you properly take care of buffalo leather, or your item will get damaged quickly.

Below are some essential tips for caring for buffalo leather:

Place your leather away from direct sunlight to prevent the leather from fading.
Avoid using chemicals and abrasives that interfere with the leather's protective surface.
Prevent any prolonged exposure to heat vents and radiators that cause the leather to dry out.

Keeping the above in mind will ensure your product retains its new look and will guarantee that the quality is well-maintained.

Guide on How to Care and Protect Buffalo Leather

If you are wondering how to care for and protect your buffalo leather, we've provided a few tips and tricks below.

Dry the Leather When It Gets Wet

The thickness of buffalo leather is a feature that makes it water-resistant for longer than other leathers. It's also possible to make your buffalo leather waterproof.

However, as much as you can waterproof buffalo leather using waxes, saddle soap, and sprays, there are several factors you need to consider when drying out wet buffalo leather.

First, try not to rub but gently blot the excess dampness as soon as possible. Using a heat source to speed up the drying process is not always advisable as it may cause further damage.

When drying a buffalo leather product, such as a bag, consider stuffing the inside with a newspaper to aid in withholding its shape and allowing moisture absorption from the inside.

Use a Conditioner if the Leather Dries Out

Using a leather conditioner to condition your buffalo leather sofa, car leather seats, or other buffalo leather item helps maintain its elasticity.

When leather dries out, it is more vulnerable to wear and tear. However, conditioning applies to specific types of leather, and for this case, never apply conditioner to burnished leather.

Use Proper Cleaning Agents to Clean Your Leather

Every material is prone to dirt, and your buffalo leather is no exception. This is why knowing the right way to clean it is essential.

Always use clean hands to handle your leather as oil and residue quickly transfer to the leather. To correctly clean your leather, wipe off dirt using a damp cloth or a commercial leather cleaner such as leather honey.

To remove dirt build-up from your sofa or bag, use a leather cleaner and a clean cloth to wipe off the dirt. Always ensure you use products free from solvents or silicone as harsh chemicals such as furniture polish, ammonia, or detergent can ruin your leather.

Properly Storing Your Leather When Not in Use

Buffalo leathers are exceptionally delicate. Properly storing your leather ensures it becomes more beautiful, attractive, and rugged with time.

Always keep your leather in a space free from humidity, dust, direct sunlight, and heat. You can preferably use a fabric bag or box for storage.

If you own leather bags, luggage, or jackets, always air them once every few weeks to protect them from mold growth.

Conditioning Buffalo Leather

It's your obligation as a leather owner to ensure it looks great throughout. Buffalo leather is a very complex material. That's why knowing how to clean it by spot treating, conditioning, and other methods to maintain it is essential.

Conditioning your leather is one way to ensure it retains its elasticity and its life span is elongated.

How to Condition Buffalo Leather

A good conditioner will always protect the surface of your leather from stains and enhance its beauty. Different types of leather conditioner oils usually have remarkable results.

Below are basic steps you can use to condition your buffalo leather.

Ensure the leather is clean and dust-free before you start.
Place the conditioner on a clean towel before applying it to the leather. Never use the conditioner directly on your leather.
Spot test the conditioner to ensure you like the results.
Use circular motions to rub the conditioner over the entire leather section.
Use a soft cloth to buff the leather surface after applying the conditioner gently.
Give the leather time to air dry before use.

How to Treat Buffalo Leather

How you treat your buffalo leather determines how best your leather serves you and the period of its extended life.

Tips to Treat Your Buffalo Leather

Treating buffalo leather usually involves several tips that are vital to follow. This is what you should know:

Always keep your leather away from direct sunlight.
When handling your leather, always use clean hands as leather can stain easily.
Ensure your buffalo leather is clean by regularly wiping the dirt with a clean cloth.
Apply conditioner twice every year to your leather to maintain its elasticity
Use the soft brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to get rid of dirt and dust from the "cracks".
Store your leather correctly in a place free from moisture and dust.
Always use general-purpose leather cleaners for your leather to avoid any damage.

Tanning Buffalo Hides

The tanning process refers to the leather-making procedure in which an animal hide is turned into leather. Usually, this process aims to change the rawhide into a stable material that is suitable for several uses.

How to Tan a Buffalo Hide: Methods Involved in Tanning Leather

The two methods involved in leather tanning include:

Vegetable Tanning

The vegetable tanning process involves using tannins (organic vegetable-based compounds) that occur naturally in the leaves and barks of plants. The stretching and application of tannins over several days result in a more flexible hide.

The tannins held together in the collagen proteins of the hide coat them and cause them to become insoluble, making them more resistant to bacteria.

Vegetable-tanned leather has a natural surface that varies from light yellow to dark brown.

Mineral Tanning (Chrome Tanning)

This tanning process uses chromium sulfate. This process ensures the chromium complexes fit in fiber's collagen, and once it thoroughly penetrates to the desired level, the pH is raised to facilitate the tanning process. This tanning process usually results in more flexible and stretchable leather.

Why is Buffalo leather expensive?

Buffalo hides are usually more expensive than cowhides as they are thicker and sturdier.

In addition, buffalo skins have a denser grain compared to other leathers.

Buffalo hides also have a natural sheen on them, making them more expensive than regular leathers.

Conclusion

The characteristics of buffalo leather have made it widespread in several industries. Knowing how to take care of buffalo leather is a determinant in prolonging its useful lifespan.

The future of this durable leather seems bright as it maintains to be used for several purposes; consequently, providing a wide range of textiles and leather products. Unlike cow leather, buffalo hide leather is a natural material that requires more care and special techniques for tanning.

If you own a Buffalo Bill leather item, be it a buffalo leather bag, wallet, or a buffalo leather belt, consider the above guidelines to enjoy your leather products and items for years to come.

If you are looking forward to buying buffalo leather products, visit our website for more information regarding the different products available.