Leather Furniture, Caring for Leather FurnitureIn my recent customer spotlight about interior designer Charity and the new antiqued leather settee she bought from us,  I mentioned that leather sofas, chairs, stools and benches and other leather furniture are among our top sellers.

One of the leather furniture makers that we work with is a small family business, and they gave me some great info about the different types of leather and the care of leather.Leather Furniture, Caring for Leather Furniture

Top Grain Leather vs. Split Grain Leather

My first lesson was about the difference between top-grain and split-grain leather. Full-grain leather is the natural whole hide, but that whole hide is usually split into layers for making furniture upholstery. (Think of it like peeling two slices of bread apart!)
Both cuts of leather are true 100% leather and each one is wonderful for different purposes, looks, type of furniture and price points.

Leathermaking Techniques

Leather Furniture, Caring for Leather FurnitureThe top-grain is the cut from the hair side of the leather. It is the most common type of leather used in high-end leather products as it is smooth and pliable.
The traditional top-grain leather look is shiny and smooth and soft to the touch, with natural color and texture variations.  Many of our sofas and chairs are top-grain leather.

The split-grain is from the flesh side. It is a tougher and thicker cut of leather and it is usually at a slightly lower price point. After the split is made, this layer of leather has a fuzzy suede look on both sides and it is light in color. Then it is finished to give it the look and feel of top-grain leather. Usually this includes applying color and a clear protective top coat.

Leather Furniture Care

Leather is porous and it's made up of around 12-14% water which keeps it so luxuriously supple. But even though it is such a sturdy and timeless upholstery material, you do need to avoid things that will dry the leather out. For example, it's best to keep it away from a heater or from direct sun right beneath a window.

Leather Furniture, Caring for Leather FurnitureTo clean leather furniture, only use a water based leather cleaner. Before my leather lesson from the furniture makers, I didn’t know how bad the leather conditioners are that you can buy in supermarkets and chain stores. I never thought about it for leather, but it is just like all of those furniture sprays that are also bad for your furniture and create a waxy build-up.

Leather Furniture, Caring for Leather Furniture

Don't use household cleaners!

My leather expert said never to use regular household products to clean and care for leather. This includes products containing oils, waxes or silicones, as they dry out the leather big time! Most "conditioners" contain waxes or oils while furniture polish contains silicones. These all ruin the leather finish. Car cleaners with oils or waxes can leave residue that acts like a magnet to dirt, creating a build-up and finally cracking of the leather. Chemicals in many leather wipes also destroy the finish and dry out the hide so it peels.

Baby Wipes and Leather Furniture are a Bad Combo

Baby wipes are terrible for leather too as is dishwashing liquid as it has a high salt content and will ruin your finish. What about Saddle Soap? That should be OK, right? Wrong! The finish on beautiful leather furniture is not the same as saddle leather, so keep the saddle soap in the stable!

Leather Furniture, Caring for Leather FurnitureAfter cleaning with a water based leather cleaner and nothing else, treat the leather furniture with a good water based leather protector. This creates a protective barrier, preventing dirt and stains from soaking into the leather.

Regularly wiping the leather with a damp cloth helps to clean dirt and body oils from the furniture in addition to helping rehydrate the leather – it's nature's own moisturizer! Take care of your top-grain or split-grain leather furniture and it will be look handsome and feel great for years!

Other leather care tips include keeping your living room furniture out of direct sunlight when possible. It is also best to avoid using detergents or super dry cloth when cleaning your leather upholstery. A soft cloth or microfiber cloth can help preserve your pigmented leather couch. When using a wet cloth, it is best to use distilled water and a clean cloth, and letting the piece air dry.

Take a look at another article we wrote about furniture care during the winter months.

Upholstered Furniture at EuroLuxHome.com

At EuroLuxHome.com, we have a wide variety of high-quality entryway, dining room, home office, and outdoor furniture. Our upholstered bar stools, dining chairs, loveseats and sectional sofas provide both comfort and style to your space. In terms of bedroom furniture, many of headboards are crafted with fine leather. One thing is sure- with so many upholstered pieces, we're a retailer bound to have something you'll love. From bookcases to dining tables, antique to new furniture, nightstands, dressers and more, EuroLuxHome.com has you covered.[related_products is_auto_added="1"]

In my recent customer spotlight about interior designer Charity and the new antiqued leather settee she bought from us,  I mentioned that leather sofas, chairs, stools and benches and other leather furniture are among our top sellers. One of the leather furniture makers that we work with is a small family business, and they gave […]

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