Leather is probably one of the best materials you can have for your home furnishings. It’s low maintenance and durable. Its look is quite classic too. Whether you’re into vintage or modern style, you can’t go wrong with it.
Caring for leather furniture is tricky. Different types require different cleaning techniques. The same goes for the type of stains you want to get rid of.
If you have furniture pieces at home that you want to maintain, below is a list of tips on how to care for leather furniture.
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Avoid Direct Sunlight
One of the worst things for authentic leather furniture is direct sunlight. The constant battering of the sun’s UV rays will slowly dry out the leather, causing it to fade, warp, and eventually crack.
In severe cases, the leather might be damaged beyond repair, forcing you to toss it out and buy a new one.
Thankfully, this can be prevented by keeping your leather furniture out of the sun. This doesn’t mean you have to keep the blinds closed and the curtains down in your living room all day, but you should be conscious of where your leather furniture is located and how much sun it’s receiving.
Clean Up Spill In a Timely Manner
Let’s face it: no matter how hard you try to prevent it; spills are bound to happen. That’s why, when enjoying a glass of lemonade or a soda on your new sofa or chair, do your best to avoid spills. When they do occur, though, be sure to clean leather immediately.
Authentic leather is highly porous and will naturally absorb water from its surroundings. Small amounts of moisture are acceptable, but too much moisture will cause it to rot.
For a good reason, leather has earned a reputation as being more durable compared to other upholstery materials. However, it is still susceptible to stains if you spill a small amount of food or drinks.
Thanks to modern technology, responding immediately to a stain and cleaning it up may significantly lessen the likelihood of your furniture getting scarred.
To effectively clean up any mess, it is always critical to have the appropriate knowledge and materials available.
It is important to blot any spilled areas using a clean, dry cloth or piece of kitchen roll as soon as possible, rather than wiping them.
Wiping may ingrain the liquid into the leather, so be cautious not to saturate the leather. If you act quickly, you may absorb the bulk of the spill into the microfiber cloth before it soaks into the leather furniture, reducing the need for more cleaning and the need for additional cleaning.
A stain-preventing treatment may also help to reduce the likelihood of stains occurring on your leather furniture. If you need to do a bit more than blot, you may use a moist, clean cloth gently to apply the solution.
Please remember that you may exacerbate fatty or oily spillages when they come into contact with water; thus, it is best to avoid doing so.
You can deal with more severe spillages by using a natural leather cleaner designed specifically for leather, frequently resolving the issue without leaving a stain.
As a result, you should always ensure that you have a sufficient supply of this product at a location that is easily accessible anytime you want it.
Remembering this is crucial, mainly if you have never previously tried owning any leather furniture. Before using a new kind of cleaning on your leather sofa, test it on an inconspicuous spot of it to ensure that it will not have a harmful impact.
Conditioning
Leather contains oils that you must regularly replace to keep it looking its best. They contribute to preserving the leather furniture’s soft and supple feel.
Unfortunately, repeated usage may degrade the material’s inherent characteristics. Because of this, you must treat your leather furniture with a specialized leather conditioner, which will revitalize it while also preventing it from drying out and splitting.
If you haven’t done so already, take a trip to a leather store or shop around your area and pick up a conditioning product. You will then need to apply the leather conditioner to your furniture about once every year.
So, what’s the purpose of this product? In addition to cleaning the leather, it also leaves the surface looking smooth and shiny.
You should avoid over-conditioning your leather furniture, as it can have the same effect as spilling a drink on the furniture.
You may use a natural product like baby soap and vinegar or distilled water to make a simple and affordable leather conditioner.
- In a large mixing basin, combine 2 cups of warm water, a spoonful of natural baby soap, and a splash of vinegar.
- Use a dry cloth to work the conditioning mixture into the leather, being careful not to wet the surrounding area.
- Wet the leather and let the conditioner on the furniture for a few minutes. The mild soap solution includes delicate oils that will assist in cleaning and conditioning your leather while also protecting it from the elements.
Additionally, you may use vinegar and two parts of linseed oil to condition leather.
- Pour the solution into a jar with a tight-fitting lid, shake well, then apply to the leather with a soft cloth to seal it.
- Work in a circular motion, covering the whole surface area.
- Rub it in well and allow it to settle for approximately 10 minutes before buffing with a soft cloth to bring out the sheen of the leather surface. You may need to polish the furniture once more before sitting on it.
- Keep the leather cleaning kit in an airtight container for future use.
If you’re wondering about alternative options, you might ask: Can you use Pledge? It’s important to note that Pledge is generally not recommended for leather care, as it is designed for finished wood surfaces.
Give Your Leather Furniture Cushions A Good Plumping
Maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of your leather sofa is crucial, but so is keeping it in good form to look fantastic and give the most support possible.
Maintaining your new furniture cushions plumped up at the end of each day of usage will go a great way toward keeping everything in its proper position, and it doesn’t take much time to accomplish.
