General Care
We design our products to be both functional and beautiful. While they will continue to function properly under all but most extreme conditions, we highly advise you to take good care of them so that they remain aesthetically pleasing.
Whenever possible, keep all products away from direct sunlight because colours fade and materials degrade much more rapidly when exposed to direct UV radiation.
Do not drop products, hit them to each other or with other hard objects as this may cause scratches, dents or cracks. Our products are made mostly from natural materials and even though they are long lasting, they do not take abuse as well as regular fitness equipment.
Never use any strong cleaning agents or chemicals on any of the materials that we use. Mild soap and warm water will usually be enough. Stronger cleaning agents may damage natural materials.
Wood Care
Clean any liquids from wooden surfaces as soon as you notice them – water sitting on top of wood for too long will not do it any good.
Clean dust and dirt regularly with a clean, non-abrasive cloth. You can use warm water with regular mild soap if needed, but make sure to dry wooden surfaces with a dry cloth immediately after that.
Wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature. Keep products away from direct sources of heat, like electric heaters, fireplaces etc. Ideal relative humidity for wooden items is 40-60%. Never subject wooden products to relative humidity lower than 30% and higher than 70%. Air that is too dry or too humid is also suboptimal for human beings and other living creatures, therefore if you experience these conditions, you may want to consider installing a humidifier or dehumidifier in your property. Changes in relative humidity may cause wood to develop minor cracks as well as gaps where two pieces of wood are joined together. Try to minimize frequency of such changes – this will help to keep wooden products in their prime condition longer.
All our wooden items are finished with hardwax oil finishes, like the ones from Osmo and Saicos. You should apply a new coat of clear hardwax oil every 1-3 years to keep wooden surfaces look great as well as protect them from moisture and dirt.
Leather Care
There are two types of leather that we use – vegetable tanned leather and chrome tanned leather. We buy both types of leather in exceptional quality from reputable Italian tanneries, however, different methods of processing yield different properties:
- Vegetable tanned leather is stiff and durable. It has no protective coating on it, therefore it is nice to the touch but it will stain and absorb liquids more easily. Over time products made of this type of leather develop a patina that many people appreciate. Articles like wallets, belts, shoes and high end bags are usually made from this type of leather. We use vegetable tanned leather for our leather kettlebells and some trim pieces.
- Chrome tanned leather is soft and flexible. It has a special protective coating and therefore is easier to maintain. Unlike vegetable tanned leather, this type of leather will maintain the same appearance for many years. It’s most often used for garments and upholstery. We use chrome tanned leather for our fitness bench.
Clean dust and dirt regularly with a clean, non-abrasive cloth. You can use warm water with regular mild soap if needed. Do not spot clean vegetable tanned leather, clean the entire surface at once and allow to air dry.
If leather gets wet, wipe excess liquid with a dry cloth and then allow it to air dry. Never use any additional heat sources, like electric heater or hair dryer. You should try to never get vegetable tanned leather wet, unless it is for cleaning purposes.
Do not keep leather in areas that are very damp or very dry. Keep leather items away from sources of direct heat, like electric heating, fireplaces etc.
Avoid contact with sharp or abrasive objects as this may cause visible scratches on vegetable tanned leather and damage the protective leather of chrome tanned leather.
You should condition leather every 3 months (more often if the item is used frequently) with oil, wax or balm specifically formulated for this purpose. Some products may be suitable for chrome tanned leather but not for vegetable tanned leather and vice versa – make sure to use a correct product for a specific item. Conditioning leather will replenish its natural oils as well as protect it from liquids and staining to some extent. Most leather care products change the appearance of leather (usually make it darker and more shiny) – we advise you to test every new leather care product on a small not too visible spot to make sure that the result is acceptable.
Brass Care
Clean dust and dirt regularly with a clean, non-abrasive cloth.
Brass tarnishes (develops a patina) with time and use. Most people prefer the looks of tarnish-free brass, therefore we apply microcrystalline wax polish to all brass elements used in our products. The protective coating of wax will wear off over time, therefore we recommend reapplying wax every 3-12 months, depending on how often a given surface is being touched/handled.
Tarnished brass can be brought back to the original state by rubbing it with a slightly abrasive pad or extremely fine sandpaper. Do not use regular sandpaper as it may produce deep scratches on the surface. If using sandpaper, go for grit 600-800 or ever higher. Make sure to not touch any surrounding wooden surfaces. After you are happy with the results, clean the surface and apply microcrystalline wax polish to give the surface some protection.
Brass is a relatively soft metal and can be scratched or dented – avoid contact with sharp or abrasive objects and avoid hitting it with other hard objects.