Leather sofas have been popular for pretty much forever, and with good reason! Leather not only
Leather sofas have been popular for pretty much forever, and with good reason! Leather not only looks stylish, but can last for decades if properly taken care of. A leather piece is an investment and for many the thought of caring for leather can seem intimidating which is why we’ve put together a list of our very best care tips so that you can finally get the sofa of your dreams and keep it for years to come. Here’s how to get the very most out of your investment!
Leather is a high end textile and is typically sold at a premium price, which is why cleaning a leather sofa yourself can make us all a little nervous! To ease your nerves, its best to steer clear of general commercial cleaners to clean your leather pieces as these tend to be harsh and can permanently damage delicate leather. It’s worth investing in a purpose-designed leather cleaner which is suitable for the type of leather covering your couch. If you’ve got some stains that still won’t budge after following the instructions on your leather cleaner, it’s time to call in the pros!
Before you buy, put some thought into where you’ll be placing your sofa and check whether you can work out a way to keep your sofa out of direct sunlight. Long term exposure to to sunlight can cause leather to fade and may dry the leather out over time which make it vulnerable to damage. If your current set up exposes your sofa to direct sunlight, get your interior design hat on and think about rejigging your living room arrangement to make it work in your home.
Yes, you read it right! Over time, you may notice some small scratches appearing on your leather couch from general wear and tear and lots of us tend to panic and assume that we just have to live with these new accents! Fortunately most minor damage is easily cured with a clean, dry microfibre cloth. Buff the area with the cloth to get rid of little scratches as soon as you spot them to prevent them from turning into bigger crack.
We understand that life happens, and with that comes spills and stains. Whether it’s water or wine, clean up spills as quickly as possible to keep your leather sofa in good nick. One of the perks of having a leather settee is that it doesn’t stain quite as easily as other textiles, however liquids can cause discolouration of leather if not cared for as soon as possible. Act quickly to clean up spills so you can save on professional cleaning later.
One of the most important factors in allowing your leather to age beautifully, is to maintain it regularly. Although it may not seem obvious, small particles of dust and dirt can work their way into creases and cause them to become cracked and damaged. To avoid this, simply use a damp cloth to clean your sofa weekly making sure to properly dry your sofa afterwards. It makes such a big difference to the lifeline of your leather to condition it every 6-12 months. There are some great commercial conditioners which are widely available so that you can condition your sofa by yourself without splurging on professional maintenance.
Now go ahead and get that sofa of your dreams and enjoy butter-soft leather that only gets better as the years go by!
