Leather as a material has been used by humanity since time immemorial. It has not lost its relevance today. Furniture covered with leather is very comfortable, transforms the appearance of the room, and gives the status of wealth and respectability to its owner. A leather sofa is in demand more often than other furniture.
Over time, this popularity cannot but affect its appearance, especially if the leather covering is light: the sofa loses its original appearance, dirty spots, or even entire “spring thawed patches” appear on it. The sofa is losing its former attractiveness. What to do? Should I replace it with a new one? But this is an unaffordable luxury - after all, it is not cheap. There are three ways out of this situation. The first is to sell and never buy leather furniture (no furniture, no problem). The second is to cover the leather sofa with a blanket, but then why would you buy it if in this case a regular sofa would have been quite suitable, and at a much lower price. And finally, the third option is to roll up your sleeves and start cleaning it, fortunately this is still possible. How to do this will be discussed below.
A little about the leather sofa
- To know what can and cannot be done with any thing, you need to have at least some idea of what it is made of.
- If previously cattle leather was used for furniture, today you can already buy a sofa covered with the skin of an exotic animal.
- The highest quality coating is considered to be the top layer of leather. It has high elasticity, the texture of the skin is clearly visible. Furniture with such a coating is an expensive pleasure and is of an exclusive nature.
- The middle and lower layers of the skin are less elastic and have a blurred pattern.
- Genuine leather has black, brown and beige colors. Therefore, you can immediately determine whether your sofa is “painted” or natural and, accordingly, take this into account when cleaning it.
Currently, painting with natural dyes predominates, which makes furniture environmentally friendly. The range of colors used for painting is quite diverse.
To this day, you can still find furniture with leather coverings dyed with aniline dyes. You should know that this type of dye has a negative impact on your health.
Removing stains using improvised means
In order to prepare a delicate but strong cleaning composition for a white leather sofa, you need to mix one glass (250 ml) of hot water, 5 tbsp. l. soda and 150 ml of ordinary hydrogen peroxide.
The thoroughly mixed composition is poured into a sprayer and, holding it at a distance of 10-15 cm from the upholstery, sprayed evenly over it.
After this, you need to give the mixture a little time to “infuse”, and then thoroughly dry the upholstery with a cold hairdryer.
Some contaminants can be easily removed using an aspirin-based solution.
To prepare it, one crushed aspirin tablet is diluted in 10 ml of hot water, and then a cotton pad is lightly moistened in this solution and the dirty area is wiped.
Basic rules for caring for a leather sofa
Before you begin cleaning your leather sofa, you should read the contents of the accompanying documentation that was given to you upon purchase. It is important to know what detergents are recommended by the sofa manufacturer to clean it from dirt. The same products cannot be used for patent leather and aniline leather.
If you are not sure of the positive results of the detergent, do a test cleaning in an area that is not visible to prying eyes. It is possible that you will need to test more than one product before you find the right one that is suitable for your sofa.
Don't rush to judge the effect of the detergent before you start cleaning the entire sofa. Wait until the tested area of leather is completely dry and, only after making sure that there are no traces of dirty stains left in the form of a change in the original color of the leather, proceed to cleaning the rest of the sofa.
First of all, you should clean the sofa of large debris. It is best to use a regular vacuum cleaner for this, but you should vacuum carefully so as not to damage the leather covering of the sofa with the nozzle. After this, you can begin wet cleaning the sofa covering.
After removing large debris, you need to begin removing various dirty spots. This will probably be the hardest part of your job, but it needs to be done first because the stains contain a higher concentration of dirt than the rest of the sofa cover.
Do not use cleaning products not intended for leather products. While using these products may remove stains, you will also remove the protective top layer of natural oils. The result of such cleaning will very soon appear in the form of cracks.
Everyone knows that leather is a porous material in its structure. And this feature, after some time, begins to make itself felt. Dirt gets clogged into the pores of the skin, which is not so easy to “pick out” with an ordinary sponge. And here any brush will come to your aid, even a toothbrush, but with soft bristles, which will reach dirt in the most inaccessible places, including in the pores.
Do not use too much force when removing stains. Your diligence will only help the dirt rub deeper into the pores of the skin.
If you accidentally spill any liquid on the sofa, immediately remove it with a soft material that absorbs moisture well. This should be done exclusively with blotting movements. Rubbing movements are unacceptable, as this will contribute to rubbing this liquid (tea, coffee, etc.) into the pores of the skin and will only aggravate the situation. The result will appear, if not instantly, then after some time - for sure. A stain on the sofa is guaranteed.
But if you “spill” natural milk on the sofa, it will even be good for it, because the oil it contains will soften its leather covering. And you don’t need to buy special products to moisturize the coating, the composition of which is not always free of chemical components. It’s probably not worth explaining to you what is healthier, natural or artificial. Of course, you shouldn’t use butter in its pure form - the effect will be the opposite.
After cleaning the leather sofa and letting it dry completely, do not forget to apply a layer of conditioner - a wax-based moisturizer - to the leather. This should be done regularly, but not often - once every six months will be enough.
If your efforts to clean the soiled areas of the sofa do not give the desired result, do not be discouraged - contact a specialist.
Eco-leather furniture: washing rules
As in the case of natural leather, chlorine-based products and bleaches, as well as various solvents and acids, should not be used to clean eco-leather products.
In addition, cleaning with rough brushes is very harmful to such material. Dirt from eco-leather upholstery should only be removed using soft woven materials, lemon juice or laundry soap.
If hot liquid is accidentally spilled on an eco-leather sofa, it must be removed immediately. A special moisture-repellent impregnation and compliance with operating conditions will help protect the upholstery (at a minimum, you must regularly wipe the product with a dry cloth).
