Updated on August 26, 2022
Are you wondering how to care for leather furniture? Whether you purchased a new leather furniture set and want to keep it looking new or your current furniture needs some TLC, read on.
Leather furniture is a great way to make your home look classy and cozy. While leather is the perfect addition to living rooms, offices, and other rooms in your home, it does require more attention and TLC than most other materials. The good news is, caring for your leather furniture is super simple!
There are many things you can do to take care of your leather and keep it looking new. Make sure you regularly dust and wipe down your furniture with a soft cloth, such as a microfiber towel.
Vacuuming the crevices of your furniture removes dust, dirt, and debris that you can’t wipe off easily. You should also be sure that you wipe up any spills immediately so your leather doesn’t get damaged.
Finally, be careful with where you keep your leather furniture, avoiding prolonged sun exposure and direct contact with heating and cooling vents.
Leather Care 101
Owning leather furniture is a big responsibility. If you want to keep it safe and ensure that it continues to look brand new, there are several things you can do to care for it.
1. Keep It Clean
The first thing you can do to keep your leather looking its best is to keep it clean. Make sure you dust it regularly using a soft duster, microfiber cloth, or another soft rag. An old t-shirt is a great choice for cleaning leather.
You can also use a leather cleaning spray applied to a soft rag and wiped over the furniture.
2. Conditioning
Another way to keep your leather in tip-top shape is to condition it regularly. Leather only needs to be conditioned a few times a year at most. Many people choose to condition it just once or twice.
Be sure to use a good leather cleaner and conditioner. There are many to choose from. Find a leather conditioner that does not contain silicone or wax so you don’t end up with a buildup of product on the material.
3. Vacuum
Next, be sure you vacuum between cushions and in crevices. If you can remove the cushions, that will allow an even deeper clean since you can see everything that needs to be vacuumed.
Vacuuming is especially important if you have pets that shed or if you eat on your furniture, as you can get rid of hair and crumbs easily.
4. Spill Control
It’s always best if you can avoid spilling on furniture. However, nobody ever plans on spilling and these messes are unavoidable. Make sure you use a dry paper towel or rag to clean up any spills as soon as you notice them.
If you spill something sticky or hard to clean, a bit of cleaning solution on your rag will help remove anything that needs to be cleaned up.
5. Proper Placement
This is very important. You should always be mindful of where you place your leather furniture. Just like with human skin, leather is very sensitive to sunlight, heat, and cold.
To prolong the life of your furniture, keep it out of direct sunlight and be sure that it is not placed right next to a heating or cooling vent. Exposure to extreme temperatures and direct sunlight can cause damage such as fading, drying, cracking, or peeling.
