How To Clean Leather Furniture – Leather furniture is a beautiful addition to any home, especially those with messy pets who like to jump up on chairs and couches. One reason why many homeowners choose leather upholstery for their furniture is that cleaning is easy. Average leather furniture can be wiped with a damp cloth and cleaning solution. However, if you want to maintain your high-end leather sofa, you need to learn how to clean leather furniture with proper solutions.
Article at a Glance:
- It’s important to prepare your leather furniture for proper cleaning. Taking these initial steps will ensure you not only clean you the leather but also preserve the life of your furniture without damaging the textiles.
- Not surprisingly, the process for cleaning white leather is different than every other colored leather. Learn the best techniques for colored and white leather furniture.
- As a general rule of thumb, you’re always better off using a mild soap (compared to a harsh strong chemical soap).
- Learn the proper way to clean and maintain faux leather furniture.
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Preparing To Clean Your Leather Furniture
Leather furnishings are timeless and never go out of style. You can easily incorporate leather in any home, plus leather furniture is easy to clean compared to fabric upholstery. For those who are wondering how to clean leather furniture, here are some tips to get you started.
Remove Surface Dirt
Remove cushions and throws from your sofa and check the creases for any debris that may be lodged in the cracks. Your leather furniture usually comes with a soft brush for dusting the leather surface without scratching it. Use the brush attachment to lightly remove any crumbs, dust or other debris.
Always Read The Cleaning Label On The Leather Furniture
It’s important that you read the label on your sofa to determine what leather cleaner to use. If the label is marked W, it means that water-based cleaning products should be used. S or P refer to solvents or dry-clean only, while SW or WS means that you can use either a water-based detergent or your choice of solvent cleaner. A steam cleaner can be used as well. However, if the label has X on it, it means that a professional cleaner should do the work instead.
How To Clean Your Leather Furniture (Non-White Surfaces)
In most instances, you can safely use a slightly damp cloth mixed with a small amount of gentle leather soap and distilled water to give your sofa a quick clean. Make sure that your cloth is just damp and not completely wet as it can leave water-based stains.
Vinegar And Water
If there is a stain on your leather sofa, white vinegar is recommended. Mix equal parts of water and vinegar then blot the stains with it. Wipe it off afterward using a microfiber cloth or dry cloth that is clean. Follow up with mild soap as well as tepid water to remove any vinegar scent. Allow it to air dry.
Proper Use Of Leather Conditioner
Make sure to remove stains from your couch as soon as they occur. After you have applied your cleaning solution, wipe it off with a dry cloth. Apply leather conditioner before your leather furniture has completely dried and buff it up with a clean cloth. You can also apply rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to tackle stubborn, hard-to-remove stains. Never expose your leather furniture to direct sunlight as it can affect the quality and color of the leather.
How To Clean White Leather Furniture
Cleaning your leather couch or sofa should be done regularly if you want to maintain the natural beauty of your furniture. For those who have indulged in classic white leather furniture, you’re probably poring over cleaning tips to maintain its pristine look. Since you’re working with white leather, it’s easy to spot any dirt, dust, and grime settling on it. For those who are wondering how to clean white leather furniture, these tips are worth checking out.
Test Your Cleaning Product Before Applying To The Full Furniture Piece
How do you clean white leather furniture? Cleaning white leather requires the right materials. It is recommended that you spot test your cleaner first. Choose an inconspicuous spot on your high-quality leather to test a small amount of your cleaning solution to determine if there is damage or discoloration from the product.
Go For Mild Soap
Use a mild body wash or soap to clean your leather along with a clean, damp, soft cloth or white cloth. Rub the soap in a circular motion with light pressure. Wipe the area with a clean, damp cloth after.
Buff Your Sofa
After you have wiped your sofa down, the next step is to buff it with a clean and dry cloth. Never leave your white leather sofa wet as this can shorten its lifespan. This is important to know when learning how to clean white leather furniture.
Skip Ammonia-Based Cleaners For Stains
Ink stains and grease stains on your white leather can be horrible to look at, which is why you should remove them with a non-ammonia-based cleaner if the label on your leather allows it. Apply some cleaner on your dry cloth and rub it on the offending stain. But make sure to test your product on a small area first to make sure it doesn’t stain. You can also use baking soda to remove stains as it has the ability to absorb oil without damaging leather.
How To Clean Faux Leather Furniture
For those on a tight budget, faux leather furniture or imitation leather can be a good option. Of course, you will still need to keep your faux leather furniture clean even when the upholstery is made from synthetic materials. Here’s how to clean faux leather furniture.
Blot Stains Immediately
How do you clean faux leather furniture? Stains can appear on your faux leather from water spills, pet accidents and the like. The goal here is to lift the stain as soon as possible with a cloth and allow it to dry up fast. A paper towel can come in handy too.
Wipe The Stains Away
Prepare soap and water. Fill your pail halfway with water then add your mild saddle soap or dish detergent. Mix until there are bubbles forming. Dip a soft cloth in your soapy water and squeeze until you have removed excess water. Never let water soak your faux leather. Wipe the surface gently with your damp cloth until the stain disappears. Wipe afterward with dry, clean cloth. You can use coconut oil instead of a leather cleaning conditioner on your faux leather furniture. Learning how to clean faux leather furniture can help you prolong the lifespan of your pieces so that you can enjoy your furniture for a long time.
Last Word About How to Clean Leather Furniture
Now that you know how to clean and maintain leather furniture here is some helpful information for those looking to buy leather furniture. There are different types of leather available, such as full-grain leather which is the highest quality in the market. There is also top-grain leather which follows second. You’ll find aniline leather, aniline-dyed leather, semi-aniline leather, and colour lock leather on the market as well. These are all options for those who are looking for leather furniture to incorporate into their home!