leather furniture care
How to Take Care of Your Leather Furniture
By Maria DeGange
Anyone with a pair of eyes can't fail to notice the presence of leather furniture in the top home design magazines. Leather connotes luxury. Its durability and low maintenance are also appealing to the spectrum of buyers.
Leather has that 'I'm fine, I can take of myself' look. And that's true for the most part. Leather is natural and has a toughness that holds up better than any other type of upholstery fabric. It needs little or no care during normal usage. Typically, a piece of leather furniture that is properly cared for can last for more than two decades.
Still you may ask, How do I care of my leather furniture?
Leather is porous and breathes. For any spots or spills, blot excess liquid immediately (it will absorb). Use a clean absorbent cloth to restore the beautiful patina of the leather. It is also a good idea to clean the entire area where the spill occurred-an entire arm, or entire seat cushion, and don't use electric dryers or other artificial means to dry.
What cleaners should you use?
No saddle soap, polish, wax or any cleaning products; a mild Ivory soap and water solution is sufficient for cleaning.
For hand antiqued and aniline plus leather, use a damp cloth and suds from a mild soap. Rinse well with a clean sponge and pat dry with a towel. Suede leathers call for a brush to loosen soil, then vacuum. Do not use water or liquid cleaners on suede.
Things to be aware of:
* I was at a client's house the other day and noticed his beautiful burgundy sofa looking totally pink! Leather is like our own skin, it changes color with exposure to the sun. To best preserve the rich color and feel of your leather, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or heating units. If your room gets a lot of sunlight, it will be worth to invest in a window treatment protects your furniture from being damaged. Blinds, shades or shutters will do.
* If you have "my favorite spot" on the sofa, or that special chair, where you read the daily newspaper, be aware that newspaper ink can smear your fingers and, consequently, end up as black smudges. Time and habit will only make it worse.
* If your hair is dyed and you lie down on your sofa watching TV, the dye will eventually color the arm. A washable pillow over the arm will remedy that.
* Not all leathers are the same. The quality of leather usually depends on which part of the world it's from, and what kind of procedure it has been through to give the look and feel it has. For specific problem solutions, always see instructions of the particular manufacturer that you purchased your furniture from.
Maria DeGange, IDS
Interior Designer http://www.AnimalPrintEssentials.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_DeGange
Related Resources
By Maria DeGange
Anyone with a pair of eyes can't fail to notice the presence of leather furniture in the top home design magazines. Leather connotes luxury. Its durability and low maintenance are also appealing to the spectrum of buyers.
Leather has that 'I'm fine, I can take of myself' look. And that's true for the most part. Leather is natural and has a toughness that holds up better than any other type of upholstery fabric. It needs little or no care during normal usage. Typically, a piece of leather furniture that is properly cared for can last for more than two decades.
Still you may ask, How do I care of my leather furniture?
Leather is porous and breathes. For any spots or spills, blot excess liquid immediately (it will absorb). Use a clean absorbent cloth to restore the beautiful patina of the leather. It is also a good idea to clean the entire area where the spill occurred-an entire arm, or entire seat cushion, and don't use electric dryers or other artificial means to dry.
What cleaners should you use?
No saddle soap, polish, wax or any cleaning products; a mild Ivory soap and water solution is sufficient for cleaning.
For hand antiqued and aniline plus leather, use a damp cloth and suds from a mild soap. Rinse well with a clean sponge and pat dry with a towel. Suede leathers call for a brush to loosen soil, then vacuum. Do not use water or liquid cleaners on suede.
Things to be aware of:
* I was at a client's house the other day and noticed his beautiful burgundy sofa looking totally pink! Leather is like our own skin, it changes color with exposure to the sun. To best preserve the rich color and feel of your leather, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or heating units. If your room gets a lot of sunlight, it will be worth to invest in a window treatment protects your furniture from being damaged. Blinds, shades or shutters will do.
* If you have "my favorite spot" on the sofa, or that special chair, where you read the daily newspaper, be aware that newspaper ink can smear your fingers and, consequently, end up as black smudges. Time and habit will only make it worse.
* If your hair is dyed and you lie down on your sofa watching TV, the dye will eventually color the arm. A washable pillow over the arm will remedy that.
* Not all leathers are the same. The quality of leather usually depends on which part of the world it's from, and what kind of procedure it has been through to give the look and feel it has. For specific problem solutions, always see instructions of the particular manufacturer that you purchased your furniture from.
Maria DeGange, IDS
Interior Designer http://www.AnimalPrintEssentials.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_DeGange
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