How to Take Care of Leather Sofas

Keep your leather sofa clean and stain-free.

A leather sofa is durable and fairly easy to take care of, however the owner must take care when applying cleaning products. Using a product that is not suitable for leather can ruin it. If you have children or pets, you may need to clean your sofa on a regular basis to get rid of stains. Different techniques should be used to remove different types of stains.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton cloths
• Soft rag
• Leather conditioner
• Hairspray
• Talcum powder

Instructions

General Cleaning

1. Dust your leather sofa with a dry, soft cotton cloth every few days to get rid of dust and crumbs. Never use an abrasive cloth or brush on leather.

2. Deep clean your leather sofa every few weeks to get rid of dirt and grime. Rub a little soap into the leather with a damp, soft rag. Do not use a soaking wet rag, as this will leave a water mark. Wipe the leather dry with a clean cloth.

3. Apply a deep conditioning formula specially formulated for finished leather. Follow the manufacturer's directions.

Removing Specific Stains

1. Spray an ink stain with hairspray and wipe it clean.

2. Blot a grease mark gently with a clean cloth. Sprinkle talcum powder on top of the mark and leave it for a few hours before wiping it off.

3. Wipe blood stains with a damp, soft rag and leave the leather to dry naturally. The same method can be used for stains from pet urine.

Tips & Warnings

• Test all cleaning products on an inconspicuous part of the sofa to make sure they do not change the color of the leather.

References

• Professor's House: How do You Clean a Leather Sofa
• "The Cleaning Bible: Kim and Aggie's Complete Guide to Modern Household Management"; Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie; 2007