How to Protect & Clean Leather Sofas

Leather sofas can be an incredible centre piece for your living room: they add an irresistible element of luxury to any environment. However, they also require specialist attention to retain their smooth and stylish shine. But taking care of leather sofas doesn’t have to be difficult. Follow our quick guide to keep your leather fresh.

Keep out of direct sunlight

Sunlight can cause leather to dry out and fade. To protect leather sofas, it’s best to position them away from the windows so they are not exposed to direct sunlight. Alternatively, cover them when not in use.

Wipe with a dry cloth

The best way to keep leather sofas clean is to wipe them regularly with a clean, dry cloth. Also make sure to clean up any spills quickly with a dry cloth to soak up the liquid, as prolonged contact with water or soap can leave stains and damage the leather.

Vacuum dust and debris

To remove the dust and debris that builds up in a leather sofa’s creases, use the hose setting on your vacuum cleaner to hoover them up.

Clean with water and vinegar

For a more thorough clean, create a cleaning solution with equal parts water and white vinegar, or a few drops of leather cleaner with water. Clean with a damp cloth and dry with a towel.

Apply leather conditioner

To prevent the leather from drying out and developing cracks, use a leather conditioner. Leather conditioners can be purchased from most furniture stores, and have a creamy consistency designed to be buffed into the leather. You can also make your own with one part white vinegar and two parts linseed or flaxseed oil.

How to clean stains

Mold & mildew

Clean the affected area with a solution of water and rubbing alcohol mixed in equal parts.

Pen stains

Rubbing alcohol can also be used to clean off ink stains. Dip a cotton pad into the rubbing alcohol and rub onto the stain. Eucalyptus oil is a great way to get off ballpoint pen marks, and aerosol hairspray can actually double as a permanent-marker stain remover.

Grease stains

Sprinkle baking soda on the area to absorb the oil, and dust it off after a few hours.

Dark stains

For dark stains on a light leather couch, rub then with a mixture of lemon juice and cream of tartar. Leave it for about 10 minutes, then wipe off with a damp sponge.

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