How to look after your genuine chamois leather

Chammy or Microfibre? It's a question which splits the room when it comes to drying off your vehicle. Many people reach for the microfibre cloth simply because Chamois Leathers seem like too much hassle and anyway they fall apart dead quickly right? Well, you might be surprised to know that if you look after your Chammy, you could get plenty of service out of it. In fact, plenty of people swear by the Chamois' durability and ability to absorb around six times its weight in water.

Think your Chamois is doomed to this?

The best way to get the most out of your genuine chamois leather is to take good care of it. Treat it right and you will get the results! Here's my quick guide on how to look after your chamois leather so that you can get the best value from it.

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1. Use the right cleaning agent

Make sure you rinse your chamois thoroughly after every use in warm soapy water. Use a natural soap or car wash shampoo. Never use detergents or bleaches on your chammy as this will strip the leather of its natural oils and begin to degrade it. It will become dry and brittle after just a few uses.

2. Treat it gently

When you come to wringing out excess water after rinsing, handle your chammy with care to avoid any tearing or damage. If you want to give your Chamois extra treat, re-lather some more soap into the leather after you've rinsed it. This will help to keep the leather soft.

3. Dry it thoroughly

The biggest mistake that people make when handling their Chamois Leathers is to store them wet or damp. Doing so encourages mould to set in and ruin your Chammy. Remember, it's a genuine Chamois is an organic material and is prone to rot if the conditions are right. Stretch your Chamois out flat and hang it up to dry naturally away from direct sunlight. Don't be tempted to apply heat as this can also cause damage. Patience is the key here.

4. Condition the leather

Once your Chamois is thoroughly dry you might find that it's a little stiff or rough. The quickest way to solve this is to rub the leather vigorously against a hard surface to soften it up again. It should become subtle and pliable again in no time.

5. Store it properly

Your chamois wants to live somewhere cool and dry. Avoid rooms with high humidity or damp. If possible keep it in a sealed contained to keep dirt and dust away but if you intend to do this make sure that it definitely is completely dry.