This information guide on leather repair and care will be updated frequently over the next few weeks. I will cover topics of  Leather Finishes how they differ and why it is necessary to know the type of finish that is on your leather before you proceed with any leather care or repair. This guide will also provide information on leather care, spot repair and leather refinishing. 

I think the first issue that you should be clear is that leather is a natural product. Most of the real leather you will find is actually Bovine or Cow Skin. As a furniture upholster for over 25 years I have worked in Cow & sheep skins, Deer hides, Elk leather, Bison (Buffalo) and Pig / bore skins. The type of leather care products you want to use on your leather really depends strictly on the type of  finish the leather has on it, not the type of animal the leather came from. There are three main catagories of leather finishes that will be relevant to this guide protected, semi-protected and unprotected.