Leather furniture care rules and overview of the best products
Leather furniture is designed to create a respectable and solid ambiance. Expensive sofas, leather armchairs can emphasize the high status of the owners. In order for such products to retain their rich appearance for a long time, it is necessary to constantly care for leather furniture. It does not require much effort and does not spend a lot of money. The main thing is to take care of your skin regularly and properly.
Content
Features of skin care
All leather furniture needs high quality maintenance and restoration. When buying items with upholstery made from natural materials, you should be prepared for the fact that leather will look presentable only if you follow the rules for its content. External factors cause serious damage to the leather upholstery.
Temperature
When buying leather furniture, you need to pay attention to the place of its installation. It is forbidden to place it near heating devices (whether it is an ordinary radiator or a heating battery).
Dry air in a room can dry out and crack the skin.If the scorching sunlight constantly falls on the sofa, its color will quickly fade. Keep in mind that this material can be contaminated with spilled coffee or tea, grease, paints or markers.
Humidity
To prevent the leather upholstery from losing its elasticity, you need to keep it in a certain mode of humidity (65-70%). This environment is optimal for both people and furniture. If the reading drops, moisture begins to evaporate from the skin. As a result, the material becomes hard, brittle and takes on traces of crumbling paint.
How to choose detergents
To extend the life of expensive leather furniture, you need to use special means intended for this. This task is perfectly handled by high-end household chemicals, which include animal and vegetable fats. They maintain the new condition of the piece of furniture by delicately treating the material.
Before processing or washing leather furniture, it is necessary to carry out several tests of the agent used for this on the back of the product. This way you can check how it affects the skin and if it can ruin it.
Skin care products:
- cleaning soap;
- powder stains;
- spray wax;
- furniture impregnation;
- special oils;
- leather color restoration kits;
- balms;
- creams.
Dark
The maintenance of leather also depends on the color of the skin. It can be dark, colored or white.
If it is dark, care is carried out in this way:
- The product is vacuumed at least 2-3 times every 7 days.
- They are washed once every 14 days. To do this, prepare a solution of soap or special powders for cleaning upholstered furniture.These products can be purchased at any household chemical store.
- Wipe down the leather product every other day using a regular flannel cloth.
- To get rid of greasy stains at home, you can use a soap and conditioner solution.
Color
When cleaning colored leather furniture, you must follow the instructions exactly and apply the dosage indicated on the package. It is important to choose the right product that will suit the colored product. Otherwise, the upholstery may be damaged.
white
White skin requires special care, it is easy to damage and it will be very visible. To clean such a product, experts advise using natural cow's milk.
Milk should be low in fat (no more than 2.5% fat). It is heated a little and then the surface is treated with it. A cotton swab or sponge is moistened in warm milk and the product is gently wiped off.
Different types of stains can also be removed from white leather furniture. To do this, take an ordinary cloth, moisten it in milk and wipe the stains a little. Finally, you should wipe the skin and buff it with conditioner. If you don't have a wax conditioner, you can substitute it with a regular vegetable oil.
Rules of daily care
Having acquired new leather furniture, you need to learn how to properly care for it. After all, leather is a specific material.
Rules of care:
- use special means (slowing down skin aging, protective and cleansing) at least twice a year;
- vacuum the products so that the pores of the material are not clogged with dust, at least once a month;
- clean furniture from dust with a cotton cloth at least 1 time every 7-14 days.
Anti-aging agents for leather furniture are composed of plain water. Thanks to it, they gently moisturize leather products, while getting rid of everyday dirt. Mild leather cleaners are available in the form of wipes. After using them, the furniture should be wiped with a dry cloth.
If you clean your leather furniture with the right products, it will look great.
Features of stain removal
Before removing stains from a leather product, you need to find out what their origin is. Stains of brilliant green are removed with the help of certain means, oily - with the help of completely different.
Fat
If a greasy stain has just appeared, you can sprinkle it with salt and let it act for about 10 minutes. Then you need to shake off the salt, wipe the surface with a soft cloth.
If the stain was applied a long time ago, baking soda will take care of it. To do this, dissolve soda in warm water (1 liter of soda per 1 glass of water), mix. It is necessary to wipe the grease stain with the ready-made solution until the foam appears. Wipe it off and repeat these steps again. Do not rub a fresh stain with a damp cloth. Instead, it is best to use dry.
Blood
Fresh blood can be removed with cold water and soap. Do not use hot water. It helps the stain adhere to the surface of the leather. After that, it will be almost impossible to clean it.
If the spots have appeared for a long time, you can use an aspirin tablet, dissolving it in a glass of water.
You may not be able to remove the bloodstain the first time. In this case, a restatement should be used.
Paints or marker
You can use an alcohol solution to get rid of felt or paint on leather furniture. To do this, you need to take a cotton ball and gently wipe the dirty area. Do not use acetone to clean leather. He can spoil her badly. Thanks to the alcohol solution, the fat evaporates. After using it, anoint the coating with moisturizing cream or conditioner.
Traces of tea, juice or coffee
If drops of coffee, tea or juice fall on the leather sofa, you can use perfume, rubbing alcohol or vodka. Necessary:
- Wipe the surface with a dry cloth, removing excess moisture.
- Sprinkle with salt, leave for a few minutes.
- Remove the salt by walking over the stains with a cotton ball soaked in an alcohol solution.
wax or gum
You can remove wax or gum from a leather couch with an ice cube. It should be wrapped in a thin cloth or plastic bag and applied to the stain for 15 seconds. Then remove the wax or gum with a knife (blunt side).
mold cleaning
Mold appears on furniture due to the harmful effects of high humidity in the room. To clean leather furniture from it, you need to use a solution with vinegar.
To prepare the vinegar solution, you need to mix:
- water (100ml);
- vinegar (1 tbsp. l.).
Wipe the contaminated surface with a cotton ball soaked in this mixture. Remove residue with a dry cloth (before it is absorbed). Vinegar can be replaced with an analogue, a special anti-mold agent sold at any furniture store.
Mold is more difficult to remove if it has been on the surface of the leather for a long time. Therefore, you need to constantly check the furniture for mold.
How to maintain after cleaning
Over time, leather furniture ceases to be elastic and cracks appear. To avoid these processes, you can use products with a moisturizing property, such as conditioner or cream.
It is necessary to monitor the level of humidity in the room. It should not exceed 70 percent. Dry air can also damage leather upholstery. It causes cracks as the coating dries.
Tips & Tricks
The durability of leather furniture is ensured by prevention. It is necessary to clean the furniture at least once every 30 days using a damp cloth soaked in a solution. You should also check it periodically for stains.