New Leather Suite, how to protect?

gatita

I have bought a new leather CREAM suite !!! (must be mad:rolleyes: ) Please can I have your suggestions on the best way to 1) protect it before it is used. and 2) ongoing treatment cleaning, protecting and with what products.
Thank you:o

JennyW_2

judyb wrote: »

Saddle soap is too harsh to use on todays leathers and saddles need treating in a different way to furniture.

sorry but this is not true. I have a saddle and a leather suite and have been cleaning both items with saddle soap for the last 7 years. Saddle and suite still look the same.

You can buy leather cleaner/soap from an equestrian shop. If you want, you can also purchase a conditioner to use afterwards.

judyb

I am sorry Jenny but we are leather care consultants and have seen the damage that saddle soap can do to some leather furniture. It may work on some types (although the damage may not be obvious) but on some of the finishes that are used today it would destroy it so it is best not to generalise.
Saddles are produced in a different way to upholstery leather and needs looking after differently.
Good upholstery products will have been tested rigourously to make sure they do no damage and it is better to stick to these.
Conditioners usually contain oils waxes or silicones and again should not be used on finished leathers (cream leather will generally be this type) as the oils and waxes remain on the surface ad attract more dirt which will then break down the finish on the leather. Protection is a much better option.

gatita

Hello and thank you very much for your tips...... Judyb could you tell me where is the cheapest place to buy Lazy Leather please? if I understand your advice, I should use this as soon as I receive the new suite? and will just using this product be enough?
Again, thank you so much for your detailed reply I appreciate it very much:A

paullwill8

Ive always used Auto Glym Leather care, keeps the suite looking great. I treat it every spring and autumn.
Judyb what do you think of this please?
I have just ordered a new suite from DFS and the oh insisted on their leather kit for £25. Is this any good?

budget_counsellor_shaz

Hi Gatita,

I've used the leather cleaner and leather cream for my cream suite from ikea it is fine. I have also used washing up liquid diluted after I clean it I then dry it with a clean cloth.

......it is still lovely and soft and looks like new.

I don't think you need to spend loads of money on expensive cleaners and creams.

Shaz

[Deleted User]

gatita wrote: »

Hello and thank you very much for your tips...... Judyb could you tell me where is the cheapest place to buy Lazy Leather please? :A

Hi,

had a wee nosey at LL site, seems ok.

JennyW_2

Sounds like another marketing hype to spend more money.

Lots of people here use regular leather cleaners and conditioners and have done so for many years with no ill effect. As I said before I've had my suite for 7 years now and is still in the same condition as when it was delivered.

I understand your comments about washing up liquid and salt - the same reason you shouldn't clean your hair or car with it, however AutoGlym is a very good product used for leather car upholstery so I cant see why it cant be used for leather sofas.

judyb

The leather finish on cars is normally much heavier than it is on leather upholstery. Some finishes on leather upholstery would definitely be damaged by using Autoglym products so it is not worth the risk. Using products from large chemical producers can sometimes be a little risky as they are not neccessarily leather specialists. There is certainly no hype and our technicians would tell you of the damage they have seen done by some of the well known cleaners.

Leather finishes change all the time and products have to keep up with the changes. Just because something says it is a leather cleaner doesn't mean that it will work or that it has been tested. All leathers are different and to generalise is dangerous as one finish could be damaged whereas another isn't.

We work with leather day in and day out as consultants and see damage done by baby wipes, furniture polish, cleaners and conditioners and are just trying to get the right information out to the general public.

Hope this helps

gatita

Judyb Thank you so much for your valuable advice, and I shall be buying the Leather Protect and the Lazy Leather, hopefully this will prolong the life of the suite.

andrew-b

Hmmm i thought there was a long thread on here somewhere with many of it's contributors extolling the virtues of the humble baby wipe for cleaning leather sofas?

In this day and age sofas need replacing (or people want to change them to keep up with fashions!) far before the leather deteriorates! Will spending loads on leather cleaning products really make that much difference? In the long run i'm sure it would work out cheaper not to!

Andy