A stylish piece of leather furniture is an investment that will bring beauty to a home for many years to come. Like fine wine, leather furniture can actually improve with age, if it is cared for properly. Here are some basic tips for taking care of leather furniture.
- Place your leather sofa or chair away from any heat source, like a radiator, a fireplace or a window that admits direct sunlight, Heat can cause leather to fade, or become stiff and cracked over time. The same holds true for extreme cold, so it is a good idea to keep leather furniture away from air conditioners.
- Read the care instructions provided by the manufacturer, and follow these guidelines to keep your leather furniture in top condition.
- Place a couple of drops of water in an inconspicuous place on the leather furniture to see if it has a protective finish. If it does not, the water will be absorbed quickly.
- If your new leather furniture does not have a leather protector, you may want to have it applied by a professional. There are also leather protection products you can apply yourself. A leather protector can be applied every 6-12 months.
- Try all cleaning methods in a hidden area first to see the results before using it on the whole piece.
- For regular maintenance, dust the furniture with a dry cloth and vacuum the crevices every couple of weeks to keep it clean. For furniture with a protective coating, use a soft, slightly damp cloth to clean dirt that has accumulated. Be very careful cleaning unprotected leather furniture.
- Wipe up spills and blot spots immediately with an absorbent, clean terry cloth towel or paper towels. You can use a slightly moistened soft cloth with tepid water if necessary. Clean the entire area around the spot if you use water. For oil or grease spills, use talcum powder or baking powder for absorption.
- Difficult stains can be removed with a leather cleaning product. Be sure to consult the manufacturers recommendations before using a product. Do not use harsh soap, detergent, or cleaning solvents. Even oil soap, saddle soap and the heavy use of water can change the color of leather furniture. Consider professional cleaning if the stain persists.
- Leather can scratch easily, so avoid using sharp objects near leather furniture. If your leather sofa or chair does get scratched, buff the surface gently with a chamois cloth.
- Though it may seem like a waste of money, but protection plans that stores offer are often worth it. For a fraction of the price of the leather furniture, you can warranty it against every day mistakes like spills, rips tears.
