Maintain leather furniture

Author: Charles Brown
Date Of Creation: 4 February 2021
Update Date: 2 July 2024
Anonim
Leather Couch Cleaning and Restoration
Video: Leather Couch Cleaning and Restoration

Content

Leather furniture is a nice addition to many interiors, but requires a little more loving maintenance than fabric furniture. You should dust them regularly, vacuum the crevices and clean any spills immediately. Check the manufacturer's label for specific instructions and never use chemicals or cleaners not designed for leather.Move the furniture away from air conditioners, heat sources and prolonged direct sunlight. Use a leather conditioner regularly to keep them pristine and if you have to put the furniture away, take the proper precautions. For example, never wrap leather furniture in plastic.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Cleaning leather furniture

  1. Periodically wipe leather furniture with a clean, dry cloth. Use a microfiber cloth. Make wiping the leather furniture part of your weekly cleaning routine. Preventing the dust from building up is the best preventative cleaning measure.
    • Dampen the cloth with distilled water to remove more stubborn dust. Make sure the cloth is not soaked. Never let water soak into leather.
    • Always use a soft cloth and never use a scrubbing brush or scrubber, as these can scratch and damage the leather.
  2. Vacuum the crevices of the furniture. Some dirt and dust builds up on all furniture and leather is no exception. Use the vacuum cleaner hose with a soft brush. Run the brush gently over the entire surface. Vacuum between and under all pillows.
    • If you can remove the cushions, do so for better vacuuming. If you can't get them out, get into the crevices as best you can. You can also use a narrow corner piece to get deeper into the furniture.
  3. Clean up immediately with a dry cloth if you spill. If anything is spilled on the leather upholstery, blot it off as soon as possible. Use a dry cloth or sponge to soak up as much of the spilled liquid as possible, and only use a damp cloth if necessary. Use as little water as possible to remove the stain and then wipe the area dry.
    • Make sure to dab instead of wiping - wiping will only spread the spill further. Take the dry cloth, place it on the stain and leave it there for about five seconds while it soaks up the spilled liquid.
    • If you spill anything other than water, you may need to use a little mild soap with warm water. If the stain is bad enough, it's best to consult a professional so you don't make it worse.
    • The most important thing is to quickly clean up what you have spilled so that it does not have time to soak in the leather.
  4. Use cleaning products that are especially for leather. Detergents, solvents, all-purpose cleaners, ammonia, bleach and furniture polish can all be harmful to leather furniture. Do not use these products to clean or remove stains like this type of furniture. Keep a leather cleaner on hand for any cleanings and emergencies.
    • You might think buying a vacuum cleaner in advance is not a good expense, but once you need it you'll be happy to have it on hand instead of going out and getting one. Cleaning up a mess quickly can save your leather.
    • Keep in mind that cleaning and deodorizing are not necessarily the same. For example, in case of smoke odor in the furniture, you can skip the cleaner and place a bag full of coffee grounds nearby to remove the odor.
  5. Read the manufacturer's label or care instructions provided. General maintenance guidelines are helpful, but it is always good to read all the information from the manufacturer or distributor about specific recommendations for the maintenance of your furniture. Some leather furniture has specific care instructions based on its properties.
    • Some manufacturers supply or sell a product specifically designed for use on their furniture. If so, buy it because it is made specifically for your furniture.
    • This can be especially helpful in determining if the leather has been treated in a specific way that might be affected by improper cleaning.

Method 2 of 3: Learn to last

  1. Put leather furniture in the right place in the room. Since leather is made from animal skin, make sure it is cared for in the same way you care for your own skin. Do not place your leather furniture under an air-conditioning vent, near a fireplace or heater, or in direct sunlight. In such places the leather can dry out, which can cause it to crack or fade.
    • It's fine if sunlight hits the furniture for part of the day, but long-term exposure will damage the leather.
    • It's okay to have leather furniture in air-conditioned or heated rooms, but try to avoid placing them directly below or next to the source.
  2. Apply leather conditioner regularly. Regularly moisturizing the leather will prevent it from drying out and developing cracks. Apply conditioner once or twice a year with a microfiber cloth. Use just enough to cover the leather lightly. Contact the manufacturer to find out what kind of conditioner is recommended.
    • Leather conditioner can be purchased at most furniture stores. It is also available at auto parts stores, where it is sold for moisturizing leather car interiors.
    • Choose a quality brand instead of something cheaper, of course you want something that will not damage the leather. A conditioner is part of the maintenance cost of keeping leather furniture in good condition, so don't consider it optional.
  3. Store leather furniture carefully. If you have to put leather furniture in a storage area for a while, get it professionally cleaned first and make sure it is thoroughly dried. Put a plastic sheet underneath to prevent moisture from entering. Leather needs to breathe, so never wrap leather furniture in plastic, as this will cause moisture to build up and ruin the leather.
    • Never place other heavy objects on leather furniture as this can cause irreparable dents in the leather.
    • Place leather furniture on wooden pallets to keep it off the ground.

Method 3 of 3: Adjust damaged leather furniture

  1. Adjust torn leather with a cloth. Get a piece of denim fabric that you would use on jeans. Cut it out slightly larger than the tear in the leather and round the edges of the patch. Use tweezers to gently tuck it into the crack so that it lies flat under the crack. Use a flexible plastic or vinyl adhesive and apply it to the denim patch. Pinch the crack on it.
    • Instead of just gluing up the crack, making it a dent, the patch creates a new layer underneath the leather that keeps it together and smooth.
    • You can stop at this point and the crack will be repaired. If you want to improve the appearance, you can put a little super glue in the crack, sand gently while it is still wet, add some dust to the glue, then restore the color with a leather color restorer.
  2. Remove dents with heat. Leaving something heavy on furniture can cause a dent. Take a heat gun or use a hair dryer if you prefer. Heat the dent in the leather on the low setting. Gently use both hands to stretch the leather out from the dent. Repeat the heating and stretching process until the dent is removed or less noticeable.
  3. Restore the color of faded leather with a repair kit. Visit a furniture store, DIY store, or search online to purchase a leather color repair kit. This usually includes a cream or balm that you should gently rub into the furniture. Choose a color that is as close as possible to the color of the leather. Take a cloth, put some cream on it and gently rub it into the areas that are most faded.

Tips

  • When trying a cleaner, use it in an inconspicuous area that cannot be seen, should it cause damage.