If you are guilty of neglecting your gorgeous leather furniture, the good news of revamping your set of leather chairs is a rather straightforward task. As PTI Office Furniture notes, leather chairs are a classic and stylish choice that offers many advantages since leather wears in, not out. Unlike chairs made of fabric which soak up dust, grime, liquids, and stains, leather withstands this and only requires a simple wipedown. Here are a few tips to keep your leather chairs good as new.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Reading any manufacturer’s tags should be the first step in attempting to clean your leather chairs. Manufacturer’s tags determine the kind of leather and also have symbols that instruct on the proper way to clean your leather chair. The instructions can also pinpoint specific harmful detergents, e.g., bleach. This is the most popular and is safe to clean with a moist microfiber cloth and soapy water before buffing dry with a soft dry cloth.
If you cannot find a tag attached to a natural part of the furniture, check any written user guide that may have come packaged with the leather chairs. An alternative is to visit the manufacturer’s website and check if instructions accompany your particular make and model. If you cannot determine the kind of leather your chairs are made of, it is safe to assume that your leather chairs are the topcoat kind.
Clean Messes Properly and Immediately
A big part of maintaining the elegance and luxuriousness of your leather chair is cleaning up messes as they occur. Spills must be wiped down with a moist or dry soft cloth as is appropriate. Do not allow a cake’s worth of crumbs to accumulate between the folds and cracks of your leather chairs. Dry dirt quickly absorbs moisture from the air and becomes discoloration, gunk, or grime. Vacuum up dry dirt and wipe away wet dirt immediately. There are specialized wipes sold in furniture stores for wiping down and conditioning your leather furniture.
Vacuuming
Frequent and proper vacuuming – using a soft brush head attachment – goes a long way in preventing staining, wear, and tear on leather chairs. It also makes the job of wiping down leather chairs much simpler by sucking up the dry dirt before it accumulates into grime. It is recommended to always vacuum your chairs before proceeding with the other cleaning procedures.
Proper Detergents and Cleaning Equipment
Using the right detergents, washcloths and vacuum are crucial to clean your leather chair without causing undue damage or less noticeable wear and tear. A homemade detergent of mild soap like shower gel and water can clean your leather chair sufficiently. If you are unsure of what detergent to use, test a small amount on the back or bottom of a chair and check for any changes in color or texture. Microfiber or cotton clothes are recommended for cleaning leather. Distilled water is encouraged over tap water, which often contains traces of chemicals like chlorine known to damage leather treatment.
Condition the Leather
After cleaning your leather chairs, it is a good idea to condition them. Conditioning restores natural oils and allows your leather chairs to regain that straight from the warehouse shimmer. Extra virgin olive oil is widely recommended. Rub a small amount onto a soft cloth and buff your leather chairs until they shine. Do not use too much oil as it will make your seats greasy and possibly discolor them; darkening after conditioning is a sign that less oil should have been used.
Hacks for Cleaning Tough Stains off Leather Chairs
Any stains that resist the simple soapy water wipe down will require further research on your part, but here a few hacks to try out:
Sprinkle baking soda on grease stains, leave it on for a few hours, and then wipe it down with your regular cloth and detergent. Ink stains are a common headache with leather chairs. These can be removed simply by dabbing the stain with cotton wool moist with rubbing alcohol. Mold and mildew can be removed from leather chairs using this hack. An equal part mixture of lemon juice and tartar sauce should be applied on dislocations, left for ten minutes, and then wiped off with regular cloth and detergent.
Hire Professional Cleaners
If cleaning your leather chairs seems like a daunting task, hire professional cleaners to take care of them. Professional cleaners are trained on the specific detergents and methods to use when clean and conditioning leather. Leather furniture is timelessly stylish and ages like wine if properly maintained; maintain your investment using these handy tips.