Cleaning leather furniture
Introduction
If you’re like me and have a lot of leather furniture, then you’ve probably thought about what it would be like to move into a new place with all-cotton furniture. But alas, we can’t always control where we live and work (or play). So, what’s the solution? Cleaning your leather furniture every year! In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to do this simple task as well as some other tips for keeping your leather looking its best. Let’s get started!
How to clean your leather.
- Use a soft cloth. Leather is made from animal skin, so you shouldn’t use anything abrasive on it. You can use a clean cotton cloth or a microfiber cloth if you have one handy.
- Don’t use water to clean leather furniture because it will leave stains and weaken the material over time.
- Don’t overuse rubbing alcohol because it can also damage the furniture’s finish and cause discoloration in some cases.
- Don’t use other cleaning products like window cleaner or household cleaners on your leather piece unless you are absolutely sure they won’t damage it (and even then, check with the manufacturer first).
Daily wiping is a must.
If you’re going to have leather furniture in your home, you should know that it requires daily cleaning. If you don’t wipe down the surface of your furniture every day, you will be sorely disappointed when the dust and grime from everyday life accumulate on the surfaces of your couch, chair or love seat.
To clean upholstery:
Use a slightly damp sponge or cloth to wipe down any stains on the surface of your upholstery. This is especially important after someone has spilled something on it (think wine). Don’t use too much water though—a little goes a long way! Let dry before sitting down again; having wet leather can cause mildew issues over time!
Vacuum regularly.
- Vacuum regularly. Use a soft brush attachment, and vacuum at least twice a week.
- Don’t use the beater bar attachment on your vacuum; it can damage the leather. Also, don’t use any vacuums with rotating brushes (like Dyson).
Use saddle soap for tougher stains.
Saddle soap is a mild soap used to clean leather. It can be found at most horse tack stores, and it’s far more effective than simply using water and your hand to wipe off stains. Saddle soap is also good for cleaning saddles, but don’t get the two confused!
Don’t forget the crevices.
There are a lot of crevices on your couch, so don’t forget to clean them. It’s important that you make sure you get in between the cushions and under the armrests. Even if it seems like there isn’t any dirt hiding in these places, remember that people have been sitting on this sofa for years—there could be some gunk lurking in there!
You’ll also want to clean under the cushions themselves; dust bunnies love to hide underneath them (and who knows what else might be lurking inside?). And on top of all that, don’t forget about cleaning the back of your sofa—you may need a lint roller or vacuum attachment for this particular task.
Clean your leather furniture outside when the weather allows, or in the garage or pantry to avoid making a mess inside.
You may be tempted to clean your leather furniture right there in the living room, but hold that thought. Cleaning leather furniture outside is best because it’s easier to wipe away any dirt or residue you might leave behind and it won’t cause a mess inside. If you don’t have space outside, clean it in the garage or pantry instead. Make sure that if you’re cleaning leather furniture inside, no one will walk by with their shoes on!
Don’t use water to clean leather because it can leave stains and weaken the material.
Water is so good at cleaning that it can also be a bad thing. Leather loves water, but it does not love being saturated by it. If you use too much water on your leather sofa, you run the risk of weakening its fibers and leaving stains behind. To avoid this, try to keep your cloth or sponge as dry as possible when you wipe away excess dirt (if there is any). A damp cloth works well if the liquid spills are small enough to soak into the cloth rather than puddle on top of it—but don’t get carried away!
For tougher stains like wine or red juice from berries (both favorites in my house), try using saddle soap first to lift up oil and grease before going over with a damp rag—the combination should do wonders for even stubborn stains
Cleaning leather is an annual event, but you should do smaller things to maintain it every day
Cleaning leather is an annual event, but you should do smaller things to maintain it every day. Make sure to regularly wipe down the surfaces with a damp cloth, and use saddle soap for tougher stains—just be careful not to use water because it can leave stains and weaken the material.
Finally, clean your leather furniture outside when the weather allows and don’t worry if you get some water on the floor in your garage or pantry.
Conclusion
We hope these tips have helped you get started on cleaning your leather furniture. It’s a good idea to keep up with the maintenance, but don’t feel like you need to do it all at once! Remember that as long as you take care of your leather every day and clean it regularly, then it’ll last for years without any problems