Tips for Cleaning Leather Sofas

Tap to Read ➤ Bidisha Mukherjee

There are different but effective techniques for cleaning leather sofas. Here, we have shared with you some valuable tips for cleaning leather sofas. Read on...

Leather sofas enhance the visual appeal of the interiors of home manifolds. Any man-made furniture material cannot match up with the beauty and elegance of this natural material. Most importantly, it provides a lot of comfort.

Leather sofas are quite durable and last for many years provided they are well taken care of. Cleaning is an important aspect of leather sofa care. While cleaning such sofas you have to be extra careful so that no damage is caused to the material.

Leather Sofa Cleaning Tips

Leather sofas become dirty due to regular exposure to skin oils and perspiration. They attract more dirt and grime if you have pets and children at home. Dirt and grime makes it lose its natural shine. If you notice any such signs, it is time to clean it up. Take a look at the given tips for cleaning leather sofas:

Tip #1:

Select the right kind of leather cleaner. Read the label of the cleaner carefully before purchasing them. Those with olive oil or lanolin as a component are most suitable.

Any solvent based cleaner should be avoided as it can have a damaging effect on the leather. Castile soap is a water based cleaner that can be safely used on leather.

Tip #2:

Before using any leather cleaning product on the main area of the sofa, do not forget to perform a patch test. Apply it on the bottom of the sofa to check whether it causes any harm to the color or texture of the leather. Once you are positive that it is safe, use it on the rest of the sofa as per the instructions provided by the manufacturers.

Tip #3:

While cleaning the sofa, you must give special attention to areas like the armrest and the back rest. As these areas are exposed to maximum body contact and more dirt and grease are found here.

Tip #4:

Do not use too much of water for cleaning leather sofas. Water leaves behind ugly water stains which is quite difficult to remove. So, use only a damp cloth and not a water soaked cloth on sofas.

Do not use a blow dryer to dry up the moisture residues as cracks may develop on the leather surface. Rather, wipe off the extra moisture and let it air dry.

Tip #5:

Leather has the natural ability to repel liquids provided you do not allow it to get absorbed into the leather. Therefore, if there are accidental liquid spills on your leather sofa, you must take quick action and blot it out with a sponge or soft cloth immediately. Just soak up the liquid and do not wipe it.

Tip #6:

If your sofa was left unused for a long time, there are chances of mold and mildew growth on its surface. For this, you have to prepare a solution by mixing up one part of rubbing alcohol with one part of water.

Put this mixture on a spray bottle and apply it on the mold infested part of the sofa. Then rub a white lint free cloth gently over it in small circular motions. Then turn on the fan and let it air dry.

Tip #7:

Occasionally, leather sofas require a thorough cleaning. For this, you can prepare a homemade leather cleaner with white vinegar and linseed oil. Take one part of white vinegar and two parts of linseed oil in a bottle and shake the mixture vigorously.

Pour a little mixture into a soft piece of cloth and then rub this cloth in circular motions over all the surfaces of the sofa. Let the cleaning solution settle on the leather surface. Next morning, buff the leather surface with a dry rag. This will bring back the natural shine of the sofa.

Tip #8:

A white leather sofa looks really attractive however, the drawback of white color is that it can get stained very easily and you have to work really hard to keep it clean. Even a slight spot of dirt looks quite prominent on it.

A paste made of equal quantities of lime juice and tartar is an excellent choice for sofa cleaning. Apply a thick layer of the paste on the stain and keep it untouched for 10 minutes. After that, wipe it off with a damp sponge and you will find that the stains are gone.

You can minimize dirt accumulation on your leather sofas by covering them up with lightweight sheet covers.