Furniture with leather upholstery is synonymous with elegance and luxury - even if it has a modern form, such as a natural leather beanbag, or a simple one, such as ordinary pouffes. We value leather as the noblest of all upholstery materials - not only for the uniqueness of each piece, but also for its flexibility and pleasant tactile sensations.
However, we must remember that natural leather, in order to retain its properties, must be properly cared for and cleaned.
Leather upholstery - elegant and demanding
Like any material, leather wears out over time. However, if you look after it, you can significantly extend its life and your furniture will retain its good looks for years to come.
What should you bear in mind?
First and foremost, there are different types of leather used in upholstery and therefore slightly different ways of care.
Suede and nubuck upholstery are the most difficult - they are not coated with varnish and absorb water easily. If you suspect that your furniture will be very vulnerable to dirt and stains, think rather about buying furniture upholstered in grain leather. While retaining an elegant appearance, they are also much easier to keep clean.
This is especially true of furniture such as leather beanbag or leather pouffes, which we often put under our feet when sitting on a sofa or armchair.
How to care for smooth leather furniture?
Furniture made of smooth, varnished leather, also known as grain leather, is not difficult to care for and keep clean. However, regularity is important.
Leather armchairs, sofas and pouffes should be vacuumed regularly. At least once a week, preferably using the brush attachment of a hoover. If you do not have one, you can use a special dust-attracting furniture cloth. There are cloths available that are specially designed for cleaning leather and are saturated with a care product - but it is worth testing them in a less visible place before using them regularly.
Dust should be removed especially from the folds and recesses between the seat and backrest and the sides.
Dirt from varnished natural leather is easily removed with a cloth - preferably one such as the aforementioned soaked cloth for leather furniture. However, a simple soft cloth soaked in water with a mild detergent and wiped well will suffice.
Avoid aggressive cleaning liquids such as dishwashing liquid or all-purpose cleaners. Ordinary liquid soaps or body soaps work well in washing the skin. Do not scrub.
Leather maintenance
At least once every six months, natural leather on furniture should be preserved with a special preparation - in this case for smooth leather. Some people use ordinary Nivea cream for this purpose. Although it leaves a greasy white film immediately after application, once it is absorbed and wiped with a dry cloth, the leather looks like new.
Unfortunately, none of the leather furniture manufacturers recommend this homemade method officially, so it is worth being careful. When we take good care of our natural leather furniture, we are sure to enjoy its elegant appearance and comfort for a long time.
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