Many of us appreciate the elegance and comfort that comes with a leather sofa, couch or armchair. However, you should keep in mind that leather is a delicate material which requires special care. The longevity of leather is directly related to the frequency and the quality of its maintenance. Dirty leather quickly loses its lovely shine and flexibility.

We have provided below a few recommendations regarding the cleaning of leather furniture.

Don’t wait to clean it

As soon as an incident occurs, you should remove the stain immediately. Don’t wait until it becomes incrusted in the material! A little water is often all it takes to remove a stain, unless you’re dealing with a grease stain. In any case, the important thing is to take care of it before it sets in and damages your furniture permanently.

Avoid chemical products

Leather is a fragile material. A fact that is even more apparent with coloured leather! This is why you have to be very careful in your choice of cleaning products. For example, even though it may be very effective, a cleaner that contains solvent might damage a coloured leather chair or sofa. This is why experts recommend products such as distilled water and mild soap.

Use a soft cloth

When cleaning your leather sofa or armchair, avoid using a brush or an exceedingly rough cloth. Once again, leather is a material that must be treated very gently. Experts recommend using moistened wipes, like those used to for wiping young children. It works very efficiently and will not damage your leather.

Carry out regular maintenance

Even if your sofa, couch or armchair seems in perfect condition, you should carry out regular maintenance every 6 months or so. Specialists refer to this as “nourishing the leather”. Specifically, the procedure consists of applying a product to preserve the look and flexibility of the leather. The most popular recipe is a home-made mixture that consists of:

  • 1 teaspoon of ammonia
  • 4 teaspoons of vinegar
  • 2 cups of water

This “grandmother’s recipe” has done wonders for countless leather sofa and armchair owners. Conversely, if preparing your own mixture does not interest you, you can opt for castor oil which helps prevent the formation of cracks on the surface of the leather.

Go easy on the water

Don’t make the mistake of flooding your furniture while cleaning it. Some models of sofas, couches, and armchairs tolerate very poorly water in large quantity. Therefore, even though it may seem beneficial, you will end up damaging the leather. Instead, leather specialists suggest using a damp cloth to clean the stains and then to wipe everything up with a dry cloth. To succeed in keeping your leather furniture looking its best, remember that the operative word with leather is moderation!