6 Professional Tips to Care For Your New Leather Recliner

Leather is one of the more popular material types when it comes to choosing office, dining room, and living room furniture. Not only is it versatile, but if taken care of properly, can last a lifetime.

If you’ve recently invested in a few leather recliners, you may be wondering about the best ways to keep them clean and maintained. Since using the wrong cleaning materials can hamper the longevity of your leather furniture, we’ve decided to compile a list of the top dos and don’ts when it comes to maintaining your leather.

Proper Care is Essential

There could be many reasons why you opted to choose leather over fabric. Whether it is for the stylish aesthetic that brings to a space, or its durability, the good news is that it’s easier to maintain than you might think. Simply follow these easy steps to keep your leather looking as good as new, no matter where you’re using it.

1. Avoid Direct Sunlight

The first step in preserving the longevity of your new leather recliner is to place it in an area where there’s no direct sunlight. This is because continued exposure to heat or sunlight will cause the leather to fade, dry out, and even crack.

To do this, avoid placing your chair directly in front of a window or open doorway that gets excessive sunlight. If your chair is going to stand near a window, consider adding blinds or curtains to the window. Keep these closed during the hottest part of the day. It’s also a good idea to rotate the chair every few days to limit exposure.

If you haven’t decided where you’re going to place your chair, start by doing the sun check. Here’s how:

• Place the chair in the spot where you think it will look best – leave it there for a few hours during the hottest part of the day.
• After a few hours, run your hand over the part of the chair that appears to get the most sun.
• If the chair feels hot, then you know it will potentially get damaged if you leave it there.

2. Avoid Harsh Chemicals and Soaps

The golden rule in cleaning your leather furniture is to avoid hash chemicals and any forms of soap. Typically, detergents and soaps contain all types of chemicals that can play havoc on the leather. Some chemicals can even strip the colour of your chairs and cause the material to crack over time.

Rather than using chemicals, rather opt for wiping the chairs down with a soft microfibre cloth and warm water. Never use hot water and bear in mind that colours can transfer to the leather, so, it’s always best to use a white cloth.

3. Use Slipcovers

If you have pets and children that are going to be sitting on, or climbing all over your chairs, you should consider adding slipcovers during these times. Slipcovers are made of fabric and will keep dirt and debris off your couch. If you don’t have a slipcover, use a large blanket.

4. Don’t Scrub Stains

Leather is the one type of fabric that should never be scrubbed or rubbed when something is accidentally spilt on it. With the way that leather fibres are constructed, scrubbing will only spread the stain.

To combat a potential stain, opt for a white porous cloth and blot the area until the offending liquid has been cleaned up. You can also use a small amount of warm water to draw out the rest of the liquid. As with cleaning, don’t use harsh chemicals as this will not only spread the stain but also strip the surrounding colour.

5. Choose Conditioner Products

Another way to effectively maintain your leather furniture is by opting for specialised conditioners to nourish the leather and prevent cracking and drying out. When choosing the right conditioner, start by only considering products that are recommended by the manufacturer.

This is because there are many fake types of so-called conditioning products on the market, and they may not all be ideal for the type of leather you have. Conditioner is generally applied once every 12 months.

6. Watch Out for Bold Accessories

A common style choice involves selecting neutral-coloured furniture and then adding bold accessories such as throws and scatter cushions. While this may look amazing in the right space, this poses a huge risk to your leather.

Not all materials in accessories are colourfast. This means that the dye in the cushions and throws can easily be absorbed by the leather, and you’ll be left with brightly coloured blotches on your chair.

This happens most frequently on lighter leather materials, or when the material is exposed to heat such as the sun. To avoid this, choose materials that are colour-fast and rotate your cushions and throws every few days.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining your leather furniture doesn’t have to be a long drawn-out process. Simply follow the instructions we’ve shared, and you’ll keep your leather recliner looking as good as the day you bought it!