When you own leather furniture, you want to keep it looking new and beautiful for as long as possible. If you’re new to owning leather furniture, this can be a little intimidating. Leather is expensive and harder to fix than other furniture materials. The last thing you need is to accidentally damage it further when you’re just trying to keep it clean! Here are our best tips to keep your leather couch looking like new in Orangeburg, SC.
Day-to-day care
There are some daily practices you can keep in mind that will help you keep your leather furniture in good shape. Here are some basic tips:
- Keep away from direct sunlight and heat: Direct sunlight might feel good after a long winter, but it can easily cause your leather furniture to fade. Heat is also a leather killer—putting your furniture too close to heaters, fireplaces and radiators will cause the leather to dry out and crack.
- Fluff the cushions daily: Each day, take the time to fluff the cushions back up to their normal shape. This is especially important if you have feather or fiber-filled cushions, since they don’t regain their shape like foam does.
- Avoid scratches, scuffs and dye transfer: Now that you own leather furniture, you’ll need to be careful of how you sit. Avoid sitting on the sofa while wearing clothes or accessories that can scratch the leather. Also, keep blankets, towels, throw pillows and other dyed fabrics away unless you’re sure they’re colorfast.
Regular upkeep
Cleaning and conditioning your leather furniture will help retain its luster and beauty. Use a dry cloth or vacuum to remove dust, debris and crumbs from the leather. Then go over it with a damp cloth dipped in distilled water and wrung out. Once each month, finish that off with an approved leather cleaner, then leave your furniture to dry naturally. Be careful of how much water you use—it can stain the leather.
To condition your leather furniture, use an approved leather conditioner once every few months. This replenishes the oils and will keep the leather from drying out or cracking.
How to tackle stains
If you can get to a stain before it soaks in, you should be able to use the cleaning tips above to get the stain out. If, however, it sinks in before you can get to it, you might need to use a professional cleaner.
Note: do not apply water to grease and oil stains. It will actually make them worse. Instead, blot the stain with a clean dry cloth, then call a professional cleaner. Ink, oil, grease and wine are the hardest to remove from leather. When in doubt, let the pros handle it—it’ll protect your investment and net much better results than you can achieve on your own.
Thankfully, keeping your leather couch from wearing in Orangeburg, SC is a relatively easy process. As long as you keep up with regular cleaning and don’t make stains worse, it should be a breeze.
To get your own leather furniture, stop by or call Orangeburg Furniture Exchange today.