Leather is a durable material that is used to make many different things, including furniture. Most types of leather are sensitive to water so there are certain cleaning tips that should be followed if you want clean leather furniture. Please refer to this post about removing water stains from furniture for a more specific guide.
The best thing to do to make sure that you have clean leather furniture is to use leather protectors that are reapplied at least once a year or as recommended by your furniture’s retailer. It is also good to keep your furniture away from direct sunlight and heat and air conditioning sources so that the leather won’t crack, dry, or fade. Spills should also be cleaned right away since they will get harder to remove when they stay longer. Furthermore, if your furniture needs repairing, make sure to repair it first before cleaning, as you may have to use a different cleaning method after repairs.
Begin the Clean
Once your furniture gets dirty, you can choose to either clean it thoroughly or not so thoroughly. Basic cleaning will entail wiping the furniture twice or three times a week with a soft rag or vacuuming once a week using the vacuum’s soft brush. Always remember that leather can easily be scratched, so soft materials should be used when cleaning it.
Cleaning Top-Coated Protected Leather
For more thorough cleaning, the first thing you need to do is to double-check the kind of leather you have. This will help you decide on how to more thoroughly clean your furniture. Most of the leather furniture that are manufactured and sold today are made with top-coated protected leather. These are the easiest kinds of leather to clean since they won’t be ruined by water. To clean these, all you need to do is to wipe your furniture with water-based leather cleansers, which are available almost everywhere. You can also make these cleansers at home by mixing distilled water and mild liquid soap. You will also need leather furniture polish for any finishing touches.
Cleaning Lower Quality Leather
For other types of leather furniture, oil mixtures and commercial leather cleaners are used. For example, chemical stain removers are not advisable on suede. If you are not sure on what method to use for the type of leather your furniture has, ask the retailer of your furniture. Keeping the tags and booklets that come with your furniture may also help, as they may come with instructions for cleaning your furniture. For best results, always apply leather furniture polish after cleaning so that the leather stays supple and doesn’t dry out.
Removing Stains
With regards to cleaning and removing leather stains, there are also a number of different methods you can use. Ink stains can be removed by using cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol. To do this, dip the swab in the alcohol and then rub it on the ink stain. Use a blow dryer to dry. If the stain is still there, use a non-gel, non-oily cuticle remover and leave it overnight. Wipe off with a damp cloth the next day. Rubbing alcohol can also clean mildew and mold but make sure to mix it with water so that it’s not too strong. As for dark stains like blood, food, or mud, apply one part lemon juice and one part cream of tartar and leave it for about 10 minutes. After that, apply the mixture again and remove with a damp sponge and moisturizing soap. Newsprint can be removed by aerosol hairspray and water stains by mayonnaise.
There are a number of different methods that can be used in order to have clean leather furniture. These methods depend on the kind of leather your furniture has. In order to know if you are using the right method in cleaning your furniture, test it in an inconspicuous spot first instead of cleaning the whole furniture at once. By doing this, only a small part of your furniture gets ruined in case you are using a wrong method. Also always remember to apply leather furniture polish after cleaning so that the leather will stay nice and supple.
