Looking After Your Leather
Leather sofas are an awesome fixture for every home. They’re durable, stylish, and actually quite easy to clean. But, the fact that they’re easy to clean doesn’t necessarily mean you can go about the process as you like. Maintaining the appeal of your sofas means you need to clean them well, and that is why we’re here.
For a regular daily or weekly clean, simply vacuuming the sofa or wiping it with a cloth should be more than fine. But, there are times when you need to be more structured in your approach. This is especially true if you spill something like a drink and your sofa has a bright color like cream or white.
Below, our friends from Best1 Carpet Cleaning http://best1cleaning.com/ go through a step-by-step guide that will help you take care of your sofa and get it back to looking awesome.
Step 1: Vacuum all visible dirt
As it is with many households’ furniture pieces and fixtures, the first step towards a comprehensive cleaning is to vacuum the sofa. If you can find any dirt on it, you have to take it out with a vacuum cleaner. At least, you don’t need any of those getting in the way while you work.
Vacuuming will avoid the dirt from getting rubbed into the sofa as you continue to clean it. You could just get the vacuum cleaners brush attachment, so you don’t have to deal with scratches. If you don’t have that, then perhaps a dry microfibre cloth could help instead.
Step 2: Make a cleaning solution
When it comes to cleaning leather sofas, one of the biggest issues is finding the right cleaning solution. To that end, you want to remember the golden rule; gentler solutions are always better. Leather is a delicate material, and you don’t want to ruin your sofa’s material.
Interestingly, you could make a cleaning solution for your sofa out of household materials. Get a soap with a balanced pH – perhaps Dove. it could be the bar soap, or you could mix a few drops of it into warm water and dilute it.
We also recommend a dilution of 50:50 – equal parts water and white vinegar. This is very gentle, and it works really well when it comes to removing stains. For most types of upholstery, this will be more than effective – leather isn’t an exception.
Then, you could get saddle soaps – or other soaps that are made for leather. But, you should keep in mind that these soaps could harden and darken your sofa’s surface.
Whatever option you choose, you must conduct a test run first. This is especially important if this is your first time washing the sofa. So, take the cleaning solution and try it on a section of the sofa – most preferably, a section that isn’t so visible. With this, you will be able to ascertain whether using the cleaning solution will be better for you.
Just apply a small amount of the cleaning solution, then wait for it to dry.
Step 3: Get to cleaning
Once you ascertain the effectiveness of the cleaning solution, it’s time to clean the sofa. Here. you will need to get two microfiber cloths. The first will help in cleaning the sofa, while the other will be used to dry the sofa.
To begin, dip one of the cloths into the cleaning liquid and wring it. The cloth should be damp, but don’t let it be so wet that it drips. You really only need enough water to affect the sofa. If you will be using some bar soap, then dampen the cloth and wipe it across the surface of the bar soap. You don’t want to put too much soap on the cloth too.
From there, rub the cloth gently – but firmly – over the surface of the sofa. Remember to work from the bottom and take special care to look into the sofa’s corners. You can keep rinsing the cloth in the cleaning solution based on what you need.
When you’re done with the cleaning, use the other cloth and buff the sofa cleanly. Make sure the sofa is dry and you can add a nice polish for it as well. You don’t necessarily need to rinse the solution out, but you will also need to dry it to prevent the entry of mold and mildew.
Step 4: Use a leather conditioner
If you’re looking to keep the leather sofa in the best condition, it is important to use a leather conditioner or cream. This way, you get to restore its suppleness and moisture. We recommend that you use it every six months to a year. However, you also want to check the care label on the leather sofa if you would like to find the right choice.
We will also recommend that you deal with any stains that affect your sofa immediately. If you spill water, food, or any type of oil, blot it immediately. It is important to get it out before it has time to dry and set. You could use some rubbing alcohol to lift ink stains, while baking soda will also be great for grease marks.
Additional Tips for Maintaining Your Leather Sofa
Besides the cleaning, you also want to ensure that your sofa is properly maintained. To that end, keep the following tips in mind:
Conditioning
The leather material contains oils that you need to replenish often. They will help to soften the upholstery, but constant contact with grease can reduce their natural properties. So, you need a special conditioner on the sofa. This will keep it fresh and prevent the sofa from drying or breaking.
Perfect positioning
Conditioning can help to keep your sofa soft and supple. However extended exposure to sunlight and other sources of heat can also cause cracking and drying. So, make sure to position the sofa away from windows to prevent constant exposure to sunlight and heat. This will help to preserve the sofa’s look and condition.
Buffing
If you’d like to preserve the look of your sofa, you can also buff it regularly. Use a soft or microfiber cloth, which will keep the weather shining and prevent its material from wearing out.
Buffing can also reduce the appearance of scuffs and scratches that the sofa suffers. So, it is a great maintenance method for you to keep in mind.
Following these tips will help you keep your leather sofa looking like new for years to come. Have you tried any of these tips? How did they work for you? Let us know in the comments!
Article Submitted By Community Writer
