How to clean and care for your Leather Sofa - Facts and Care Tips

Leather furniture is a joy to own, but it requires special care to prolong its life and keep it looking like new. Leather lasts much longer than fabric, and if well-maintained, it will get better with age, a bit like a good red wine. 100% full genuine leather is an investment, so it’s in your best interest to take special care of it. Here are some tips on how to clean and care for your leather sofa.

6 Easy Leather Cleaning Tips

Always try any cleaning method in a hidden area first, just to make sure of the results.
Never use cleaning solvents, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, or ammonia water. They are freely available in all retail stores and promise the world, but in our experience they are very harmful to natural hides.
For minor spots and spills, wipe up any excess liquid immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge. If necessary, use a lightly moistened soft cloth with clean lukewarm water, and let it air dry naturally. If water is used, clean the entire area where the spot occurred.
To clean accumulated dirt, use a slightly damp soft cloth to wipe the surface. Before doing this for the first time, test the leather in an inconspicuous spot to make sure it doesn’t absorb the water. Use only a dry cloth if absorption occurs. For butter, oil, or grease stains, wipe off excess with a clean dry cloth, then leave alone as the spot should dissipate into the leather after a short period of time.
If the stain persists, it is recommended that a professional leather specialist clean the leather to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself.
For minor or slight scratches on the surface, use a chamois or clean fingers to gently buff the scratch. If needed, moisten lightly with distilled water to work scratches out.

4 Steps to Keep Leather in Good Condition

Like wood, leather can fade, stiffen, and crack when placed close to heat sources because it can dry up. So avoid placing it very close to fireplaces or in a spot that gets direct sunlight.
Use a clean, white cloth to dust every couple of weeks so that it stays clean.
Vacuum in crevices and along the bottom when you wipe down the rest of the surface.
Keep your pets off leather furniture. Cats, and sometimes dogs, will use leather as a (very expensive) scratching post, so teach them to stay off the sofa.

How to deal with Scratches and Stains

For spills, immediately use a dry cloth to blot and let the spot air-dry. It is important to blot instead of wiping because you want to get all the moisture out instead of spreading it.
Again Never use harsh soap, cleaning solvents, detergents, or ammonia to clean stains. Never soak the stain heavily with water. All these methods may actually be more damaging than the stain itself. For grease stains, blot excess with a clean dry cloth. The spot should gradually disappear into the leather after a short period of time.
Watch out for scratches. Leather scratches easily, so avoid using sharp objects near your furniture. Gently buff the surface with a chamois or clean fingers for minor scratches on the surface. If the scratch remains, rub a very small amount of distilled water into the scratch and blot with a dry cloth.
If the leather gets cut or torn, turn to a professional for help. Don’t run the risk of damaging the leather further by trying to fix it—cleaning leather is a DIY job, but repairing it is not.Some things are best left to the professionals, and this is one.

Conclusion

We hope these tips on how to clean and care for your leather sofa – have been helpful. We guarantee you that following these simple tips will prolong the life of your leather furniture.

At Furniturevibe we have years of experience in dealing with leather sofa’s. We understand that buying a leather sofa is a lifetime investment, that’s why each of our leather sofas are crafted to the highest standards of quality and made only from 100% full genuine leather.

Feel free to check out our full leather range of sofas, you won’t be disappointed.

We would love hear your tips and tricks. Please leave a comment below.

How to clean and care for your Leather Sofa - Facts and Care Tips

6 Easy Leather Cleaning Tips

4 Steps to Keep Leather in Good Condition

How to deal with Scratches and Stains

Conclusion

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