My name is Ryan and I work at Rustico in the marketing department. I love working for a company that stands for Authenticity, Craftsmanship, Generosity, and Purpose. As you know, the mission here is to inspire others to live with intention and to leave their mark. A couple of ways I like to leave my mark is by taking summer camping trips, practicing daily journal writing, and visiting old bookshops and museums.
I use my Large Leather Composition Notebook every day which means it’s looking… less than perfect. It holds my notes from work but comes home with me at the end of every day. It’s been used as a hot pad, placemat, seat cushion, and more in addition to being my trusty carrying notebook. I’ve had it for over six months now and while it still carries that authentic leather smell, if you get close enough you’ll notice the blueberry muffin glaze, the burned area from the oven, and other “different” physical marks and smells.
Before I go any further I need to admit something: I do not use our Rustico Leather Cleaner or Protector. I realize they are great products in taking care of the leather but as I mentioned earlier I continue to let my journal wear. Below I will tell you how to use our cleaner and protector if you, unlike me, prefer to keep your items looking classy and timeless. I’ve enlisted the help of Matt Shurtleff, our Director of Product Development, to demonstrate how to use these products and why it’s a good practice to regularly use them.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to using our Leather Cleaner and Protector.
Using our Leather Cleaner
3. Continue to apply cleaner as needed (although it shouldn’t take much, depending on the degree of the scratches or scuffs) and rub right into the leather.
4. Finally, allow the item to dry completely. This may take an hour or two depending on the amount of cleaner used.
Our leather cleaner will help to restore your leather. It works particularly great on our lighter colors such as Buckskin. You can also use it for footwear, upholstery, purses, jackets and more.
Using our Protector
Once the item has been allowed to dry after applying the cleaner, you are now ready to use our protector.
1. Again, make sure that the item is dry and the surface of the item is free from dust and debris.
2. Using a soft clean sponge or cloth, thoroughly coat the area with protector using gentle repeated strokes and work it into the leather. This will polish and protect it.
3. Continue to gently apply the protector across the leather as needed.
4. Allow the item to air dry.
Please Note: We don’t recommend using the protector on Buckskin leather, as it speeds up the patina and alters the appearance of these items. As with all leather products, it’s best to avoid leaving them in direct sunlight or extreme heat for long periods of time.
You can polish up the Rustico Copper Rivet with a few common ingredients you find in your kitchen.
If you’re like me, then you enjoy letting the leather take the daily grind and show how it wears. But maybe you’re the type that wants to do more to keep your leather looking good throughout the years. Regular cleaning should then be important to you. The way you use your Rustico is what makes it great. The leather we use is versatile enough to let you keep your items looking nice or rather let the journey show.
While I love using my Rustico notebook, it’s clear that it’s been through a lot by the visible scratches, scuffs, and burns that cover it. I enjoy looking at all the blemishes and imperfections that have been added to it. It reminds me of everything my notebook and I have been through and how important the pages inside are to me.
Now, after watching how well these products do at removing and buffing out scratches I think I need to use it on my own notebook. It’s probably time to get it looking good and ready to take some new adventures with me.
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Keep your leather items in pristine shape and looking great for years to come by using our Cleaner and Protector. We’d love to see pictures of them and you can share them tagging @rusticomade and #myrustico.
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