Cleaning leather sofa

cuffie

I was going to go out and buy a specialist cleaner, but my friend told me she just uses dove liquid soap and a cloth! Is that right?? My sofa is not marked or dirty as such - I just thought it was about time I gave it a good clean!
Has anyone else just used liquid soap?

judyb

Most leather cleaners are detergent based, soaps tend to leave a residue on the surface which will attract more dirt which is not good for leather, a damp cloth will remove dust from the surface but will not do a lot of cleaning.

Liquid soaps as in washing up liquids and washing liquids should be avoided as thay have to high a salt content which will damage the finish on the leather.

Good leather cleaners and protectors have been well tested on leather to ensure that they will do no damage.

Leather care consultant

HariboJunkie

Where's the best place to buy the leather protecters?

Queenbee_2

When we had problems with our leather furniture we got advice from the Leather Training Company and have used their protector on our leather, I think you can order on line or just ring them up.

acb3125

I use baby wipes to clean mine and have had no problems. (I buy the cheapest wipes I can find")

Pipkin

Judy,

I have a couch covered in full analine uncorrected leather in a shabby distressed finish, made by Halo.

http://www.indigofurniture.co.uk/showroom.php?cat=living&catId=12&productId=119

I got a care card with the couch which states that the leather should be dusted regularly, not wiped with a damp cloth, and that the leather does not need to be fed, but if I desire I can use a conditioning cream such as their leather yum yum on it a maximum of 2 times a year.

I've had the couch for 18 months now and only dusted it, never used the cream on it.

It seems fine, but I worry I'm not taking care of it properly.

I am scared to use the cream as it may darken the finish on the leather (the leather is highly absorbent), and don't want to unless I really do have to.

I'd be greatful for any advice you could offer.

judyb

This type of leather needs looking after in a specific way and needs a very good protector. I would be very wary of using the product you have as I don't think it will do your leather much good.
I think Indigo have now changed their products and if you contact them they will be able to give you clearer advice and point you in the direction of the right products.

Also here are some notes on cleaning and maintaining aniline style leathers;
Aniline Style Leather

For the purpose of CLEANING we have included in this section all leathers that absorb moisture within a minute or so of application.(test absorbency with Leather Cleaner)
Because the leathers only have light surface protection (shown by absorbency rate) they will also absorb dirt and spillages more readily, this will make cleaning less effective because dirt will only clean off the surface of leather not out of it.
The other problem you will encounter is that the leather will absorb your cleaning product, which means you will have to work quickly and in small areas.
CAUTION; Excessive body oils (from hair, skin etc.) will show as dark areas that mark pale when scratched. These will not clean off and will require special treatment beyond simple cleaning.
Absorbent leathers will usually go dark when they absorb product but should dry back to normal quite quickly. It is best to test this in several places to get used to the reaction and ensure it dries without dramatic shading. Some shade change would be expected.
ITEMS REQUIRED: Foam Leather Cleaner, sponge (not natural), a good water based Leather Protector, paper towel, hairdryer.
PROCESS: Pour a small amount of cleaning product into the water, rinse sponge out in the water and wipe down the surfaces to be cleaned to remove excess dirt* and damp the leather surface.
Now, using the foaming bottle put some foam onto your sponge and apply it to an area to be cleaned and then agitate gently with the sponge rinsing frequently, adding more cleaning product as required. The size of the area you work will depend on how quickly the foam dissipates. After agitation you should lift the foam off with absorbent paper towel (or terry towels). If the foam is allowed to dry then any dirt that it holds will be left on the surface. This last step may be difficult on very absorbent leathers but frequent rinsing of your sponge will ensure dirt is removed.
Aniline leather comes in various styles and they will all react slightly differently. The main factor when cleaning Aniline and sensitive leathers is how quickly the leather absorbs your cleaning foam and the size of area you clean at any time will be dictated by this. Apply foam to an area and gently agitate the foam on the surface until it starts to dissipate, rinse the sponge, collect more foam and start to move over the surface. Try not to over wet any area by concentrating on any one patch, it is best to give a general clean rather than clean individual patch. Once you have cleaned an area (seat, back, arm etc.) dry the area with a hair dryer and reclean if you feel it is necessary.** Clean the whole piece/suite as above and dry.

After cleaning all aniline style leathers should be treated with Leather Protect which will inhibit grease and dirt from being absorbed into the leather and make subsequent cleaning easier. Spray a thin mist over the surface and even out with a white cloth. It is normal to see some colour transference during this stage.
*If you use a vacuum cleaner as a first step, do so carefully as the plastic nozzle can leave marks in Aniline hide. It is still recommended that you wipe down with a moist sponge as your first cleaning step).
**Because Aniline style leather has a greater tendency to absorb stains than Protected/Pigmented leather, do not expect to remove all the marks. If a regular regime of cleaning and protecting is maintained, any stains will blend into the general look of the furniture.

Hope this helps
Judyb
Leather Consultant

helen4474

Hi Judy

I've just bought a second hand cream leather sofa, i've no idea what type of leather it is, but needs a good clean as it's quite dirty in the creases. I've used a baby wipe and can see that it's comeing up much lighter. Do you have any advice for me?
Thanks Helen

Pipkin

Judy,

thank you very much for your kindness to reply, I really do appreciate it.:D

It's all a bit daunting, but I love my couch and want to care for it properly, so that it lasts me a LONG time.

God bless!

judyb

Helen
Please see my article further up about cleaning leather generally, if you follow this advice you should be able to clean your leather well.

Thanks Pipkin for your message, your type of leather is usually fairly expensive and the sort that people love once they buy it. With a little love and attention it can last you a long time, conversely if you don't look after it it can look wrecked very quickly.