Leather Care

As with all leather, liquid stains should be wiped off immediately. Do not clean with detergents or soaps as these may discolor the leather. Leather may possibly fade if exposed to strong sunlight. Vacuum dust from crevices, and lightly wipe with a damp cloth.

Leather in your home
Leather seating needs little or no care under normal household conditions. Leather is by far the strongest upholstery material used in furniture. Its toughness comes from an intricate network of natural fibers within the cow hide. The leather furniture manufacturer does not recommend using any aftermarket leather cleaner or conditioner on their leather furniture.

Keep your leather beautiful
REMOVE DUST – Use the upholstery brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove any accumulation of dust on a periodic basis. Use the crevice attachment to vacuum the crevices.
WIPE UP SPILLS – Blot spilled liquids immediately with a clean absorbent cloth or sponge. Most liquids will be initially repelled by leather, but, if left standing over an extended period, they may be absorbed. Cleaning is recommended by using clean or distilled water. Unflavored club soda is a good alternative. Rinse out a natural sponge or cotton cloth in the water and lightly dab the affected area to blot up any residue. Rinse and dab again until you have lightly flushed out the area. Be careful not to soak the leather or you may create another, larger, stain. Don’t rub! Lightly dab or blot the surface – the stain should come out with a gentle, continuous action. Clean the entire area where the spill occurred: for example, the entire seat cushion or the entire arm. If necessary, add mild soap suds (non-acidic Neutrogena Soap is best for pure aniline leathers). With a natural sponge or cotton cloth, remove excess moisture, and allow to air dry. Do not use hair dryers or artificial heat sources. Over the years, this leather may develop a character and sheen of its own from body oils and use, returning many pleasant memories. Dust regularly, no other cleaning is recommended.

Guidelines for living with leather furniture
All quality home furnishings are subject to degradation from the following environmental or mechanical conditions. Leather is no exception, but it actually performs much better than most cloth upholstery and even wood finishes.
HEAT SOURCES AND DIRECT SUNLIGHT – Placing your furniture next to strong heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators or in direct sunlight can dry out the natural oils in the leather and cause cracking and stiffening of the leather. The ultraviolet rays in sunlight will eventually fade most natural products and leather is no exception.
SHARP OBJECTS – Leather is difficult to scratch, if the tannery added protection to the leather. However, should your furniture be scratched by a sharp object like a buckle or a toy, it is usually possible to disguise the mark with a felt tip pen of a similar color. Test your technique on a swatch or a inconspicuous area first. Art stores carry a wide range of pen colors. Surface scratches on pure aniline leathers often can be rubbed away with the heal of your hand (friction) and oils in your skin. Leather repair specialists who have the capabilities to repair damages are readily available in most areas.
AGGRESSIVE CLEANERS AND STRONG RUBBING – Gentle wiping is all that the vast majority of spills require. NEVER use abrasive cleaners, saddle soap, oils, detergents, furniture polish, ammonia or colored coarse cloths, etc. and remember that prolonged, vigorous rubbing can damage the surface.

Cleaning Information
Never use harsh cleaners such as Armor All, Scott’s Liquid Gold, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Son-of-a-Gun, Pledge, Endust, Saddle-Soap, abrasive cleaners like Ajax, Comet, etc. or any type of accelerated cleaners such as Fantastic, 409, Windex, etc. as they will damage the leather surface beyond restoration. Do not let wood furniture overspray land on the leather.

Leathers with no built in protection (Natural Leather or Pure Aniline Leather)
For spots and spills – Blot excess liquid immediately with a clean dry cloth or sponge. Do not rub. Allow area to dry. Most liquids will initially be repelled by the leather. If spills are left for an extended period of time, they will be absorbed into the hide. If absorbed, stains should dissipate through evaporation or the fiber structure of the hide. For stubborn stains – Apply a mild solution of any non-acidic soap (Neutrogena, etc.) and water (preferably distilled water) using a clean absorbant cloth or sponge. Rub either front to back or side to side. Do not rub in circles. Clean an area larger than the stain to avoid spotting. Wipe again using a clean damp cloth, rubbing in one direction. Allow to air dry. It may be necessary to repeat this process for extreme stains.

Leathers with built in protection (Protected Leather or Aniline Plus Leather or Semi-Aniline Leather)
For spots and spills – Blot excess liquid immediately with a clean dry cloth or sponge. Apply a mild solution of any non-acidic soap (Neutrogena, etc.) and water (preferably distilled water) to the soiled area wiping gently. Rinse using a clean, moistened cloth or sponge. Repeat the process if necessary for more stubborn stains. Allow time to air dry. Absorbed oil should dissipate with time through evaporation or the fiber structure of the hide.

Suede is a type of leather that is created from the underside of the hide/skin. The fibers are buffed and raised to give it a velvety touch. Suede upholstery is also known as Nubuck upholstery. Protection and careful cleaning are the keys to keeping your suede furniture looking good.
Caring for Suede/Nubuck Upholstery
Suede and Nubuck Upholstery is a type of leather and should be cleaned with a napping brush (being careful not to over-rub any particular spot) and a Nubuck Cleaning Cloth (available at most furniture stores).
1. When cleaning suede, move the cloth in different directions so as to clean all sides of the nap. However, always use a gentle touch when cleaning suede as over-cleaning any particular spot will damage the nap.
2. To give the nap an even look after cleaning, run over the surface in one direction with a DRY sponge.
3. Using a waterproofing agent designed for suede on your suede upholstery will keep it looking its best in between cleanings.
Additional Tips and Advice
1. Always clean up spills promptly as suede is porous and if allowed to sit, a minor spill will become a stain and a major problem. All spills should be blotted with a clean, white paper towel or cloth; never rubbed or it will be forced deeper into the fabric.
2. Avoid using any kinds of solvents or cleaners on your upholstery that are not designed specifically for suede.
3. Small spots or stains may be eliminated using a clean brown art gum eraser to rub the stain away. NEVER use a pink pencil or other colored eraser as it may leave a mark.
4. If your upholstery is seriously soiled, you may want to consider hiring a professional cleaner, making sure the company specializes in leather upholstery.

REMEMBER– It is always best to test clean an inconspicuous area of the piece before proceeding with cleaning. LEATHER FURNITURE USA cannot guarantee the cleanability of any leather. While the appearance of some stains may be made less noticeable by using this cleaning process, certain stains, by their very nature, cannot be completely removed.

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