Getting a new piece of furniture is an exciting feeling. Whether it’s a recliner chair or a sofa, it’s important to know how to take good care of it so it stays nice and clean for a long time.
Leather furniture is a popular choice among many La-Z-Boy South Texas customers. Not only does it look great, but it is also more durable and longer lasting than fabric furniture.
Although leather is more durable than fabric, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to clean and care for it. This article will walk you through ways to care for leather furniture.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid body oil damage
- Color fading is worsened by having your furniture exposed to sunlight and heat sources
- Use mild soap and water, but NOT baking soda
This article was written by Ryan Podnar, furniture expert at La-Z-Boy South Texas
Ways to Care For Leather Furniture
There are several issues that are commonplace in leather furniture. Issues such as leather cracking, color fading, puddling and peeling are common.
Since these are common issues with leather furniture, there are effective ways to treat them and avoid them. Let’s go through the ways.
Filling and Re-Drying Cracked Leather
If the leather on your leather reclining sofa is cracked in specific areas, you will be best served to either fill the cracked leather with synthetic filling, or re-dry the cracks. The best method will depend on the type of leather your recliner sofa has.
Aniline leather must be repaired by re-drying the cracks. On the other hand, pigmented leather can be repaired by synthetic filling and re-drying the leather.
Avoiding Body Oil Damage
Leather furniture is comparable to human skin. It is a good idea to frequently gently clean the furniture to help prevent body oil damage.
A simple, yet effective way of avoiding body oil damage from the start is to not sit on your furniture while you are sweaty. Touch points on your furniture, such as armrests and headrests, are especially vulnerable to body oil damage.
In addition to that, it is also a good idea to clean the chair with distilled water and a cloth on a regular basis.
Prevent Color Fading
It is very disheartening to see a once beautiful reclining leather sectional have its color fade over time. While cheap leather’s color does naturally fade over time, there is a way to keep high-quality leather in good color.
The best way to prevent color fading is to place the furniture in an area where it will not be exposed to the sun, or other heat sources. Whether it’s a leather loveseat recliner or a reclining leather couch, we at La-Z-Boy South Texas recommend placing the furniture away from windows, fireplaces, and furnaces.
Puddling Leather
Puddling leather is the most common issue with leather furniture because there is nothing to prevent it from happening in the first place.
The best way to treat puddling leather is to re-stuff or replace the cushions entirely. When the cushion begins to retake its original shape, the leather will start to tighten again.
How to Treat Peeling Leather
When leather begins to peel, it can become an eyesore. It is usually the result of body oil damage or cracking, which means the leather has been exposed to too much heat and moisture.
Using leather filler or a leather repair kit will help treat patches of damaged leather. Leather repair kits typically provide you with a cleaning solution, filler, binder, colorant, and patches.
Using leather filler is a more labor-intensive option. Before you begin, you will need to cut away the peeling leather patches. Once completed, you’ll need to let the filler dry before you sand down the surface to make the furniture smooth again.
Bonus Tip!
After going through the different methods of caring for and preventing common problems with leather furniture, let’s address the top products of cleaning leather furniture.
The table below will show you a list of products you should and shouldn’t use to clean leather furniture.
| Do: | Don't: |
| Use mild soap and water | Use baking soda |
| Leather creams and moisturizers | Window cleaner |
| Vacuum cleaner | Bleach |
| Dry cloth | Hairspray |
| Soft brush | |
| Microfiber cloth |
Is Leather Furniture Worth It?
A new leather couch or chair can become the focal point of your entire living room. There is no secret that leather furniture is beautiful, and is more durable than fabric furniture.
That does not mean that you can neglect caring for your leather furniture, however. As you can see from this article, there are a few common issues that pop up with leather furniture, and it’s important to know how to care for each issue.
Since there are several issues that can occur with leather, you may be questioning whether it’s worth it or not. The truth is that only you can answer that question.
If you are still deciding between fabric and leather, this article will walk you through the differences between fabric furniture vs. leather furniture to help you decide which option is best for you.
