It’s important to know how to look after your sofa over Christmas. It’s the heart of the living room and sees a lot of usage. It’s where we relax at the end of a hard day at work, where we often sit to watch TV and where we sometimes sit to eat dinner.
Although Christmas this year is going to be a little different, your leather sofa is still going to see a lot more use than it does during a normal working week. The whole family is going to be home all day every day and a variety of food and drink will be consumed near them. We’re here to help you look after your leather sofa and give advice on how to get rid of stains should any accidents occur.
Leather Sofas
General Care
Leather can be easy to maintain and look after if done regularly and properly. Leather does contain oils that do need to be replenished every so often. You can do this by using a leather conditioner on it every 6 – 12 months. This will prevent it from drying out. You should also try and position your sofa away from sunlight and other heat sources. The best way to preserve a leather sofa’s shine is to buff its upholstery with a microfibre cloth. This will ensure that your leather stays looking shiny and doesn’t fade and start to look tired.
Stains
Although leather has a reputation for being more durable than other materials, it is still vulnerable to spillages and can stain easily if it doesn’t get the attention that it needs. The best plan of action for most materials is to act swiftly to clean up any mess. First, you should use a dry cloth or piece of kitchen tissue to carefully blot the spillage. Try to avoid wiping as this may press the liquid into the fabrics more and spread the stain. The aim of this is to absorb the liquid into the tissue or cloth. You can use a slightly damp cloth if needed but please be aware that some oils and grease can be made worse when they encounter water. For tougher stains, a specialist leather cleaner can be used.
Sometimes you may not be able to avoid a stain forming and when the worst happens, the best course of action will depend on what the stain is. Here are some examples:
- Ink stains: an unsightly ink stain really isn’t good for your lovely leather sofa. You may be able to deal with it immediately if you follow the advice above. If you are unable to clean it up before it sinks in, you will need to contact a professional cleaner to remove the stain for you.
- Grease stains: As mentioned earlier, the use of water can make grease stains worse. The best advice would be to employ the services of a professional cleaner.
- Wine stains: If you move quickly, wine stains can be avoided. You can try blotting the excess wine with a clean cloth and then use a solution of water and mild soap. Make sure there are loads of bubbles and use a sponge to apply them to the area, then dab with another dry cloth. Leave to dry and finish with a leather conditioner. If a stain is still visible you will need to consult a professional cleaner.
These tips should help you to look after your leather sofa, particularly over Christmas. If you need any help or advice, feel free to use our online contact form to get in touch. If you want to refresh your sofa, we can help with our Sofa Service, which includes renovation, re-upholstery and re-foaming.
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