PREPARATIONS BEFORE CLEANING LEATHER FURNITURE
Leather furniture is a classy add-on for your home dĂŠcor, adding a touch of elegance and urbanity. However, behind all the gloss and shine is a pressing need of perennial leather maintenance. Properly maintained leather furniture will be easy on the eyes, but need not burn a hole in your wallet if proper maintenance procedures are carried out duly. The longevity of leather is directly proportional to the frequency and quality of its maintenance. Badly kept leather is on a sure fire path towards decay and deterioration. There are various methods to treat different kinds of leather dilemmas such as stains, scratches, tears, faded colour, dryness, etc. Nevertheless, taking
some essential preparatory steps before cleaning leather furniture is mandatory for any type of treatment. Following are some preparatory tips before cleaning leather furniture. • At the outset, ascertain the type of leather you are going to repair. Repair procedures can vary depending on the type of leather you are handling. To identify your leather, refer to your leather manual/brochure. Also search for any clean-up instructions provided in the manual and follow those first. Your manual might also give additional information as to which leather repairing chemicals are compatible with your leather furniture. In that case, do not try any other chemicals, if not sure. • Determine whether your leather is finished or unfinished. Finished leather comes with a protective coating and is more resistant to stains and sunlight. Unfinished leather does not have a coating and is more susceptible to stains and sunlight. If your leather is unfinished, your cleaning procedure will warrant the use of a proper conditioner. • Vacuum your leather furniture before attempting any cleaning solution. This is to remove all loose particles on the leather surface such as dirt, food particles, dust, pet fur, etc. If this step is skipped, you will be rubbing micro-dirt into the leather surface again, exposing your leather to scratches and damages. • Always spot test your leather cleaning solution. Use the solution on an inconspicuous area of the leather furniture and wait to see if there are any negative effects. If not, proceed with the solution.
• Avoid using harsh cleaners on your leather furniture. Leather surfaces are supple and are prone to scratches. Use a soft cloth which is dampened, but not soaked with moisture. • Do not saturate your leather furniture with too much of water. Moisture is also a primary source of leather deterioration as it washes off all the essential oils that hold up the protein bonds in the leather fibres. As mentioned earlier, dampen the leather rather than soaking it in water. After cleaning the leather with a damp cloth, make sure to wipe again with a dry cloth. Sydney Leather Cleaners provide comprehensive leather restoration services. To avail of our professional cleaning services, visit our website: www.sydneyleathercleaners.com.au