One may find it hard to stop a belt from creasing and curling. However, rest assured that these signs of wear aren’t necessarily permanent damages. By learning how to straighten a leather belt, you can restore it back to its former glory.
In this article, let me walk you through the three most effective ways to unkink your leather belt in four easy steps. If you scroll past the tutorials, you’ll find all the information you need to minimize the curls and creases!
Table of Contents
Ways to Straighten a Leather Belt
What to prepare:
- Iron
- Ironing board
- A thick and large piece of paper
- Heavy items
What to do:
1. Lay down the leather belt on the ironing board with the rough side up then place a thick piece of paper on top of it.
2. Set the appliance’s heat below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, slowly iron the brown paper with the leather belt underneath.
Stop ironing once the belt starts to feel hot and remove the paper.
3. Put the heavy books on top of the belt and let them sit until the leather is no longer warm.
Note that you can also use the same technique to straighten a leather bag strap or clothing.
What to prepare:
- Steam cleaner
- Hanger
- Binder clip
- Any item that can weigh the belt down
- Leather conditioner
What to do:
1. Hang the buckle on the hanger so that the leather belt drapes vertically. Next, attach the binder clip and hang your choice of weights.
2. Start running the steam cleaner and allow the leather to take in moisture and heat.
3. Take the hanger with the weighted belt on it and move them to a dry, shaded area.
4. Leave the belt there overnight. Last but not least, apply the leather conditioner to the belt per the manufacturer’s directions.
What to prepare:
- Leather conditioner
- Towel
- Clean cloth
- Weights
What to do:
1. Place your belt flat on a table or any even surface.
2. Use the conditioner as your leather belt straightener. Simply lather or spray a generous amount of the product onto the strap and let it work through the pores.
Wipe off the residue with a clean cloth and cover the entire belt with a towel.
3. Put some weights on the belt and leave it for up to 12 hours or until it flattens.
What Causes Leather Belts to Bend With Extended Use?
Leather is malleable, lending itself well to manufacturing clothing, automotive upholstery, and household accessories.
Yet, its moldable quality can also make a belt/leather kink the more you wear them because it holds your pants around your waist and is frequently exposed to sweat.
Even the way your clothes fit can add pressure onto the leather. For instance, your belt will likely curve faster if you wear tight-fitting pants rather than loose-fitting trousers. Apart from that, it can also bend due to the following reasons:
1. Quality and type of leather
An inexpensive leather belt wrinkles faster as it is more prone to warping than higher-grade ones. But just because faux leather is “cheaper” doesn’t mean it’s always the one that is more prone to curling.
Natural leather fabrics flex more than synthetic materials. As such, full-grain or coated leather belts are likely to warp more since they mold into the body a lot easier.
2. The leather’s density
Thicker fabrics are less pliable. This also means that they require more pressure and time to break in. On the flip side, the thinner hides bend easily.
3. Humidity
Typically, moderate levels of humidity do not harm the leather. However, higher levels can deform your belt as it molds to your body a lot faster. Just the same, arid air can dry out the moisture in the fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to know when you should straighten a leather belt?
Leather belts will naturally curl. So, in most cases, straightening them is only necessary if they feel stiff and uncomfortable. Another reason why people flatten leather belts is when they want to resell them.
Can the straightening process damage the leather belt?
Yes. Although heat is needed to fix bent a leather purse, jacket, or belt, going beyond the recommended temperature can melt the wax coating that protects the surface against stains.
Check the care tag to see the manufacturer’s suggested heat settings. If you can’t find this information, be sure not to set the iron over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
To be safe, try to straighten leather strips or any old leather fabric to practice before you attempt to iron your belt. Again, don’t forget to place a thick piece of paper on the belt to minimize the likelihood of damage.
Can I prevent creasing and curling in the future?
As explained earlier, leather belts will inevitably curl. However, you can minimize this problem by taking care of them. Here’s how:
1. Remove your belt when you change into your house clothes after work rather than hanging it with your pants.
Make it a habit to hang it on a wall hook or hanger instead of rolling it tightly. But if you don’t have enough hooks or storage at home, just loosely roll your belt.
2. Avoid buying and wearing belts that are larger than your actual size. In addition, Opting for oversized ones can also be the reason the belt bend in the back.
3. Be sure to have more than one belt in your wardrobe so you can alternate between them.
4. Leather can expand when exposed to liquids. If your belt gets wet while you’re at work or commuting, wipe off the moisture right away.
Conclusion
We tend to take our leather belts for granted even though they are an important part of our wardrobe. Besides jazzing up our outfits, these straps ensure that our pants stay right where they need to be. But the more we wear them and expose them to the elements, the more they harden and curl.
The methods in this article on how to straighten a leather belt are very easy to do, and most of the items needed are readily available at home. These steps not only ensure that the belt is in top condition but also comfy to wear!
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Veronica is our content editor. She is a talent in delivery. Her main work is editing and writing articles that are both informative and simple to follow. She is in charge of synthesizing our understanding of what personal protection equipment (PPE) is needed in each job, how to best apply it, and how to visualize that equipment.