How to care for your leather furniture
However, it’s inevitable that some scuff marks and wrinkles may appear on the material over time. The following leather care tips are designed to prevent damage and to eliminate any signs of aging:
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Vacuum
It is advisable to clean your leather sofa regularly to remove any dust or loose debris on the surface. Pay careful attention to the creases and crevices where dust can easily become trapped. Use a soft brush attachment to ensure that you do not damage the material while vacuuming. Daily vacuuming is recommended, but this is dependent on how often the furniture item is in use.
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Use A Soft Cloth
After vacuuming, wipe any remaining dirt away using a soft, dry cloth. Never use a wet or damp cloth as this could damage the leather as the water dries. Any abrasive materials could scratch the leather leaving it looking dull. A dust cloth, microfibre cloth or 100 % cotton cloth is recommended.
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Cleaning Spills
You need to wipe away any liquid spills immediately. If the spills are not wiped away as soon as possible, they could dry into a sticky mess that is hard to remove. Leather upholstery that is a lighter shade or colour could become stained by the liquid if the spill is left unattended. Once again, it is preferable to use soft dry cloth that can absorb the liquid quickly rather than wet cloth. If the spill does leave a sticky residue, a slightly damp cloth can be used but the area should be dried immediately after cleaning.
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Avoid Sunlight
Just like your skin, the UV rays of the sun can damage the sofa. Make sure that your leather sofa is placed away from direct sunlight or use curtains or blinds to protect the sofa from becoming faded and dehydrated. If your sofa is exposed to sunlight, it is more likely to become cracked and wrinkled over time.
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Water Damage
Water does not have moisturizing effects and soaking the leather upholstery will cause it to dry out in the long run. Water damage can also result in areas of the sofa becoming bleached or permanently stained.
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Detergents And Chemical Cleaners
You should never use any detergents, soaps or chemicals to clean your sofa unless they are designed for leather care. Even if the label says that a particular product is safe for use on leather, you should only use these products sparingly and when other cleaning techniques have failed.
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Furniture Covers
Use soft blankets or throws on your sofas to protect them from contact damage. Alternatively, you can purchase or have slipcovers designed to fit the couch for an added layer of protection. However, you will still need to remove the slipcover for regular cleaning. If the leather furniture is not going to be used for a period of time, cover them in loose sheets to prevent dust build-up and protect the sofa from the effects of sunlight.
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Feed Your Leather
Your leather furniture can benefit from conditioning or nourishing treatment every few months. Conditioners or leather food should only be applied on a clean surface to have the greatest effect. While a conditioning treatment can remove some dirt and even stains, it is not designed as a cleaner and should ideally not be used as such. There is a variety of different leather conditioners available on the market that will restore, nourish and protect your leather furniture. Other products such as olive oil or peanut oil are also often touted as having nourishing benefits for leather furniture. However, some leather cleaning experts believe that oil can have bad results over an extended period of time.
Always keep in mind that the intention of regular cleaning and nourishing treatments is to ensure that your furniture lasts a lifetime without showing the signs of aging or daily wear and tear. While you may see some instant results when employing these cleaning and care techniques, it is only in the long run that the actual benefits will reveal themselves.
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- Find out more about leather: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leather
