Leather Furniture Care

Leather Furniture Care

Leather furniture is an investment and it is important to properly care for it to keep it beautiful and to help it last a long time. We hope that these helpful facts and maintenance tips make you feel comfortable with caring for your furniture and help you to enjoy it for years to come!

 

Leather Facts

Full-Grain Leather: Full-Grain Leather surfaces will wear better than other leather and develops a natural “Patina” that grows more beautiful over time. Full grain leathers usually come as two finish types: aniline and semi-aniline.

Top-Grain Leather: Top-Grain Leather is fuzzy on one side and smooth on the other.

Suede: Suede is created when the reverse side of calfskin is roughened to the point of extreme softness.

Bicast Leather: Bicast Leather is a man-made product that consists of a thick layer of polyurethane applied to a substrate of leather.

Bonded Leather: Bonded Leather is a percentage of leather fibers mixed with a polyurethane product and backed with fabric.

The beauty and charm of Leather is that it acquires a beautiful patina as it ages. This is natural process and not a defect in workmanship. Over time, even when cleaned and conditioned regularly, the color may change as the piece ages – this is normal! With just a little care, your leather furniture will provide years of service and beauty.

 

GENERAL CARE, MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING TIPS

For general leather care and maintenance, we recommend:

• Sunlight: Avoid direct sunlight as all colors of finish have the chance of fading.

• Temperature: Avoid extreme temperatures that would cause your leather to dry and crack. Placing leather next to radiators, heat vents, air vents and air conditioning units may cause leather to dry out more quickly.

• Ink and Newspapers: Do not leave newspapers on leather furniture. The ink in the newsprint will rub onto the leather.

• Animals and Sharp Instruments: Take extra care with sharp instruments and animal claws. Leather is much stronger than upholstery, but will scratch and puncture with force.

• Spills: Blot up spills quickly with a clean white cloth, sponge or paper towel (dry or damp, but NEVER wet). Never allow liquids to remain on leather. For grease or oil, use talcum or baking powder to absorb as much as possible. Never use water on oil or grease spills.

• Dusting: Dust leather when you dust other furniture. Occasionally, wipe off the surface with a damp cloth.

• Silicons, Polishes and Oils: Never use silicones, polishes, or oils. Oils will darken the leather and, with continued use, will soften the color causing it to peel and wear off. Most oils will cause leather to rot. Silicones will cause leather to become shiny and slippery and will make repairs or refinishing of the leather impossible.

• Leather Cleaner: Most leather cleaners not only are safe for leather but also are beneficial. Some products should be avoided as they contain harmful ingredients and harmful pH levels which may rob the leather of oils and damage the fibers causing cracking.

 

Removing a Stain

Spills, marks and stains happen – Don’t despair!

Start Off Simple:

Water-based liquid stains can usually be removed or minimized by simply just blotting with water and a clean, dry cloth until the cloth comes back dry when the spot is touched. Let leather completely air dry afterwards.

If the stain persists, you can try some leather cleaner, but make sure that you consult with an expert before use.

To remove stubborn stains, use lukewarm water mixed with non-colored ivory soap. Wipe with a clean dry cloth and allow to air dry. Always pretest in an unexposed area.

Grease and Oil Stains: Do not use water on grease, oil or butter stains! Use a similar technique for taking stains out of upholstery by blotting at the spill with a dry towel until the towel or rag comes back dry. If the stain persists, it is possible that the oils will settle into the material and not be noticeable. If the stain is still visible, either try some leather cleaner or contact a leather cleaning professional. Ballpoint ink and newspaper stains: Inks tend to dye leather. Contact a leather professional if you have an ink stain.

 

Leather Repairs

Leather can be repaired. Nicks, tears, and stains all have a chance to be repaired and re-dyed to the original look. Do not attempt to repair damages or stains yourself but rather consult a professional leather repair person.