Restoring a Leather Trunk

By

Cindy

I would suggest using Murphy's Oil Soap on it to soften it up.Cindy Kalkaska, Mi

By

pinokeeo

It is indeed a steamer trunk. Don't use soap or Armor-all on that trunk. You will ruin it. Go to a saddle shop or farm store and get some saddle soap and a soft cloth for applying the saddle soap. Apply all over, and wipe it off. Re-apply a second coat and wipe it clean again. Also, don't put any water on it at all.

As for the brass fittings, use a little toothpaste and wipe clean.

By

Cricketnc

I'd use Armor-All or some other cleaner specifically designed for leather. Do not use any water at all or the dishsoap like someone else suggested. This will dry the leather out more. You just might have something with some value there and you don't want to ruin it by using the wrong cleaner.

By

mkymlp

To clean the leather take a damp cloth, wipe it across moisturizing soap, like Dove, and lather the leather. Don't rinse -- buff for a nice shine. I tried this on my leather car seats and it worked great. My seats were clean and felt very soft. The interior of my car smelled great. I read that since leather is skin, it should be gently cleaned so it doesn't dry out.

By

islandsage

It could be a steamer trunk, but I'd have to see the inside to tell. They usually stood on end, and one kept personal items in the drawers, and a hanging space for garments and shoes.

By

southeastgeorgiapeach

Hi, I found a website about restoring trunks. The website is www.brettunsvillage.com. There is a section you can browse about restoring a trunk yourself. I didn't go through very much of it but it appears to be very informative. I too have an antique trunk that I need to work on and I will be going through the material myself very soon. Hope this helps and good luck!

How do I restore the leather and interior and the brass fittings on my recently purchased 1920's trunk.

Ruth from Woodstock, IL

RE: Restoring a Leather Trunk

By gardencraft