Contents
*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
A leather sofa is comfortable, elegant, stylish. But in the absence of proper care, such a product will quickly become worthless. How to maintain the original look of a leather sofa and clean it well without harming the upholstery? We have collected the most effective ways.
General recommendations
Before you start cleaning a sofa with leather upholstery, it is important to read the manufacturer’s instructions, in which he gives practical recommendations on how to use the product and care for it (for example, completely different care products are suitable for aniline leather and lacquered upholstery).
There are several basic rules for handling a leather sofa, which are recommended to be followed:
Before cleaning upholstered leather furniture, the first step is to remove all debris (any vacuum cleaner is fine for this).
It is contraindicated to use products for cleaning a leather sofa that are simply not intended for such materials – along with the dirt to be removed, the top protective layer of natural oils will also be removed. This will inevitably lead to the appearance of cracks on the surface of the skin.
Leather is a porous material and you should not forget about it. When cleaning the sofa, do not use aggressive cleaning products, as well as intensively rub the leather, as this will only lead to an even deeper penetration of dirt into the skin. In this case, the use of soft brushes (including toothbrushes) is allowed.
Spilled liquid should be removed from the leather surface with a soft, natural cloth that absorbs moisture well. In no case do not rub (so moisture will penetrate even faster and deeper into the porous structure of the upholstery): the movements should be soaking.
To prolong the life of the product, it is recommended to install it away from intense sunlight, as this can dry out the skin and quickly make it unusable.
Means unacceptable for processing leather furniture:
Compositions for cleaning leather, but not furniture – if the house has a leather shoe care product, for example, this does not mean that such a composition is suitable for cleaning a leather sofa.
Aggressive chemicals – turpentine, alcohol, any solvents and stain removers are effective in removing various stains, but they can leave their own marks on leather upholstery.
Soap – almost any soap can adversely affect the appearance of the product.
Water in large quantities – as you know, “water procedures” are contraindicated for the skin. Therefore, when cleaning the sofa, you should not use a too wet cloth, much less pour water on the upholstery.
Preventive care
Happy owners of leather furniture should take into account several important nuances of caring for such products to extend their service life:
A couple of times a month it is advisable to clean the upholstery with a vacuum cleaner using a small lint nozzle.
Traces of product use can be easily removed using a light soapy solution (a clean cloth is suitable as a working tool).
It is recommended to use special care products for a leather sofa no more than once every six months. More frequent use of chemicals will lead to faster thinning of the upholstery.
A couple of times a year it is important to renew the protective lipid layer of leather upholstery (this will help keep it smooth and shiny). For this, special impregnations are used (in the absence of such, castor oil, glycerin, etc. can be used as an alternative).
- Speaking of home remedies that are suitable for use as an effective conditioner for the care of a leather sofa. A simple combination of lemon oil and table vinegar works wonders. Dissolve 0,5-10 drops of lemon or tea tree oil in 15 liters of white wine vinegar. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Dip a small piece of a cloth napkin into the mixture and rub it into the surface of the sofa. Leave to act overnight.
Important factor: the oil-vinegar mixture should not drain from the napkin, so as not to wet the upholstery excessively. Excess moisture can damage the structure of the leather surface. With the onset of the next day, you need to thoroughly wipe the sofa in small circular motions to give the coating a shine.
Garbage removal
This is the first stage of any cleaning and a leather sofa is no exception. Such furniture requires constant, but not necessarily frequent maintenance. It is important to regularly clean the upholstery from dust and debris, as well as take care of the product: this will already be enough to extend its service life.
How to remove debris from a leather sofa? Шаг первый. First you need to remove large particles. A compact handheld vacuum cleaner will do just fine for this task. It is enough to walk on the upholstery with a flat nozzle, paying special attention to the slightest folds.
Шаг второй. Then you need to change the nozzle, using the option with a brush and thoroughly clean the entire surface of the sofa. Vacuum brushes usually have fairly soft bristles that should not leave scratches.
Step Three. Using a feather duster or flannel cloth, wipe the upholstery of the sofa from any remaining dust.
Scheduled cleaning
A simple and effective method for cleaning a leather sofa is a homemade solution consisting of water and white vinegar (wine). Instead of tap water, it is better to use distilled water, since the first may contain chemical compounds that are harmful to the leather upholstery of the sofa.
Mix equal proportions of white wine vinegar and distilled water. Soak a natural cloth in the prepared mixture and wring it out well (it should be damp, but not too wet). With gentle circular motions, process the entire surface of the sofa, moving from top to bottom. You need to work in small areas, periodically rinsing the napkin in vinegar water. The last step is to dry the leather upholstery with a dry, clean cloth.
