Leather Care

Leather sofas are known for their longevity, and can last for 10 years or more. However, proper care and maintenance is still needed so as to maintain the ‘good as new’ look in the many years to come. Read on to find out more about how to care for your precious leather sofa.

HOW TO CLEAN

It is advisable to have a cleaning routine almost every week. Start off by dusting the sofa with a dry cloth (preferably a micro fibre cloth) and vacuum clean with a soft brush attachment. Be sure to vacuum every section of the sofa, including the crevices. This is to prevent ingrained grime from forming in the long run. If your sofa has removable seat cushions, turn and fluff them regularly to avoid deep-set wrinkles.

Removing spills

Blot any spills immediately with a clean cloth or sponge and leave it to air dry. It is important to blot as wiping will only spread the moisture to other areas. An alternative would be to use a leather wipe wet tissue cloth.

Removing grease or oil stains

Blot stains with a clean dry cloth or a paper towel. Sprinkle corn starch or talcum powder on the stain. Using your fingers, rub the powder into the stain until you feel heat from the friction. This allows the powder to be absorbed into the stain and loosen the oil. Cover the powder and oil stain with a plastic wrap and leave it overnight. Vacuum the powder up the next day. Use a soft brush attachment to vacuum. Wipe the stain with a damp cloth. If the stain remains, do consult a specialist leather upholstery cleaner for help.

Removing scratches

For minor scratches, use a clean finger to gently buff the scratch marks.

Removing ink stains

Blot the stain using a clean dry cloth. Be careful not to rub it as the ink might spread. Taking another cloth and applying a small amount of hand soap to it, rub the stain gently. Ink stains are the hardest to remove on leather furniture depending on the type of ink and size of the stain. If the stain hasn’t been removed, you may need to have your piece treated professionally.

WHAT TO AVOID

Exposing your sofa to extreme temperatures for a long time which may cause cracks and peeling
Using sharp objects near the sofa as it may cause scratches
Jumping on sofas - this is not only unsafe for the user, it can also compromise the leather, the sofa’s inner construction and mechanisms
Placing leather furniture against painted walls for an extended period of time
Placing your sofa under direct sunlight or intense indoor light as this may cause discolouration. You may cover the sofa with a sheet to preserve the original colour and to shield it from the light.
Do not use harsh soap, household detergents or unapproved solvents to clean your sofa
Leaving sofa with its plastic covering as it allows the leather to ‘breathe’ and prevents the build-up of moisture and mildew
Soaking the cloth to clean the sofa, use a damp cloth that has been wrung out instead

CAUTION

Watch out for childrens’ hands near exposed mechanisms of storage sofas or recliners/incliners.

OTHER MAINTENANCE

Leather conditioning is recommended every 6-12 months depending on the usage of the sofa. It involves a thorough cleaning process which uses a cleaner, a conditioner and a protector.

A leather cleaner acts as the first and most essential step in cleaning your sofa. It removes dirt and grime gently on your leather sofa. This step can be done as frequent as you like and you only need to proceed with the following steps every 6-12 months as stated above.

A leather conditioner is a creamy lotion that penetrates and preserves smooth leather. It’s deep nourishing and moisturizing factor helps to revive the dried-out leather back to its natural condition.

A leather protector works as a protective barrier to the surface of your couch from spills and stains. They can be easily wiped away without staining your couch. It also helps to prolong the life of your sofa by protecting the leather from wear and tear caused from the friction between clothing and the surface of the couch. UV protection is also normally found in a leather protection cream. This is highly effective as leather may face discolouration if placed for long hours near sunlight.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The following leather care products can be purchased from any local hardware store such as Home-Fix, www.Horme.com.sg, Selffix.com and major supermarkets such as NTUC Fairprice and Cold Storage. They are also available on online marketplaces such as Qoo10, Shopee and Lazada.