Advice
Caring for your leather sofa
Leather behaves differently from fabric and therefore has different care properties. To ensure your leather sofa stays looking its best for longer, follow my handy care guide packed with help and cleaning advice.
26th January 2024
These everyday hints and tips will help keep your leather sofa in good condition for longer:
- General cleaning of your sofa should be carried out once a week. Use a damp cloth and avoid using detergent, paying special attention to arms and back cushions
- Always clean up any spills with a clean, damp cloth as soon as possible
- Dirt and dust increases wear, dulls colours and reduces the lifespan of your furniture. Gently vacuum your sofa once a week with a soft brush attachment to remove any dirt or dust, paying particular attention to the front of the arms, as over time this can lead to dulling and abrasion
- It’s important to minimise the amount of direct sunlight your leather sofa comes into contact with as this will lead to the colour fading and material deterioration. Keeping your curtains drawn or using a throw to cover any exposed material is a good way to minimise this
- Avoid placing your furniture too close to radiators or fires as excessive heat will cause fading or cracking to your furniture
- If cushions are detachable, plump them up every week or so to keep the fillings in their fullest shape by putting air back inside. Similarly, as the arms and backs are fibre-filled, they require the same amount of plumping
- As leather is a natural product, it will start to stretch over time. To keep it looking taut, smooth it out regularly as this will put air back into the cushions
- Denim or other non-colourfast fabrics may transfer dye onto your furniture, particularly on light leather colours
- If the seats are removable swap them from side to side, to create an even wear and prevent any dipping
- Avoid sitting on the arms or the front edge of your sofa, as this can speed up the wear process. Also, avoid putting any pressure on the side panels of a sofa, including the outside arms and back panels
- When moving your sofa, always use two people. I'd advise using furniture glides or castors to make it easier to move furniture and protect your flooring. Glides can also be used on other pieces of furniture, such as tables, chairs and units to prevent potential damage.
With loose and fixed cushions, the following plumping and dressing is recommended:
- Daily plumping to bring air back into the cushions - this provides a fuller look for the foam cushions and prevents the fibres matting in the fibre cushions
- Daily smoothing to prevent creasing, folds and shading
- Daily aligning of the seams of the cushions helps to maintain shape and great looks
- Alternate seating to ensure even use and wear
In the first few weeks of use, all leather stretches, creases and wrinkles this is due to the properties of natural hide. This characteristic of genuine leather enhances its look and authenticity. Like all leather products, you’ll break your new sofa in and get to enjoy the utmost comfort over time.
As a natural product, each piece of leather is unique and comes with its own characteristics normally found in genuine natural leather.
You may notice grain variations from one panel to another, but these natural markings are not detrimental to the wear or life expectancy of the furniture.
It's important to know what type of leather your sofa is made from so you can clean and care for it appropriately, should a spillage occur.
Semi-aniline leather will carry several natural markings due to the way it has been tanned and dyed. It receives very little coating or surface finish to maintain its natural look and feel. This type of leather will adopt a ‘lived in’ look over time and as a result, your sofa will become more comfortable as you wear it in.
This is normal and part of its appeal. As this is a very natural, untreated leather, you will find shading variations between panels and the original colour swatch from which you made your purchase.
To take care of this type of leather, I would recommend using the products included in our specially designed leather care kit.
To clean up spills on semi-aniline leather, I recommend they're blotted up with a clean, dry cloth with minimal rubbing as soon as possible.
To minimise water marks once you’ve finished treating the area, I recommend you dampen a cloth with boiled water and gently wipe the entire section from seam to seam. Doing so will help prevent any water marks once the leather dries.
The surface of corrected-grain leather has been treated with a pigment to make the appearance more uniform whilst offering protection. Typically used on the high-wear areas of the sofa, such as the seats, back cushions and the arms.
A hide has a grain pattern embossed then sealed, which generally makes the natural characteristics of leather less visible making it easier to care for.
No matter how careful you are, spills and stains on your leather sofa are inevitable. To easily care for corrected and pigmented leather, it’s best to treat the area as quickly as possible with a microfibre cloth to blot and soak up the excess liquid.
Blotting is recommended over rubbing as this can push the stain in further. Then, dampen a cloth and using gentle circular motions to wipe the area clean.
Faux leather, also known as synthetic leather, is a man-made product designed to mimic real leather in its look and feel.
This durable product even wrinkles like genuine leather when it is tufted, stitched or gathered to offer an extremely authentic finish.
Like all real leather sofas, regular maintenance of your faux leather sofa requires a weekly vacuum to prevent dust and debris from building up.
To care for any stains or spills on faux leather, you’ll need to first blot the area with a cloth to soak up any excess liquid. Using a warm, damp cloth, use circular motions to wipe away any of the remaining spillages.
Once the area has been completely treated, I propose taking a dry microfibre cloth to gently buff the area and revive the original softness of the upholstery.
Whilst water won’t damage the surface of faux leather, you should still use a fresh cloth to dry it and avoid water spots.
Nubuck and suede leathers are buffed on the outside to show a velvet-like nap. As they have no surface coating, extra care is needed to keep them looking their best.
Similar to velvet, Nubuck and suede upholstery need to be brushed regularly to keep their well-loved look.
You should start protecting your Nubuck and suede furniture as soon as you get it with a specialised stain-resistant spray.
As these two leather types are extra sensitive to moisture, it’s important to tend to spills and stains quickly to minimise the issue. Begin by gently blotting the spot to draw out as much of the stain and moisture as possible.
Next, apply a specially formulated spot treatment, allow it to sink in and then use a damp cloth to gently wipe this away.
Once you’ve finished cleaning, allow the area to fully dry, then brush the suede or Nubuck leather sofa with a soft brush.
If you have pets, you must brush your sofa on a regular basis to collect the pet hair and prevent it from building up.
Antiqued leather has a two-tone effect, with the top colour being darker than the base colour. As the top colour wears off, more of the lighter colour will start to show through. This will occur more frequently on the areas that get more use (e.g. seat cushions and armrests).
To care for antiqued leather, be careful not to rub any stains or spills into the upholstery, as this can then become harder to remove. Begin by blotting any stains with a paper towel or cloth to extract excess moisture – this helps remove a portion of the stain before it has time to sink in any further. Using a damp, soapy cloth, use gentle circular motions to wipe the area clean. Lastly, wipe this away with a dry cloth, ensuring all the moisture has been soaked up.
I'd also recommend rubbing a leather conditioner in at least once a year as this helps keep the leather soft and supple.
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful and you now feel confident in looking after your beautiful leather sofa. If in doubt please refer to the manufacturer’s guide supplied with your sofa.
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