Stain removal
Grease spots
As a rule, greasy dirt on a leather sofa remains from food, cosmetics or hair. These stains are best removed as soon as possible. If the stain is fresh, do not rub it with a wet cloth: this will only increase the area of contamination, and it will eat into the pores of the skin more.
The first step is to use a good absorbent. As such, talc, starch, chalk, salt, etc. are suitable. Pour the absorbent agent in a dense layer on the stain and leave for several minutes so that it absorbs the fat as much as possible. Then gently wipe off with a clean cloth. Absorbent residues and stains can be removed with a mild soap solution or dishwashing detergent.
Ink
A trace of ink or marker will help to remove a weak solution of alcohol. But before using it against a stain, it is recommended to check the effect of the composition on an inconspicuous area. In the process of processing the ink trace, it is not necessary to wet it much, it is also desirable not to go beyond the stain.
Advice. Small fresh ink stains can sometimes be easily removed with a regular eraser.
Beverages
Any liquids, regardless of whether it is alcohol, juices, coffee or soda, are removed from the sofa’s leather upholstery in the same way. The first step is to blot the liquid with a dry cloth. Then sprinkle thickly with some absorbent (for example, starch or talc). Remove residues and wash the treated skin area with a mild soapy solution.
Council. The unpleasant smell from spilled beer can be easily removed by adding a little ammonia to the soap solution.
If the stain has become old, you will need a more intense effect. First you need to soak the stain. For this, any weakly concentrated detergent composition is suitable. Then carefully walk with a damp cloth. If this was not enough, you can try applying a small amount of Vaseline. If this does not help to achieve a result, it remains to use a more aggressive composition – alcohol, lemon juice or acetone.
First, check in a hidden area to see if such a composition will discolor the skin. Then gently blot the stain with the selected product and, when the stain disappears, immediately wipe thoroughly with a clean, damp cloth and dry thoroughly. Be sure to lubricate the treated area with petroleum jelly.
Blood
Regardless of whether the blood stain is fresh or dried, it can only be treated with cool water and active compounds (heat causes the protein to coagulate and then it is much more difficult to remove it). So, a fresh trace of blood should be sprinkled with an absorbent and left for a couple of minutes to absorb. Then remove the remaining gruel and wash the treated skin with cold water. Dry thoroughly.
An old stain should be moistened with a mild soapy solution and left for 15 minutes. Then rinse with a damp, clean sponge. Wipe dry. Lubricate with Vaseline or baby cream.
Chewing gum
When contacted with a leather surface, chewing gum does not develop the same adhesion as with a fabric surface. This greatly simplifies the process of cleaning the product. It is enough to carefully pry the gum with a non-sharp object: it will easily come off the skin. If this did not happen, a “stimulus” is needed – freezing. To do this, put something frozen on the gum. When she gets woody, it will not be difficult to remove her.
mold/fungus
Microbial contamination is not uncommon for leather furniture. Often this is facilitated by the increased humidity of the room in which the product is located, or insufficiently thorough drying of the sofa after cleaning. If harmful spores are found, it is important to start disinfection without delaying it.
The best option is a weak solution of vinegar. You need to walk with a cotton pad or a cloth dipped in the prepared composition, and immediately wash the area covered with mold with a washing solution, and then with clean water. Wipe dry. If the fungus or mold has penetrated very deep into the structure of the skin and these measures were not enough, the only reasonable option is to turn to the services of professionals.
Features of cleaning a sofa made of light leather
The care technology for a white or light leather sofa is almost identical to that used for dark sofas. But there are a number of specific differences:
Everyday dirt is removed from fair skin with detergents.
On light skin, stains from any drinks are not only more noticeable, but also “stronger” – it is a little more difficult to wash them. But there is a plus: for this you can use more aggressive compounds, for example, alcohol or lemon juice.
Fat traces after treatment with an absorbent can be removed with a highly concentrated alcohol solution.
Blood stains that cannot be removed in the classical way can be removed with hydrogen peroxide.
Vinegar (1:1 ratio with water) can be safely used to remove stubborn ink stains, traces of coloring drinks, etc. In addition, it is a very effective remedy for neutralizing the smell of cat urine.
Before using special cleaning compounds, you need to read the manufacturer’s instructions in detail and follow them strictly. Sometimes spray, conditioners, ointments for leather furniture contain a tinting pigment – it is not suitable for caring for a sofa made of light leather.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.