Extend Life Of Leather With Regular Care

Q. Do you have any tips on cleaning leather and suede at home? - Loretta Joseph, Plainview, N.Y.

A: Leather is a resilient, long-lasting material. But many leather items are used every day without getting the proper care, causing them to age more quickly.

Regular maintenance is all it takes to extend the life of leather and suede clothing and accessories.

Clean leather shoes with a product made specifically for that purpose, following the packaging instructions. Look for E-Z Cleaner or Foam-Tex, or ask for advice at your local shoerepair shop.

The next step is polishing. If your shoes have scratches or scuffs that you want to hide, use a colored polish; otherwise, use neutral. Use a soft cloth to apply the polish to the shoes. Let the polish dry, then buff to a shine with another cloth.

When leather dries out, it can become brittle and crack. To prevent this, treat your shoes with a leather conditioner every month or two. A spray-on waterproof coating gives them more protection against the elements.

Suede shoes are a little more vulnerable. Waterproof them frequently - every few weeks if there’s a lot of rain. To care for suede, a nylon-bristle or brass-bristle brush is an essential tool.

Brush suede shoes often to remove dust and raise the nap. Use a suede eraser to rub out stains. To clean suede shoes, use the foamy suds of a leather cleaner - not the straight soap.

Rub suds onto the suede with a barely damp sponge, put shoe trees in the shoes and let dry overnight. The next day, brush the surface well.

Suede doesn’t always take well to cleaning (even good-quality products can remove some of the dye), so make sure to test a small spot first.

Leather bags and belts should be conditioned every few months whether or not you use them. Always use a colorless, nonwaxy product, such as Meltonian Delicate Cream, so it won’t stain your clothes.

With leather and suede jackets and other clothing, you’ll generally get the best results from a professional cleaner. Between cleanings, though, you can try leather and suede cleaner on problem areas, such as cuffs and collars. Always test the product first.

When any leather or suede item gets wet, let it dry naturally, away from a heat source.

Q: Is it possible to resilver an old mirror at home? - Virginia Litza, Milwaukee

A: Silvering a mirror is a job best left to professionals. If the back of your mirror is chipped and scratched, a glazier can resilver the mirror or replace the glass entirely.

If your mirror has a tiny scratch or very minor flaking, you can try masking it with a bit of silver paint, but the paint may be more obtrusive than the scratch.

If your mirror is subtly streaked and tarnished, consider keeping it that way. All mirrors age, and they do so beautifully. A brand-new mirror would be incongruous in a lovely old frame. In fact, glaziers sometimes give a freshly silvered mirror the look of an old one by applying a mild acid solution to it.

However, you shouldn’t help the aging process along with careless cleaning.

Never use so much cleaner that it collects along the bottom of a mirror. This is bad for the frame, and the chemicals in the cleaner will blacken the silver coating on the back of the mirror over time.

Q: What’s the best way to keep homemade cookies and candies fresh? I’d like to bake several batches of holiday treats several weeks before Christmas, but I’m not sure how to store them. - Dolores McCormick, Chicago

A: Here are some tips on storing cookies so you’ll have some on hand throughout the holiday season.

Freezing is a very effective way to store cookies. The fresher they are when you freeze them, the better they will be when you serve them.

Let the cookies cool completely after they come out of the oven, then place them in an airtight plastic container and wrap that in plastic or seal it in a freezer bag.

Freezing isn’t the best option for decorated cookies - the colors in icing or sprinkles may run as they thaw. But for gingerbread men, chocolate, chocolate-chip or sugar cookies, it’s a perfect solution.

Ice them after they thaw, if you wish.

Brownies and many bar cookies also freeze well. Let them cool, then wrap the entire pan in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil (don’t slice them first).

To serve them, let them thaw until they’re just cool, then slice them. You’ll get a much cleaner cut than you do when they’re just baked.

Cookies can be kept frozen for several weeks. Always label and date them.

Most cookies remain fresh for about a week; more delicate ones should be served within just a day or two. But there are certain sweets that last for several weeks.

Biscotti - crisp Italian cookies - are delicious up to three weeks after they’re baked. Fudge, nut brittle and meringues last for two to three weeks.

All cookies should be stored in an airtight container, such as a tin, at room temperature.

Make icebox cookies. Prepare several kinds of dough now and keep it in the freezer.

When unexpected guests come to visit, you can serve them warm, fresh cookies just a few minutes after they arrive. And you’ll also fill the house with the wonderful aroma of freshly baked cookies.

MEMO: Questions should be addressed to Martha Stewart, c/o The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10168. Questions may also be sent to Stewart by electronic mail. Her address is: mstewart@msl.timeinc.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Martha Stewart New York Times Syndicate