The Golden Rules of Leather Care
Leather is tough and resilient, but it isn’t impervious to damage. Leather needs to be treated with care, kept clean and protected from sweat, body oils, dust, stains, heat, UV light, and damage.
Follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Keep your furniture at least 30cm away from any source of heat.
Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight.
Be aware that if your pets use your furniture, their teeth, claws and body fluids may cause damage.
Do not use harsh chemicals or products containing solvents or oils on or around your leather furniture.
Protect your furniture with an appropriate leather protection product.
Every week, dust your furniture then wipe it over with a soft, white cloth dampened with a little water to help prevent the build up of sweat, body oils and soiling.
At least every 6 months, clean your furniture with an appropriate leather cleaning product and then apply an appropriate leather protection production product.
If you have white or light coloured leather, take care to prevent dye transfer. Dye transfer is a common problem, it occurs when dyes from fabrics (jeans, cushions, throws, newspaper print etc) transfer to the surface of leather causing a stain. Dye transfer is most problematic on light coloured leathers. It can be very difficult to remove. Dyes are designed to be permanent - the stains they cause can also be permanent. Always make sure throws and cushions are colour fast before you put them on your furniture. Never sit on your furniture in wet cloths. Don't place newspapers, magazines, wet fabrics or printed plastic on your furniture. Even if you take all these precautions, you may still notice a gradual build up of dye transfer from clothing. How do I give my furniture added protection from dye transfer?
How to Maintain Leather
When it is correctly maintained, leather is more resistant to stains, easier to clean and even easier to repair. The type of maintenance your leather needs will be dictated by what type of leather it is. What's your leather type?
