Having leather furniture in the house or office is a statement of luxury and style. Leather fabric has a timeless charm, making it a great choice for upholstery of sofas, chairs, couches, recliners, and even bed headboards. With continuous use in homes or offices, leather starts to gather dust, which results in stains. To help you with this problem of how to clean leather furniture, we present this helpful guide.
What Are Leather Types & How To Care For Them?
We will get back to our topic on leather furniture cleaning, but before that, let us tell you the type of leather you have. There are generally two types of leather, which are as follows.
- Aniline Leather: This is a type of leather that is dyed with soluble coloring to give it a soft and natural finish. However, such custom made furniture gets stained easily and requires careful cleaning.
- Semi-Aniline or Protected Leather: This type of leather furniture has a protective coating that makes it more resistant to stains and allows for easier cleaning.
Knowing the type of leather helps you choose the right cleaning method to prevent its damage.
Step Wise Guide On How To Clean Leather Furniture
Apart from daily and weekly cleaning, leather furniture requires deep cleaning. For this, we have this helpful step-by-step cleaning process.
Collect Your Supplies
For efficient cleaning of leather furniture, you need to have the right tools and supplies.
- A microfiber cloth
- Leather cleaner or a mild soap
- Distilled water
- A leather conditioner
- A soft brush
Use a cleaner recommended for the leather type by the manufacturer to prevent damage.
Do A Cleaner Test Before Cleaning
Before you use the cleaner for leather cleaning, we recommend testing its effects on an inconspicuous area of the leather. This will let you know if the cleaner has an adverse effect on the fabric. Let it rest for about 15 minutes to see how it affects the leather.
Wipe With A Damp Cloth
Take a microfiber cloth and dampen it with distilled water. Now, use it to gently clean the leather surface. This will remove all the dirt, dust, and grime from the furniture. Apply The Leather Cleaner
To do deep cleaning, apply a little bit of the leather cleaner solution on a damp microfiber cloth.Use this cleaner-soaked cloth to clean the leather furniture. Remember to use gentle circular motions for this cleaning. Do this a few times for the areas where the stains and dirt are more visible.
Remove The Excess Moisture
Once the entire leather furniture is cleaned, use a dry microfiber cloth to remove any excess cleaners. Always prevent the leather from air drying, as this can result in water-streaking lines or watermarks.
Apply The Leather Conditioner & Buff It
Leather loses its oil over time, resulting in cracks in leather furniture. To prevent this, condition the leather to restore its sheen and softness. Take the leather conditioner and apply it to a clean, dry cloth. Use this cloth to treat the entirety of the leather furniture, focusing on worn or dry parts.
After applying this conditioner, let it set for half an hour. Take a dry microfiber cloth to buff this freshly conditioned leather surface for a polished appearance.
How To Remove Common Stains From Leather Furniture
There is no way that you can prevent your leather furniture from getting stains. But what you can do is to tackle these common stains. Some effective methods for removing common stains on leather furniture are as follows.
Grease & Oil Stains
If your furniture or leather upholstery gets stains from grease or oil spills, blot the affected area with a damp cloth. Avoid using water, as it will cause the stain to spread further. The best cleaning tip for this is to sprinkle some dry baking soda or cornstarch over it. Let any of these powders sit on the spilled oil for a few hours. Once the powder seems hard enough, use a clean cloth to wipe it off.
Water Stains
If water spills over the leather furniture, promptly blot it with a dry piece of cloth. For dried-up water stains, use a damp cloth to lighten the stains. Following this, use a dry piece of cloth to remove the moisture. For a polished look, apply a leather conditioner.
Pet Stains
If you have pets in the house, there is a high chance of pet paw stains. First, use a damp cloth to blot the stained area. Then, use the leather cleaner to remove any residual stains.
Some General Maintenance & Cleaning Tips
There are unique cleaning methods for leather furniture, but there are also some general maintenance tips.
- Regular Dusting: Leather accumulates dust when left un-cleaned for a long time. Use a cloth for dusting the leather every week.
- Vacuuming: Leather furniture, such as sofas and chairs, has crevices where dust accumulates and is hard to remove. Use the vacuum to suck away all the trapped dirt.
- Prompt Spill Clean-up: If you spill something over the leather furniture, do blotting of the spilled liquid.
- Damp Cloth Wiping: To lighten the leather furniture’s clean-up, you can wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth.
Professional Leather Furniture Cleaning Services
Even though regular cleaning and care for your leather furniture are important, you might still want to consider professional leather cleaning. These services are recommended when the furniture gets cracked or worn down. The specialists use advanced cleaning and restoration techniques with proper tools to bring the leather back to life.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that leather furniture is both a durable and an aesthetic addition to any home decor. However, one also needs to do proper caring and maintenance for this leather furniture if one wishes to maintain it for years to come. Our step-by-step process on how to clean leather furniture along with stain removal techniques, will surely be of help in achieving this goal.
