Leather Sofa Cleaning

Not only are leather sofas comfortable, but they look nice and are easy to clean. If you treat your leather sofas right, they will last and look nicer for longer. Before you clean, you need to know what kind of leather (finished or unfinished) you have. Almost all leather couches are made of finished leather, but if yours is not, you may need to follow different instructions. Check the manufacturer's tag if you are not sure. Many manufacturer's tags give instructions on how to clean your leather couches. Also, the retailer you bought your couch from may have given you cleaning supplies and directions on how to clean your couch. These instructions are helpful because they are tailored to your couch. Here are some general directions on how to clean leather sofas:

1. Before you start cleaning, try out your cleaning supplies on a small hidden area of the leather. Sometimes cleaners can stain or ruin leather, so it's best to test it out before taking that chance. You don't want to damage your leather sofa in the process of cleaning it!
2. Gather supplies. You will need a vacuum, three cloths, water, leather conditioner, and gentle cleaner (Dove liquid soap works well).
3. Gently vacuum your couch. This will get rid of any dirt, dust, or small particles, which will make your cleaning more effective.
4. Put a small amount of gentle cleaner on a damp cloth. Then, use the cloth to gently rub the leather. Avoid getting your cloth too wet because you don't want to leave water spots on your leather.
5. Use a new damp cloth to wipe up the lather left from the soap. Then, use a dry cloth to dry your couch.
6. Replace some of the lost moisture with a leather conditioner.

These tips work for a general cleaning, but if you have stains, you may need a little more work. If it's a grease stain, do not use water! Just wipe the stain with a dry cloth. If it is a dark stain, mix one part lemon juice with one part cream of tartar. Rub the mixture into the stain and let it sit for ten minutes. Use a damp rag and gentle soap to remove the paste. If it is an ink stain, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Immediately dry the area (a blow dryer on a low setting works well).

Do not use oil, furniture polish, or abrasive cleaners on your leather. Also, try to keep your sofas out of direct sunlight. These tips will help your sofas stay looking nicer.