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Leather furniture is a truly luxurious purchase. It’s durable, practical, and will last you a long time. Hence, the global leather market is witnessing a rise. According to the market analysis by Data Bridge, the global leather furniture market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.40% from 2022 to 2029.
But if you don’t take proper care of your leather chair or couch, it can quickly look old and dingy. Follow these tips to keep your leather looking its best for years to come.
Things to Do
Here are some things you must do to care for your leather furniture.
Regularly Clean Your Furniture
It’s crucial to clean your leather furniture regularly. The best way to do this is with a damp cloth, which you can use to wipe the surface of your furniture. You should never saturate your leather with water or soap. If you’re going to clean something like an ottoman, where there’s less chance of spilling things on it, you may want to use a dry cloth instead of a damp one.
Avoid using too much detergent or cleaner when cleaning your leather furniture is also essential. You don’t want any residue left behind in the crevices where it could damage the material over time.
Treat Stains Right Away
Keeping your leather furniture in pristine condition can be difficult, but you can do a few things to make the process a little easier. First and foremost, treat stains right away. Don’t wait until the stain is set in or has been smeared by your kids or pets. This will make it much harder to get rid of later on.
Don’t use harsh chemicals on your leather furniture, either. They may seem like an easy solution, but they can damage the leather over time and cause discoloration. Instead of harsh chemicals, try using soapy water for small spills and gentle cleaning products for larger ones, like dried soda and paint splatters. Ensure not to use too much water because that could also cause damage.
Use Leather Conditioner
Leather furniture is a great addition to any home, but it does require special care to keep it looking its best. One of the best ways to maintain the quality of your leather furniture is to use a leather conditioner.
This product helps keep the leather soft and supple while providing a protective layer against dirt and dust. It also helps to prevent cracking and fading, which can occur over time due to exposure to sunlight and other elements.
Allow the Leather to Dry Overnight
The first thing to know is that leather is a natural product that can be damaged by exposure to water. Leather is porous and absorbs water like a sponge. When leather dries out, it will shrink slightly. This can cause cracking or peeling on the surface of your furniture. Allow your leather to dry overnight after cleaning with a towel to reduce this risk.
If you have an especially large area of leather furniture that needs cleaning, try using an old towel or cloth as an absorbent pad between pieces so that each air dries entirely before moving on to the next piece.
The heat transfer speed in leather furniture is slow. Hence, it is best to let it dry overnight. A simulation was made to study the drying of leather material. The simulation result published on The California State University website shows that temperature, pressure, and velocity all play a part in leather drying.
What Not to Do
While you should do the things mentioned above, try avoiding doing these things:
Don’t Use a Lot of Water
If you have leather furniture and you’re going to clean it, then the most important thing you can do is to not use a lot of water. Leather is a natural material that breathes and absorbs moisture, which makes sense because leather is the skin of an animal that lives in a humid environment. So when you take your leather sofa or chair out into the rain, by all means, let it dry out naturally as opposed to using a hair dryer.
But also avoid using too much water when cleaning your leather furniture. Oversoaking will cause the fabric underneath to swell up and make your piece look bloated with excess moisture. This can also lead to warping over time if left unchecked for too long.
Instead, use a soft cloth with mild soap dampened slightly before wiping off any loose dirt from the surface of your furniture piece. This will help prevent damage without causing undue stress on its structure since there won’t be any heavy pressure exerted during washing/drying cycles.
Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals or Cleaners
Using harsh chemicals or cleaners on leather furniture is generally not recommended. Instead, using a mild, pH-neutral soap or leather cleaner to clean leather furniture is best. You can also use a soft, dry cloth to dust and wipe down the surface of the leather.
If you need to remove a stain from leather furniture, it is best to try a gentle cleaning method first, such as blotting the stain with a mixture of water and mild soap. If that does not work, you can try using a leather-specific stain remover, but be sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the furniture first to ensure that it does not cause any damage.
You can easily find many leather chemicals to use on your furniture. These specifically designed leather furniture chemicals can help clean your furniture without impacting its texture and style. Moreover, many new chemicals are being developed to work with your leather furniture’s sensitivity. Due to these new products, the global leather chemicals market is expected to grow to over $7 billion by 2028.
Don’t Place the Leather Furniture in Direct Sunlight
When you place your leather furniture in direct sunlight. It can cause the leather to dry out, crack and become brittle. Sunlight also causes the color of your leather furniture to fade over time.
To avoid these problems, keep your leather furniture away from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight is typically not a problem when you have a piece of furniture in an area that gets limited or no light at all. However, if you leave your leather couch out in the sun for any length of time, then it will be susceptible to damage caused by ultraviolet rays.
Don’t Use Soaps or Detergents
It’s best not to use soaps or detergents for cleaning leather. Leather is made from animal skin, which is very sensitive to chemicals and soap. Cleaning products contain many carcinogens, such as chlorine, ammonia, and triclosan. These carcinogens can adversely affect sensitive leather.
Even though leather has been tanned for centuries, regular use of these products will strip the oils and fats from the leather, causing it to dry out faster than normal. So what should you use? Many cleaning products designed specifically for leather furniture don’t contain harsh chemicals such as ammonia or bleach.
Conclusion
Taking care of your leather furniture is essential for keeping it looking great and lasting for years. Following the tips above to do the right things to care for your leather furniture, and avoid the wrong things, will help ensure that your furniture looks great and lasts for a long time. With a little effort, you can enjoy your leather furniture for years.