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How To Clean A Leather Couch

Leather is one of the most durable and easy-to-maintain fabrics to choose when looking for a new living room sofa. It can truly last forever with the right amount of care and upkeep. Wear and tear is inevitable, but as long as you clean and maintain leather properly, the material will only improve with age, and a good piece of leather furniture becomes a part of the family for life! So how do you clean a leather sofa you ask? Let’s first start with the basic understanding of the material.

Whether it be genuine leather or faux leather, some of the most beautiful characteristics are its durability and versatility. Much of that versatility is due to the different treatments it undergoes and the variations that it comes in. Genuine leather comes in many shapes and forms, including but not limited to, full grain leather, top grain leather, bonded leather, and split grain leather. In addition to the types of leather you’ll come across when shopping for modern living room furniture, you’ll also see terms that refer to various treatments applied to the material to give it color and help it maintain its strength. Aniline refers to a type of dye applied primarily to full grain leather, whereas semi-aniline treatment involves applying semi-transparent dye to the leather to conceal more blemishes than aniline dye does. It also has an added finishing layer coating the surface, which helps the material resist scratches.

Faux leather has increased in popularity over the past several decades for a variety of reasons; the first being that it is more ethically friendly. Faux leather is also often less expensive as it does not come from real animal hide. The two primary versions of faux leather are PVC and Polyurethane. Poly-types of synthetic leather are generally preferable to the PVC types because they are more environmentally friendly, breathable, and cleanable. We offer a 100% Vegan Leather which is a highly durable, kid and pet-friendly fabric which you can check out on our swatch page here!

All in all, the higher the quality of your materials, the longer they will last. Because leather is considerably less porous than woven fabrics, your leather sofa will be slightly more forgiving than other types of couches when it comes to spills and stains. It is a very forgiving material, so just a small amount of regular leather furniture care goes a long way. When asking yourself how to clean a leather couch, remember that leather is one of the most durable materials you can work with. 

Leather Cleaning Tips

Here are a few of the best tips for keeping your leather (faux or real) in tip-top condition:

Vacuum: Just as with how to clean a velvet couch, vacuuming your leather couch regularly is one of the best ways to keep dirt from building up. Make sure to get the corners and under the cushions with a vacuum cleaner to ensure you’re getting rid of any crumbs or lingering dust! If the cushions are removable like ours, be sure to take them off of the couch and vacuum separately. You can also use a soft brush attachment to loosen dirt before vacuuming, or to brush excess dirt away.

Clean: Not sure where to start when it comes to how to clean a couch? Using a little soap and water to clean your leather couch can go a long way. Always remember to test a cleaning product first in an inconspicuous spot and allow it to dry before cleaning the entire leather surface. Before you clean the couch with soap and water, first go over the leather with a dry microfiber cloth. Then, dip a clean, damp (not wet!) cloth in warm soapy water and use it to wipe away the stain on your leather. Do not rub back and forth, but rather dab or rub in small circles exactly on the stain until it is buffed out. The moisture from the soap will condition the leather as it cleans. You can simply absorb any excess moisture with another clean, dry cloth.

For more stubborn stains, you may want to use a leather cleaner. Leather cleaners can help break down the dirt and stains to make your leather couch look like new. When using a leather cleaner, always spray or pour the liquid onto a clean cloth rather than directly onto the furniture to prevent it from leaving unwanted marks. Swipe the cleaner all around the couch, one area at a time, making sure to clean the entire surface area. Work from the top to bottom to avoid any uneven polish marks. As always, make sure to wipe away any excess moisture with a clean, dry cloth and then allow the area to dry. 

Condition: You can remoisturize your leather couch by applying a leather conditioner or cream. Apply the conditioner to a clean cloth and rub it onto the entire surface area. Make sure to let the product sink in as it will help keep the couch moisturized, fresh, and looking good as new!

Dry Thoroughly: Make sure you dry the leather sofa thoroughly. Excess water or moisture can weaken leather if left to dry on its own, so be sure to use a clean, dry rag to wipe down the area from top to bottom after cleaning. After conditioning your leather, be sure to let the couch air dry for an hour or two before living in it again.

With our tips on how to clean a leather sofa, now there’s no excuse as to why you can’t have the custom sectional sofa of your dreams! Regular leather cleaning and maintenance will help it stand the test of time. Once you've mastered the steps above, caring for your leather furniture will become a painless part of your normal cleaning routine. When shopping for leather seating, keep an eye out for options that have removable cushion and pillow covers so that you can more easily and safely handle stains ASAP. Inside Weather sofas are also all enclosed in a waterproof nylon casing for an added layer of protection between you and the insert! Any safeguards like this are super helpful to ensure you and your sofa live a long, happy, and clean life together. 

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