How To Protect, Clean and Repair Leather Furniture

How to protect leather furniture

Leather is a living material which evolves. With the right care, you can enhance its character and beauty over the years.

Choose dark coloured, treated leather furniture

Treated leather features a dense and durable protective coating, making the furniture more stain and grease resistant.

If suitable for your décor, a dark-coloured model usually retains its original appearance longer, as the pigmented topcoats reveal less of its natural patterns and wear marks.

Give preference to dyed leather “on the right side and on the reverse side”

When manufacturing certain high quality leathers, the hides are immersed in a vat so that the aniline-based dye can be impregnated. This way, the color penetrates deep into the piece and potential wear marks or surface damage will be much less noticeable.

If you turn a piece of leather inside out and the color is the same on both sides, then it has been prepared using this process.

Apply a leather conditioner

Once a year, apply a specially formulated leather care product. This regular maintenance will help the material retain its natural oils, keeping it soft and supple.

Install leather furniture away from the sun and heat sources

Over time, exposure to direct sunlight can fade the color of leather. Therefore, it is best to position your furniture appropriately in the room. Also, avoid placing your genuine leather furniture near heat sources, such as electric baseboards or fireplaces. Such equipment can dry out the leather and render it fragile.

Protecting a leather sofa from pet scratches

Surface scratches are inevitable and part of normal wear and tear in a pet-friendly property. However, you can prevent more serious damage by not letting your four-legged friends climb on the furniture.

If you have a pet cat, place a scratching post near your sofa and then promote the use of the post by rewarding your pet each time it claws at the post, as a way of reinforcing the desired behavior.

How to clean a leather furniture

At the time of purchase, protect your investment by purchasing a comprehensive protection plan from Mobilia. Stains and accidental damage will be repaired by professionals (certain conditions apply).

Cleaning a leather sofa yourself

For routine cleaning and to remove dust, simply wipe the leather down with a soft cloth dampened with water and mild soap. You can also use a special purpose leather cleaner, which often features a lubricating compound to help the material retain its suppleness.

For stubborn stains, avoid non-leather cleaners and homemade recipes, which can cause irreversible damage to your furniture. Instead, use a recommended product or hire a professional cleaning service.

Read ou maintenance guide to protect, clean and repair leather furniture

Clean up liquids and messes immediately

Remove spills from the surface quickly to prevent the leather from absorbing them and remaining stained. Blot up liquids with a clean, dry, light-colored towel. Wipe off the excess with a cloth dampened with warm, slightly soapy water. If necessary, alternate between blotting and cleaning. Allow to air dry.

If the stain is from greasy food or oil, blot with a clean towel without using water. The leather should gradually absorb the excess, allowing the stain to fade over time. You can also use a specialized leather degreaser.

How to repair leather furniture

Repairing a leather sofa is possible. Regular maintenance can make wear marks less visible and minor damage can be treated at home using specialized products.

Mitigating scratches on leather furniture

Unfortunately, there is no solution to prevent or perfectly repair scratches, bites and superficial damage to leather (those are normal wear and tear). However, regular cleaning combined with the application of a leather care product can help make these marks less noticeable on sofas and couches.

Repairing cuts and rips on a leather sofa

Some more serious damage can be repaired to the point of being barely noticeable by using a leather repair kit.

These products contain detailed instructions that outline how to clean around the tear with a blade, insert a repair patch of a matching color and glue together the tips of the opening.

Restoring and repairing leather furniture

If the damage is too severe to be repaired in this way, call in a furniture restoration company.

Professional repairers can, for instance, replace individual sections of leather with new ones of a matching color and re-stitch damaged seams. If you’ve taken good care of your furniture and plan to keep it for a long time, such work may be worth it.

Leather never goes out of style and adds elegance and sophistication to any decor. Invest in quality leather furniture, watch out for its maintenance, and you will enjoy unparalleled comfort for many years.