Apart from that, doing this simple act would prevent the formation of artificial wrinkles in the leather. Plumping is necessary since fiber feathers do not have the natural capacity to bounce back like foam. Don’t forget to give your scatter cushions a good shake!
General Cleaning Tips for All Leather
It is possible to clean leather furniture using everyday home materials.
- To begin, lightly dust the surface or gently buff using a soft cloth. You can also use your vacuum to carefully remove dirt.
- Combine a 50/50 vinegar and water solution in a dish and apply it to your leather furniture with a microfiber cloth.
- Wipe the leather in a circular motion to remove any dirt accumulated between the natural fibers.
- Return your cloth to the bowl regularly, wringing it out and rewetting it. If your cleaning solution gets too filthy, replace it as soon as possible. It is unnecessary to wet the leather thoroughly; instead, use a moist towel to loosen the filth and remove it.
Clean Leather Regularly
Set aside at least one hour per week, though you may need to set aside more time twice per week if you frequently use your leather furniture.
Take the following steps if you want to avoid spending a lot of money on getting it professionally cleaned.
1. Wipe down the furniture with a soft cloth to remove any dirt or dust accumulated on it.
When vacuuming your leather sofa, use a soft, gentle brush attachment to reach into the nooks and crannies of the furniture.
2. Next, wipe the leather furniture with a moist cloth to remove any dust or dirt.
We recommend distilled water whenever possible since the chlorine in tap water may ruin most leather furniture over time.
You should test how your material responds to water on a concealed portion of the leather furniture before doing this the first time. You must exercise extreme caution not to wet your new leather couch since leather does not respond well to vast amounts of moisture.
3. You should treat and clean leather furniture at least once every two to four weeks using a specialized cleaning solution designed for this purpose.
Avoid using all-purpose wipes and sprays from the supermarket since they may include harmful chemicals and harsh cleaning solvents in your leather furniture’s fabric. Utilize a soft cleanser to work on leather.
4. Allow your furniture to dry naturally and refrain from sitting on it until completely dry.
This step allows the material to maintain its shape around the curves of your leather piece, preventing wrinkles from forming.
If you worry about not having a lot of time, you can try to expedite this process by opening a few doors and windows to allow a healthy airflow to circulate in your house. This is also good for proper ventilation.
Please be advised that dye from non-colorfast clothes and apparel may transfer onto natural leather or fabric (generally more evident in light leather or fabric colors such as whites, creams, and ivory leather and fabric).
We also urge that you constantly check the labels on your clothes and textiles for any further information before wearing them.
How To Deal With Stains On Your Real Leather Furniture
Unfortunately, there may be times when you are unable to respond to a spill in time or are unaware that a spill has occurred, resulting in a stain that will be difficult to remove.
When the worst occurs, the course of action that you should follow depends on the kind of spilled liquid. Let’s look at some common stains and how to get rid of them as effectively as possible.
Getting rid of ink stains
You may find an unattractive ink blotch on your leather couch when you accidentally drop a pin on it while sitting on it. If you follow the basic spill guidelines provided above, you should have no trouble dealing with one of these stains.
However, suppose you cannot remove all of the ink from your couch, and the ink begins to soak into the fabric. In that case, it is preferable to hire the services of a professional leather specialist who will be able to utilize deeper cleaning procedures for preserving your leather furniture.
Getting rid of oil or grease stains
We have previously addressed how grease and oil stains may be exacerbated by applying water, making them one of the most difficult blemishes to remove.
Our recommendation is to call a professional cleaner, as they frequently have excellent procedures that do not need the use of water to remove the stain from the carpet.
Getting rid of wine stains
If you are fast enough to deal with a red or white wine spill using this procedure, you will be able to prevent a stain from developing even on unprotected leather.
- Make a solution of water and mild soap so that there are plenty of suds to remove the excess wine.
- Blot the excess wine up with a clean damp cloth and then rinse thoroughly.
- Use a sponge to apply just the foam to the spilled area, then gently wipe away the excess with a clean towel before allowing it to dry completely.
- After that, condition your couch from top to bottom to ensure a smooth and uniform appearance. If the wine spill is still evident even after following the steps, you should contact a professional for help.
Care for leather furniture isn’t tricky, but you need to follow some rules. Avoid direct sunlight, clean up any spills immediately, and apply a good leather conditioner to the surface of your furniture once a year.
Give careful thought to each of these tips when contemplating the purchase of leather furniture to ensure that you are prepared to get the luxurious feel out of your new leather sofa.
Most importantly, always check the care instructions on your new leather furniture or seek a care handbook you may have gotten when you purchased it before cleaning it. This also applies to the other furniture items you have at home.
Lastly, contact the manufacturer for advice on safe cleaning methods, even if you do not have access to a handbook or are unsure how to properly care for leather.
