Caring for Leather & PU Leather furniture
Leather & PU Leather sofas and armchairs should exude a timeless grandeur. Think gentlemen’s club chic, or stately home elegance. Even when buying new, a leather or PU Leather sofa are a few types of furniture in your home that you actually want to look a little weathered. However, some care and attention is needed to ensure your leather or PU Leather suite grows old gracefully, rather than disgracefully.
Cleaning and maintenance
As with any other piece of furniture, a leather or PU Leather sofa gathers dust. Regularly wiping with a clean, dry cloth is essential, as is vacuuming away any debris that accumulates in the crevices. Word of warning: do not use furniture polish, detergents, cleaning sprays or any other cleaning product not designed for leather or PU Leather. These can prove harmful to the material. As with fabric upholstery, seat, arm and back cushions should be plumped up regularly to maintain their shape.
Conditioning
Unlike fabric upholstery, leather or PU Leather needs to be conditioned regularly. How regularly will depend on the product. There are a number of leather & PU Leather conditioners on the market. They’re usually a creamy consistency and are design to be buffed into the leather or PU Leather. Used regularly, they prevent the leather or PU Leather drying out and cracks developing.
Spills and scratches
One benefit of leather or PU Leather is its hard-wearing properties – good news for Irish families with young children and pets! That said, try and stop the youngster using your new sofa as a trampoline and, if possible, keep Rover off. When the inevitable spillages happen, wipe up immediately with a dry cloth or sponge. Moisten the cloth if necessary, but try and avoid using water. If you do, dry the affected area after and never soak leather or PU Leather in water or soap. Doing so will often create a bigger mess than the one you were attempting to clean. For minor scratches, use a microfiber cloth or chamois and gently buff them until their appearance fades. If a child scribbles on your sofa with pen, treat with a product specifically designed for removing ink. These can be found online or in furniture stores.
Heat and light
Leather or PU Leather furniture and radiators are not happy bedfellows. When positioning your new leather or PU Leather suite, ensure it’s at least 30cm away from radiators. Similarly, do not position a leather or PU Leather sofa where it is directly touching walls or skirting boards as this can stain the walls. Lastly, unless you want to walk around with the blinds drawn, make sure your leather or PU Leather sofa is not in direct sunlight. Ultraviolet rays can cause the leather or PU Leather to dry out and fade.
