People worldwide love the look of leather, and many countries produce millions of pieces yearly to meet the demand. However, leather furniture requires special care. Whether you have a lovely leather ottoman, lounge chair, or sofa, use these tips to keep your luxury leather furnishings in great condition.
Real or Faux Leather?
Genuine and synthetic leather may look and feel almost identical, but they require different types of care. Check your label (on the bottom of your furniture), manual, or receipt to verify if your piece is real or faux material.
If you don’t have any paperwork, you can usually tell actual leather from fake because faux leather will be cool, tight, and smooth like plastic. On the other hand, natural leather can stretch and feels soft and supple. Genuine material gets warm and has pores.
Properly Staging and Using Your Leather Furniture
Natural products can degrade in environments with extremes. For example, a hot, arid climate can cause a leather ottoman to dry out, leading to cracking, peeling, splitting, and discoloring. However, humid locations can get moldy or musty, so these areas usually require a dehumidifier.
In any case, regular care is necessary. Keep your leather furniture in a temperature-controlled room. Avoid placing them near air conditioners, by radiators, or in direct sunlight, which can expose them to excessive temperatures.
Also, avoid eating and drinking on your leather furniture to ensure a longer lifespan. Extra care means you’ll treat spots and stains less often.
Cleaning Your Leather Furniture Correctly
To clean a leather piece, start by vacuuming off the dust. Pay extra attention to your leather ottoman, which can collect excess dirt when people rest their feet on it.
Regular cleaning also involves wiping down your leather upholstery. Moisten a microfiber towel with a little water and a dab of mild, natural soap solution. Then wipe the leather dry to remove excess cleaning product.
Wet cleaning can ruin leather, so only light wiping is necessary. Never use harsh chemicals, which can damage the finish and remove the color.
Try to treat spills quickly to prevent permanent stains. You can absorb grease or oil with baking powder or talcum powder and a leather cleaner.
The frequency of conditioning and cleaning depends on how often you use your furniture. Pieces in living rooms usually need more attention than in offices.
Expect most furniture to need a little attention at least every month. Frequently used pieces that tend to get dirtier (such as a leather ottoman) may require vacuuming and light wiping every week or two.
Conditioning Your Leather Furniture
A leather conditioning kit helps your furniture endure. Body oils, lotions, and hair care products will get on your leather pieces and can stain them. Regular conditioning treatments can safeguard your leather from these oily byproducts, and from food spills as well.
Conditioning should only be done once or twice a year. For the best results, be sure to follow the conditioning instructions carefully.
Buying High-Quality Furniture that Lasts
When you invest in a beautiful piece of leather furniture for your home or office, it should last for years. The best way to maintain your furnishings is to begin by investing in a high-quality piece in the first place.
A leather ottoman, sofa, or chair is an ideal addition to any room. For a range of superb quality products, check out the carefully curated selection at Poly & Bark.
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