Cleaning a light sofa
The light leather of the sofa is an excellent object for your child to draw with a felt-tip pen or ballpoint pen, left “for a minute.” The issue of removing a child’s “art” is not so difficult if you start solving it in time. To do this, you will need alcohol or acetone (acetone is an extreme measure that requires some skill on your part). A napkin moistened with a solution of these products will easily remove traces of a ballpoint pen or felt-tip pen.
Traces of spilled coffee or tea on a light-colored sofa can be perfectly removed by a solution of natural soap that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate. If soap does not do the job, you can use a weak solution of vinegar.
An important advantage of a light sofa over a dark one is the ability to use products without fear of noticeably damaging its color.
Leather can be cleaned using regular dishwashing detergent. Use a sponge soaked in this product to wipe the surface of leather furniture. After this, its remains are washed off with a damp cloth.
In what cases is it better to trust professionals?
- if you are unsure of skills and experience, you do not have enough knowledge.
- if the product for cleaning leather furniture requires adherence to strict technology of use (independent use increases the risk of spoiling the item).
- If repeated attempts to clean your furniture at home are unsuccessful, it is better to contact a dry cleaner.
Leather products require careful treatment and systematic care. Follow simple rules, and the furniture in the interior of your apartment will always look like new.
The article has been verified by the editors
Cleaning a dark sofa
The unfortunate thing about a dark leather sofa is how delicate it is to clean. You should be careful when using alcohol to clean leather, because the quality of its painting may not be up to par, and you may end up with an excellent “camouflage” version of the sofa. It is doubtful that this will make you happy. Therefore, before using alcohol to clean leather, you should try to wipe it in a place where, in case of a negative result, it would not be noticeable.
A little about hygiene
Of course, dirt is a matter of hygiene. But we must not forget about such things as fungus or mold. Its presence in the folds of a leather sofa poses a certain threat, both to the “health” of the sofa and to you. To disinfect an area infected with fungus, you can use a weak vinegar solution. But you should clean the infected area quickly so that the solution does not have time to absorb into the leather of the sofa.
Scuffs or scratches cause no less concern for the owner of a leather sofa.
But it’s not all bad here either. There is a special water-soluble polymer, it is also called liquid skin. It has seven colors, which allows you to get almost any shade. Apply it to the damaged area in a thin layer. To ensure that the restored area acquires the texture of leather, immediately after applying the polymer, press it with a dry sponge. If the restoration did not work out the first time, do this procedure again.
Leather abrasions can be eliminated using neutral shoe polish. As a result, you will again get a brand new leather sofa, having spent only on a jar of cream or a spray of polymer.
We use specialized dirt removal equipment
Steam cleaner
Depending on the type of contaminants being removed, the steam cleaner is filled with a detergent solution of a certain concentration, after which standard steam cleaning is performed with slower spraying over the contaminated areas.
Cleaning with a washing vacuum cleaner
A washing vacuum cleaner can be an excellent alternative to any product if we are talking about liquids that have just been spilled on the surface of the sofa.
Using such a vacuum cleaner, you can also remove detergent residue from the surface of furniture. In this case, you must remember to use a special soft nozzle.
When cleaning a sofa with a washing vacuum cleaner, you must be careful with the amount of solution put into it, since excessively moisturizing the leather can lead to damage.
The steam cleaner is also good for cleaning regular white furniture.
Use of chemicals
To clean leather furniture, you need to prepare a special product, a soft sponge, a rag and a brush.
Leather furniture care products are required for regular maintenance and to remove various stains. All of them allow you to clean the surface well and create favorable conditions for it.
On the Russian market there are universal, delicately acting drugs and special ones designed to solve a specific problem:
- Leather Ultra Clean cleaner is made in England by Letech. It does not contain solvents or abrasives, it is safe even for perforated, painted and waxed surfaces, and has a high foaming ability. When sprayed, the components quickly evaporate, so there is no need to wash off any remaining product. After cleaning the upholstery, a protective cream of the same brand, Leather Protection Cream, is applied to it, giving it a velvety feel and maintaining vapor permeability. This product has been repeatedly and deservedly recognized as the best. A 250 ml capacity is enough to clean a three-seater sofa 1-2 times; in Russia you will have to pay about 950 rubles for it.
- Meguiars Gold Class conditioner , made in the USA, moisturizes the surface, prevents it from drying out, protects against cracking and aging. It has a creamy consistency, is applied to a soft cloth and rubbed over the upholstery. A bottle with a 473 ml sprayer is offered for an average of 1,100 rubles. To clean stains, you can use Rich Leather Cleaner, which perfectly removes dirt from all types of leather, suede and nubuck surfaces and costs 1,200 rubles.
- The LERATON D1 and D2 set copes with complex stains and allows you to give the upholstery a fresh look and make it softer. First, cleaner D1 is applied, evenly distributed, and its residue is removed with a microfiber cloth. Then conditioner D2 is applied. These domestic products for cleaning leather furniture and car interiors are sold for 330 and 370 rubles. for 500 ml. They act neutrally, have a weak, pleasant odor, and are safe for health.
- Israeli spray “Super Skin” has an antistatic effect, contains wax, and creates a protective film. It is sprayed onto the surface and thoroughly rubbed in with a soft cloth. It is attractive due to its low price, starting from 393 rubles, environmental friendliness, and pleasant smell.
- Unicum cleaning liquid is suitable for white and colored items, acts delicately, adds shine, and slows down aging. A bottle with a sprayer sells from 160 rubles, so regular use is not expensive for the budget. After application, the surface becomes elastic, acquires a silky, glossy shine and a pleasant smell.
Domestic drugs are just as effective as imported ones, and their price is much lower. The main thing is to be careful when applying them, do not overdo it, and clean carefully.
