If you have chairs, sofas and other leather or leather furniture at home, it is important to clean and maintain them on a regular basis to protect their materials and extend their useful life. Here are some suggestions for general care as well as effective methods on how to clean the leather.
Remember: before applying any of these instructions on how to clean the leather, perform a test in a hidden or inconspicuous place. And, if you combine these methods with a commercial product such as ointment to clean leathers, it is advisable to read and follow the instructions on the label. We also suggest that you pay attention to the manufacturer’s care instructions and find out exactly what type of leather your furniture or other affected leather surfaces are made of since there are certain types of leather that are more susceptible than others to water stains. And fat.
Maintenance of leather furniture: general care
In everyday life, to achieve effective maintenance of leather furniture, you just have to take a moment to remove the dust and other traces of dirt that may have on the surface. For this task, you simply have to wipe them with a dry microfiber cloth or use a vacuum cleaner with a soft bristle brush. Never use a vacuum cleaner on leather furniture.
Another important point is to avoid sitting on them after applying body creams or other greasy products or with wet hair.
How to clean leather furniture
Instructions:
- Once the dust and dirt have been removed, if the furniture has any stains, mix in a neutral soap container with distilled water. I moistened a wool cloth in this mixture and passed it over the stain, having initially tested in an inconspicuous area. Remember not to expose the furniture or any other leather object to the sun, so to dry it is better to use another clean and dry wool cloth.
- As soon as any liquid is spilled, use a kitchen towel to absorb it and clean with neutral soap and distilled water following the method described above.
- To restore the original shine to leather furniture, pass a wool cloth moistened with skim milk, however, it is advisable to test the method in a small area before use. This product acts as a natural leather protector, and immediately afterward pass another clean and dry wool cloth.
How to clean white leather armchairs
- Once the dust and dirt have been removed, if the furniture has any stains, mix in a medium bowl two parts of flaxseed oil with one part of vinegar.
- I moistened a light soft wool cloth in this mixture and run it over the surface or where there is a stain. It is advisable to test the preparation before its application in an inconspicuous area. With another dry wool cloth, clean and light in color, I absorbed the excess oil.
- If the stain persists, you can repeat this operation.
- Another suggestion: in case of stains of ink or markers, you can make a small test with an eraser, since it is usually effective to eliminate this type of stains without damaging or dirtying the leather.
What leather cleaning cream you can choose
There are different types of ointments and protective products manufactured according to the type of leather that must be treated. They come in a variety of presentations, such as an applicator tube or ointments to spread with flannel cloths. As always, we recommend you, if you use commercial products, do not forget to read the instructions on the product label that you are going to use and carry out a test first in a hidden or inconspicuous place.
The advantages of using this type of product are that they return the shine and revive the color of the leather, in addition to serving as waterproofing and rehydrating. The treatment with leather cleaning cream also protects against different types of dirt spots or watermarks, and we recommend that you do it at least once a year. Here we have prepared some examples of types of creams and their indicated use:
White leather cleaning cream
Although it is recommended to avoid the use of body moisturizers, since these are made to hydrate skin in humans, in the case of white leather furniture, Vaseline can serve as a moisturizer.
Instructions:
- Apply Vaseline on the entire surface of the furniture.
- Rub gently with a dry, light-colored wool cloth. Only apply once the test did not present problems.
- Let dry.
Leather cleaning cream with finish and pigmentation
In this case, some creams made from castor oil or some others with linoleum can be very effective because they penetrate the leather hydrating it in depth and returning it to its original shine.
Instructions:
- Apply the cream in a little visible and then across the entire surface of the furniture.
- Rub the surface gently with a dry wool cloth.
- Let dry.
Smooth leather cleaning cream
The smooth leather can be cleaned with creams made from mineral waxes and beeswax since its oily texture re-hydrates the skin without altering its original appearance. It is recommended to test the product on a small surface before use and follow the instructions of the following technique.
Instructions:
- Apply the cream on the entire surface of the furniture.
- Rub the surface gently with a dry wool cloth.
- Let dry.
Cleaning leather furniture is not always a task that we have completely incorporated into our routine. Always remember that it is very important to learn how to clean the leather properly in order to give a longer life to your furniture.
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