Cleaning and Maintaining Leather Furniture

A Brief Guide for Householders

Leather furniture can be a wonderful addition to your house. Properly cared for, it can last three to four times longer than traditional upholstery. But there comes with it a major downside: trying to keep it clean. I've owned leather furniture in the past, and, like in any busy household, it can easily become dirty or stained. This is a quick guide to both dealing with those problems, and with keeping your furniture in tip top condition.

Firstly, maintenance. General cleaning of the leather can be achieved with a soft cloth and a gentle moisturising soap. Try not to over-saturate the leather with moistness, and do not rinse, merely buff the leather gently afterwards, again with a soft cloth. Dry dusting should also be done around once a week, either with a soft cloth or dusting broom. Any soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner can also be used for this purpose.

Where possible, keep your leather furniture out of direct sunlight, as this will help prevent any drying out or cracking of the material. Avoid placing it close to any areas of extreme warmth in your house, such as fireplaces, radiators, or pipework. Conditioners can be bought to moisturise and preserve the upholstery, such as Obenauf's Leather Care products, as an example. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also make your own; mix one part white vinegar with two parts linseed oil, shake thoroughly, and apply to the entire leather with wide circular motions with a soft cloth. Allow to dry for 10-15 minutes, and then buff with a dry, soft cloth. Repeat twice if needed. Try this on a less visible part of the upholstery (the underside of the cushions, for example), if you are uncertain. Caution is always advisable. If it appears to change the colour of the leather, obviously do not use on visible parts.