Cleaning the tsuka-gawa, saki-gawa, and naka-yui.

[batusai.]

How do you clean the leather parts of the Shinai, especially the leather tsuka? It really gets so dirty. Any suggestions? Would brushing it with water and detergent safe for the leather hide? Thanks.

[Tsunemori]

I think generally you should avoid water on leather. I tried cleaning my tsuka once, since a friend borrowed my shinai and I guess his kote were so filthy and turned the leather brown/grey. Gave it a wash with water + soap, and it ended up shrinking, I had to actually cut it to get it off the shinai.

[FastKendo]

I've just washing my tsuka gawa with water+soap. It's okay, my grip is better since the dirt and oil succesfully removed from it. It's shrink just a little bit, but I guess my tsuka-gawa is not really a leather since my shinai is not the expensive one.

ps. I didn't let it dry under direct sunlight.

[atgm]

I don't even clean it; I use some sandpaper to rough it up for the grip, but that's it.

[batusai.]

Thanks for the tips, guys. Actually, I've just brushed one spot on the tsuka with water earlier and luckily it was only one spot rather that the whole handle! Otherwise, I'll be having some trouble on the shrinkage. Yikes!

@atgm - I'll try your suggestion.

[MikeW]

I know people that use suede cleaner on them but I have never tried it so can't comment on how well it works.Like atgm, I usually just sandpaper to roughen the leather up but don't usually try to 'clean' it per se.