6 useful tips for caring for leather furniture

We take care of furniture

Even the most pleasant and durable skin is at the same time the most finicky to care for. You should not eat fruit, drink wine or coffee on leather furniture: it will be difficult to remove stains from falling drops. If the leather upholstery is light (beige or white), you cannot sit on it in jeans: poorly dyed fabric can leave dark stains. The same applies to brightly colored pillows, rugs, coloring magazines and toys. It is also not recommended to put a sofa or an armchair by the window if the room is on the sunny side: under the influence of rays, the skin will quickly lose its elasticity.

We clean from dust

A vacuum cleaner is used to care for the leather of the sofa, which removes it from the main enemy - dust. If the upholstery is not cleaned every two weeks, dust will clog into the pores of the leather, making it even more difficult to get rid of the dirt. The abundance of dirt significantly shortens the life of leather products. When cleaning, use a soft brush to remove dust from creases and crevices. Both a home and a car vacuum cleaner will do. In the absence of instruments, you can use a special broom or a damp cloth. To add shine, you can soak a rag in a weak lemon solution and wipe the leather sofa with it.

We take care of it regularly

Immediately after buying furniture, you should get a leather sofa care product. Once a month, it is necessary to wet the surface, but do not use aggressive detergents! Do not rub the upholstery with brushes - scratches will remain on it. For skin care, a special composition is selected, which depends on the type of material. Detailed instructions for caring for the product must be issued by the store along with the purchased furniture. You should not skimp on cleaning compounds that can damage the material: it is much more profitable to purchase an expensive product and keep the leather intact than to watch day after day how the upholstery is aging despite constant care. It is recommended to first try an unfamiliar composition on an inconspicuous area.

Prevention is better and cheaper than "cure". In order for natural leather furniture to look presentable longer and not to become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, it must be provided with regular maintenance throughout its entire service life.

Once a year, leather furniture must be impregnated with a special fatty compound so that the material does not dry out and remains soft for longer. If you do not follow this rule, the upholstery will quickly "age" and crack. Do not use shoe polish or creams on your leather sofa.

We maintain the correct microclimate

When caring for leather furniture, it is important to consider two indicators to which the material reacts - temperature and humidity. Do not place furniture near heating radiators and heaters: the upholstery may deform. A leather item, which is constantly exposed to hot appliances, wears out faster and takes on an untidy appearance.

In addition, genuine leather takes moisture from the air, which means that in a room where "capricious" furniture stands, humidity indicators should not exceed 70%.Dry air makes the leather less wear-resistant: the fat layer is broken, cracks appear on the material, and even the most expensive pieces of furniture begin to look cheap.

During a long absence, you must not cover the sofa with plastic wrap, which will create a greenhouse effect.

Get rid of stains

If a stain appears on the upholstery of a leather sofa or armchair, do not apply chemical solvents, polishes, stain removers, abrasive pastes and powders to it: this will not only disrupt the structure of the material, but also deprive it of its original color. Blot the stain immediately with a napkin. If you can't cope with water, apply a special composition for cleaning the skin. Drying the stained area with a hairdryer is strictly prohibited! Also, experts do not recommend using soapy water too often: it washes away protective oils from the skin.

If there is a problem with a leather sofa and stubborn stains appear on its surface, it is best to contact a dry cleaner. This must be done as quickly as possible, because the longer the stain remains on the skin, the more difficult it is to remove it later.

To get rid of simple dirt at home, follow the advice of professionals:

• Traces from ink or felt-tip pen gently removed with cotton wool dipped in alcohol.
• Wine stainseasy to remove with a damp sponge or rag. The pink streaks will come off if you rub them with lemon juice.
• Freshblood quickly cleans a mild soapy solution. Dried stains will succumb if you gently scrub the leather sofa with vinegar or lemon.
• Fresh gum It can be easily removed with a spoon, and the dried one will go away if you first apply ice to it.
• If a leather sofa appearsgreasy stain, you need to cover it with talcum powder, and after a couple of hours wipe it with a dry absorbent cloth.

We protect from scratches

Caring for leather furniture involves not only regular cleaning, but also protection from all kinds of damage. If pets live in the house, the surest way to protect leather furniture from claws is to keep pets out of the room. If this is not possible, it is worth considering a different type of upholstery.

You should not sit on a leather sofa with your feet, without first removing your shoes. You should also protect furniture during renovation.

It is impossible to restore the sofa, having got rid of severe damage on your own - for the constriction and restoration you will have to contact the specialists. Small defects on leather furniture are removed by professional means, for example, "liquid leather". They are sold in auto repair shops as well as on the internet. In order for the scratch to become invisible, it is necessary to select the shade as close as possible to the material. And you can completely restore the color of the product using a special paint in the form of a spray.

Caring for a leather sofa or armchair is a task that requires organization and accuracy. But the result is worth it: the upholstery made of natural material, even after 10 years, will look as if the furniture was purchased only yesterday.