Leather is one of the most durable materials used for furniture, and one that gets better with age. However, it can also be just as vulnerable if left without proper maintenance. Maintaining leather furniture, especially during the cold winter season, is essential in preserving its rich texture and high quality condition.
The winter season can be especially hard for leather furniture as the freezing temperatures could cause it to crack. However, there are ways that can keep this from happening without having to resort to keeping such furniture in climate-controlled storage rooms.
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1. Cleaning
The first step to keeping the quality of any kind of furniture is to keep it clean, and this applies to leather pieces. Using a cloth dampened with water will be sufficient with wiping off loose dirt and spills, but it takes a good cleaning solution to get rid of grime and hard to remove stains.
To thoroughly clean leather furniture without damaging its surface or value, a non-aggressive and non-abrasive leather cleaner is highly recommended. Regular household cleaning solutions just don’t cut it, and may even result to irreversible damage to the leather material. A leather cleaning solution can not only remove tough stains and grime, it could also help minimize any lasting and permanent damage to the material that could be caused by daily wear and tear.
2. Treatment
Regular cleaning is effective in removing the buildup of dirt and grime on leather furniture.However, it is equally important to do treatment in order to maintain its quality. A conditioning leather treatment solution should be applied to the material at least twice a year. This not only nourishes the leather while keeping it supple, it also acts as a sealant that protects the material from spills and stains. Without proper treatment leather can dry out and crack, which could lead to tears and other damages.
3. Prevention
While cleaning and treatment can do wonders to keeping the quality of the leather furniture, preventing possible damages is also a vital factor in its preservation. Simply moving leather furniture away from direct heat or anywhere near vents, fireplaces, and radiators can already do a world of difference. Leather can absorb water, and when liquid seeps through the surface it can be extremely difficult to clean. It’s important to wipe leather furniture immediately after any stains to help prevent long-term damages.
4. Storage
When storing leather furniture, protecting the wooden frame is essential. Stacking them on top of each other may be tempting but it is far from advisable. Leather furniture should be stored in a way that doesn’t cause unnecessary stress to the framework which could result to it warping or even breaking.
Ideally, the temperature in the storage room should also be controlled as this affects the quality of the leather furniture. Keep it away from direct heat but also ensure that the temperature in the storage room is not too low as to cause the material to crack.
Leather furniture is generally more expensive, but they undoubtedly have a sought after appearance and can even prove to be a valuable investment. Keeping leather furniture protected through various kinds of temperatures is essential in maintaining their quality, which allows them to be enjoyed for years and years to come.
About the author: Angie Cole is a full-time blogger with keen interest in interior design. She contributes to Leather Club Chairs, a premier source of leather club chairs online since 1992.
