Traditional Sofas

Sectional Leather Furniture

Cleaning Your Leather

Leather is one of the first items that man used to wear for clothing.  It has been a popular and durable item ever since.  Leather is classic and beautiful as well as long lasting.  It can be used on a variety of things like upholstery, clothing, shoes, furniture, and luggage.  It is a fabric that is not inexpensive and should be treated with care to ensure that it lasts a long time.  You will need to understand the proper care and treatment of leather to be sure you do the job right. 

There are two types of leather that you can get.  Smooth leather or a suede type.  The leather can be dyed to a variety of colors and used in a variety of styles.  The dye that is used on the leather will determine the kind of care that it requires.  If you use the wrong type of cleaner on your leather item you could stain and permanently damage the product.  Make sure that you read the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper care of your leather item. 

There are some general rules that you can use to properly care for your leather item.  These rules apply no matter the kind of item you are cleaning.  Leather must be kept in an environment that is not wet or too dry, not hot or too cold.  The extremes in temperature are what can cause damage to leather items.

Leather must breathe because it is a natural fabric.  If you keep your leather in a cool area that is well ventilated and will keep air circulating all around the item.  If it is kept in direct sunlight it can damage the color of the dye.  You should keep this in mind when you are arranging leather furniture in a room.  The leather in your car can also be damaged if you park in direct sunlight consistently.  Try to park your car in an area where it will avoid direct sunlight, or you can purchase a screen for your car’s windows.

Over time your leather items can dry out and become damaged.  Keep the leather out of extreme heat and sun.  You can condition your leather with products to keep it from drying out.  It can also help to protect the leather when you use these products. 

Getting stains out of a leather item can be difficult.  You should only use products that are specifically designed for use on leather.  You can test the product on a small section of the leather to be sure that it will not ruin the leather.  When you are removing a stain from one of a set of items like gloves you will want to treat both of the gloves to be sure that the color remains matched.  You can also remove small spots with alcohol or cornstarch.  Cuticle remover can also work on small spots.  If your leather item becomes water stained in one place you may be able to save the piece if you wet the entire garment to get the same look on the entire garment.

The interior of your car can be kept clean if you make sure to clean up any spills as they occur.  Regularly wiping down the seats will also keep the interior clean.  If you have any extensive or difficult stains on your car’s upholstery it may be necessary to bring in an expert.

You should make sure that your leather is cleaned immediately if anything is spilled on it.  Don’t allow the spill to soak into your leather item.  The leather can be permanently damaged if you allow a spill to soak in. 

Cleaning your leather twice a year is good for maintaining the look of your garment.  You should wash your leather by hand with a special gentle soap that is designed for leather.  You can make suds in a bowl and clean the leather with the suds only and not the soapy water.  Your cloth should be damp and not saturated with water.  You will need to completely dry the item immediately after you have finished cleaning.  Buff the leather out to make sure that it is completely dry and clean.  Your leather should be conditioned immediately to keep it in the best shape.  You will be providing the moisture that your leather needs.

Furniture,Modern,Contemporary,Sectional, Leather

Tags: furniture, leather, modern, sectional, sectional leather furniture, sofa

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 13th, 2010 at 7:40 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.