For leather upholstery, inevitable spills, stains, and scuffs are fairly easy to care for as long as you act fast. Of course, sometimes you won’t notice a spill, scratch, or tear quick enough. That’s where this guide on how to clean a leather couch will come in handy.
While it’s best to keep your couch away from direct sunlight and sharp objects on a daily basis to prevent extensive damage, these easy-to-follow instructions are helpful when you need to tackle tricky stains, scuffs, and anything else that has made your furniture lose its natural shine.
Steps to Keep Leather Clean and in Good Condition
Like wood, leather can fade, stiffen, and crack when placed close to heat sources because it can dry up. So avoid placing it in a spot that gets direct sunlight.
Use a clean, white cloth to dust every couple of weeks so that it stays clean.
Vacuum in crevices and along the bottom when you wipe down the rest of the surface.
To clean accumulated dirt, use a slightly damp soft cloth to wipe the surface. Before doing this for the first time, test the leather in an inconspicuous spot to make sure it doesn’t absorb the water. Use only a dry cloth if absorption occurs.
Use a good leather conditioner every six months to a year to moisturize the leather.
Dealing With Scratches and Stains
For spills, immediately use a dry cloth to blot and let the spot air-dry. It is important to blot instead of wiping because you want to get all the moisture out instead of spreading it. Try that method with fabric, too.
Never use harsh soap, cleaning solvents, detergents, or ammonia to clean stains. Never soak the stain heavily with water. All these methods may actually be more damaging than the stain itself. For grease stains, blot excess with a clean dry cloth. The spot should gradually disappear into the leather after a short period of time. In case it persists, ask a professional leather specialist to clean the spot to avoid any potential damage to the leather itself.
Watch out for scratches. Leather scratches easily, so avoid using sharp objects near the furniture. Gently buff the surface with a chamois or clean fingers for minor scratches on the surface. If the scratch remains, rub a very small amount of distilled water into the scratch and blot with a dry cloth.
Leather can absorb dyes easily, so avoid placing printed materials on it. The ink can transfer and leave stains that are extremely difficult or impossible to remove.