How to Take Care of Leather Furniture Like all furniture, leather upholstery requires care and attention as well as little cleaning now and again. Many people don’t take the time, or make the effort, to look after their furniture properly. But if you have an expensive, luxury leather sofa or armchair, it’s vital that you or your cleaner follows some simple maintenance steps to keep it in pristine condition.
The Simple Dos and Don’ts Leather is a natural material and if you put it near a constant source of heat, just like wood, it’s likely to dry out and could even start cracking over time. So, the first thing you need to consider, is where you place your furniture. Our advice is to keep it a safe distance away from radiators and fires and avoid places where there might be strong light in summer.
Be aware of exposing your sofa to sharp parts of clothing– for example jeans with studs in the them. Also discourage, if possible pets and very young children from playing on your furniture. Regular gentle cleaning with a dry cloth as well as a quick vacuum of the crevices with the soft brush attachment can stop dirt and dust from building up. Do not use anything harsh on your leather seats and sofas such as detergents or solvents. They can quickly damage and dull the surface. If you have leather furniture that has not been cleaned in a while, you can use a damp cloth to wipe it over but do a test spot first to make sure it’s not absorbed.
How to Handle Spills on Leather There’s always the chance that someone will spill something on your favourite leather armchair. Don’t panic but make sure you deal with it straight away. If it’s water, a blotting motion with a dry cloth is better than rubbing to remove the stain. Once you’ve lifted most of it up, leave to dry naturally. Oil and grease stains, including from food, can be more problematic. Again, use a cloth with a gentle blotting motion, which should lift most of the stain up. A little sprinkling of cornflower should get rid of the rest and you can then vacuum this up with your soft brush attachment.
Cleaning and Conditioning Leather Furniture You can buy professional cleaning products that are formulated to deal with leather upholstery. These include pH balanced sprays that help lift ingrained dirt. They may cost a little more than your average cleaning product but are worth the investment. They are usually sprayed onto a cloth and then wiped gently over the surface. Once this has been done, if you want your leather furniture to look pristine, you need to apply a conditioner. This helps replace the natural oils of the leather and keep it soft and luxurious. You should, however, be careful about the quality of the product you choose. Of course, if you aren’t sure that you are cleaning your leather furniture properly, it’s always advisable to get in a cleaning expert. This is particularly
important if you have antique or high-quality leather in the home and want to protect it for the future.
Fixing Leather Furniture You may have an old leather sofa that has seen better days and want to restore this back to its former glory. Though challenging work, this can be achieved with the right set of tools. There are a range of lotions that help recolour leather and fillers which can be used to reduce cracks and damage. Again, if it’s not something you are used to doing, handing the task over to a professional is a better solution. At Chalcot we pride ourselves in providing an all encompassing cleaning service for luxury homes, if you would like more information please call us on 0207 722 2533 or email management@chalcot.com