Leather Cleaning Tips Made Easy
Posted: Tuesday, March 31, 2009
by Debra Marks
Mrs. Debra Marks
Leather furniture is often touted as being difficult to handle and maintain. The actual process to making sure that your furniture has a long and healthy life is actually quite simple. With that being said I'd like to share with you some simple leather cleaning tips that you can keep in mind when it's time to clean your furniture.
1. The first and most important thing to know before we clean our furniture is the type of leather we have. This is important for many reasons, but mainly so we know the proper methods that are recommended to clean it so we don't damage it. The most common types of leather furniture are Pigmented, Dyed, and Suede.
3. Before applying any cleaner to your furniture, make sure to always test for colorfastness. You will want to do this in an inconspicuous area on your furniture just in case your cleaner does fade the color. The last thing that we need is for our furniture to become permanently damaged by using a wrong cleaning solution.
4. Keep leather furniture away from direct heat sources. Avoid placing your furniture in areas of the house that are exposed to direct sunlight, as well as heaters and radiators. This will effectively damage your furniture by drying it out and cracking the surface.
5. A simple yet extremely effective tip is to make sure to vacuum on a regular basis if your furniture is used heavily. If it isn't used as much, vacuum at least once a monthly. The goal here is to prevent dust and dirt particles from building up and accumulating in your furniture.
6. In order to maintain your furniture's softness and color apply "hide food" or "leather furniture cream "(available in furniture and department stores) to its surface every year. Allow the furniture to sit for at least 12 hours before using. If you try and use before the recommended time, the cleaner might still be wet and it will come off onto your clothing.
7. An alternative method to maintaining your furniture's softness and color is to use leather furniture cream wipes. These can be found at furniture stores. These cleaning wipes come saturated with leather cleaner in the material to make your job easier. Be sure to always wipe your furniture down with a soft cleaning cloth after applying cleaning wipes. Do this regardless of instruction recommendation.
8. Most water-based stains such as soda, red wine, or mustard can be easily cleaned from Pigmented Leather using a soft damp cloth. Make sure that your cloth is not over saturated and is just slightly damp enough to clean up the mess. As with any furniture, leather furniture should not be exposed to to much water.
9. If you have Pigmented Leather and happen to have Mildew problems, you can use anti-septic mouth wash on a damp cloth to remove it. Just make sure to gently rub the area and dry with a soft cleaning towel afterwards.
10. With Pigmented being the easiest of the three types of leather furniture to clean, if you have either Dyed Leather or Suede Leather it is highly recommended that you have a professional clean your furniture. These two types of leather are delicate and you don't want to risk making a mistake when cleaning them and causing permanent damage to your furniture.
Conclusion
Once we know the type of leather furniture we have and the proper methods to cleaning it, we will be able to safely ensure a long and healthy life-span for our unique furniture. As many have touted as difficult, cleaning leather furniture is actually not a difficult process at all. With the proper knowledge and the proper utilization of that knowledge, cleaning leather is a very easy process. As long as we maintain regular maintenance and watch out for any accidental spills, our leather furniture will stay in good shape for many years to come.
Debra Marks is a house cleaning enthusiast and Author. For more great tips on leather furniture cleaning, you can visit http://www.simplehousecleaning.com
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