Leather Care – a Little Bit of Care Goes a Long Way
Leather is a natural product celebrated for the warmth and character it can bring to a space. As it ages it will soften and develop a beautiful natural patina. While the lived in look is what makes leather unique, in later years it can be rejuvenated to look almost new.
But how exactly can you bring an old sofa back to life? And how do you ensure that it remains looking great for years to come? We schooled up our Web Curator Kelsey on everything there is to know about leather care and set her loose on her own sofa. We will let her fill you in on the process of reviving her worn and lived in sofa….
A before photo of my sofa. It was very dry looking with lots of marks and visible scratches!
My sofa was purchased years ago from another store – long before I knew the importance of leather care. I have to confess that this meant I had never done much to care for my leather sofa and as a consequence it now had a dry, almost powdery appearances with lots of blemishes and marks. It was definitely in need of some TLC.
Leather requires some care to maintain the natural beauty of the hide. Jayne, Furniture category manager for McKenzie & Willis explains, “Think about how important it is to clean and nugget shoes.” Oh how I wish I had known that sooner!
The first step was to clean my leather sofa. Under normal usage/conditions, regular dry cloth dusting and vacuum cleaning in crevices or along the bottom is all that is necessary to clean your leather furniture. Depending on the type of leather you have, a quality leather cleaner is also recommended and should be used before conditioning to remove oils. This will allow the conditioner to fully absorb.
After a quick vacuum I applied the Pelle Leather Cleaner and Revitaliser to the back of a cushion. It’s important to always do a quick spot check on a hidden area to make sure the cleaner/conditioner doesn’t strip any of the colour. Sealed leathers can stand up to bit more than waxed or unprotected/natural leathers.
Once I was satisfied that there was no colour transfer I used a soft microfibre cloth to apply the cleaner to the whole sofa. Using a gentle circular motion I was able to remove any built-up dirt but there were a couple of pesky stains that remained. I was advised not to scrub or scratch hard and to have these marks looked at by a professional at a later date. “When stains persist we recommend that a professional leather specialist clean the leather to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself” says Jayne.
Within 20 minutes my leather sofa was dry to touch so it was time to apply the Pelle Leather Revitaliser. I chose the revitaliser over the usual conditioner as it is much more hydrating – something my leather was in desperate need of.
Incredible results from the Pelle Leather Revitaliser
Again using a soft cloth and circular motion I worked the revitaliser into the leather. This is where the magic happened! I could immediately see that revitaliser was working. The revitaliser restored the original colour and sheen of the leather, while also helping to disguise any marks and scratches. The results were incredible.
Side by side comparison
Some tips I learnt…
- Keep your leather out of the sun! Like any upholstery material, leather can fade to some degree if exposed to the sun.
- A little bit of care goes a long way….Regular cleaning and a conditioner every 6-12 months is all that is usually needed.
- Sealed, waxed and natural/unprotected leathers will require different maintenance programs. Ask our leather experts what’s the best type of leather for you and your lifestyle!
- Avoid using normal cleaning supplies such as soaps, detergents and solvents as this can damage your leather.
- For butter, oil, or grease stains, wipe off excess with a clean dry cloth, and then leave alone as the spot should dissipate into the leather after a short period of time.
- For minor or slight scratches on the surface, use clean fingers to gently buff the scratch. If needed, moisten lightly with distilled water to work scratches out.
And if your sofa is past its prime or you simply want a new look then don’t forget to check out our leather sale. We’ve taken 20% off all leather furniture* with 40% off selected ranges, plus get a 12 month payment holiday with Q Card. Check out our booklet to find out more about these great deals!
*Promotion excludes Stressless & David Shaw furniture. See in store for full terms & conditions. Promotion ends 6 May 2018. E&OE.
