It is an inevitable fact that leather sofa do get dirty. You can accidentally spill drink on them or if you have pets in your house, they can track mud to these sturdy pieces of furniture. The good news is that, cleaning a leather sofa is very easy; all you need is great cleaning supplies and a bit of your time. Besides cleaning your leather sofa, you must also ensure that you do regular maintenance using the right products to keep them in good condition. In this article we are going to provide you tip on how to effectively clean your leather sofa.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Before you begin cleaning your leather sofa, there are some important things you need to know about the sofa. First, you need to determine the type of leather you are working on with. This is because leathers are made using different unique products and styles and therefore each one of them requires unique cleaning style. You can typically find this important information on the tag that has been attached to your leather sofa. If this information is not there, you can contact the manufacture or your furniture retailer for more information.
The tag that is attached to your leather furniture usually give tips on how you should clean your leather sofa .It is recommended that you follow all those instruction before attempting following any other cleaning instructions.
Tip 1.Dust the sofa.
The fist step of cleaning a leather sofa is to dust it thoroughly. Remove all cushions and dust all part of the sofa thoroughly. If you have a vacuum cleaner, you can use it to remove dust on the sofa because it is more effective and it can suck up dust in places where you cannot reach. However, when using the vacuum cleaner, should be very careful not to scratch the leather with the plastic cleaning attachment.
Tip 2. Note the places where leather sofa needs to be cleaned the most.
It is very important to note that it is actually not a must to clean all parts of the sofa. If you want to increase the life span of your leather sofa, you should only clean dirty place. Leather does absorb water and thus you should try as much as possible not to expose your leather sofa to water. Concentrate on areas with dirty spots and leave those areas that are not dirty. In areas that are relatively clean, you can just wipe with a clean damp cloth.
Tip 3.Clean the sofa.
After you have successfully identified all those areas that need to be cleaned, the next step is now to clean those areas thoroughly. Thoroughly wipe dirty parts of your leather sofa with a damp cloth. Ensure that you get in between the cushions on other hard to reach paces for effective cleaning. If your leather sofa has stubborn dirt, you can wipe with a damp soapy cloth. However, when using a soap detergent to clean your leather sofa, you must ensure that you are using the right one that is recommended by the manufacture .When cleaning the sofa, be gentle to avoid scratching the leather and also pushing dirt further into the leather. For proper cleaning, ensure that you work on one section at a time.
Tip 4.Dry thoroughly with a third rug.
As said earlier, leather does absorb water and to make sure that your leather sofa has no water left in it, you should dry it again thoroughly with a third rug. This should be done especially if your sofa was full of dirt and you were actually forced to use a soapy detergent to clean the dirt. By cleaning your leather sofa with a third rug, you will not only ensure that it is water free but you will also help to restore its luster.
Tip 5. Polish the leather.
When your leather sofa is completely dry, put a light coating of leather preservative all over the sofa. This will not only ensure that your leather sofa looks attractive but will also protect your leather from harsh external environmental factors that can compromise the quality of the leather. However, only use a leather preservative that is recommended by the manufacture because not all leather materials are the same. If you are not sure on which preservative to use, feel free to contact the manufacture for more directions.
Tip 6. Don’t use oils.
Using oil to clean your leather sofa can easy damage the fabric of the leather. It is therefore recommended that you only use water or recommended detergent to clean your leather sofa.