In today’s economically advanced society, the standard of living has augmented itself to both vendors and purchasers. In this regard, one of the main socioeconomic standards and primary furnishings within households is leather furniture. However, it is proven that such furniture, such as the leather sofa, is susceptible to various forms of damage. This document will go into detail regarding the various ways in how to restore leather furnishings.
To begin with, the main problem for the majority of leather furniture (be it leather couches, chairs or recliners) is the lack of moisture. However, the use of water is never recommended to reinstate the moisture as this dries out the furniture even further. Use a soft brush with added soap to remove the dirt, grime and buildup.
In addition to the lack of moisture, one of the main variables in restoring leather furniture is re-staining the furnishings. For the majority of leather products, a thorough clean and polishing is all that is needed; however, in some instances, the leather couch, chair or recliner may actually need vigorous re-staining. When attempting to re-stain, ensure you seal the stain with a lacquer emulsion to diminish any possibility of color transfer and to protect the leather hide; ensure the lacquer is given adequate time to try. It is recommended to buy the stain from equestrian retailers and/or leather suppliers. Once the lacquer has dried, complete the process with a leather cream or light conditioner. To simplify the aforementioned notes, follow these three steps:
1. Ensure you clean the leather with a soft brush and soap by caressing the leather in a circular motion. When completed, polish the leather with a dry cloth and allow the furniture to dry.
2. Apply the leather stain with a clean sheepskin pad by building up the color in another circular motion.
3. Seal and condition your furnishings by rubbing on a leather sealant with a soft cloth and allowing the fabric to dry for approximately 24 hours. Once dry, complete the process by rubbing in a leather conditioner by hand or with a clean cloth.
In addition to the above, one of the major detriments in leather furnishings is scratches. Therefore, follow the below steps to ensure proper restoration:
1. Begin by calling the manufacturer of the leather recliner, sofa or other furnishing. The manufacturer may provide you with recommended ways in which to repair the minor damages. However, if this initial process is not readily available, proceed to step 2.
2. Using olive oil, baby oil or saddle oil, rub a cotton swab gently over the scratch via a circular motion. Ensure you allow the solution to dry for approximately one hour. Upon completion of the hour of drying time, if the scratch has not visibly healed itself, repeat this step or continue onto step 3.
3. Dampen a clean cotton cloth and firmly press the dampened cloth directly onto the scratch. Allow the moisture to seep into the scratched area.
4. Prior to proceeding with this step, ensure you are aware of the type of leather furnishing you have as this process is restricted to certain aniline leather types, such as pull-up and bicast. Ensure that this process is tested on a non-visible spot to eliminate the possibility of noticeable error. With the dampened cloth still against the scratch, press a warm iron directly over the cloth. By doing so, the heat and moisture will draw the natural oil from the leather, thereby allowing the leather to correct the scratched area on its own. After pressing the iron on the cloth for a period of 10 seconds, remove the cloth and review the scratch. If the scratch is still evident, repeat this step once or proceed to step 5.
5. Similar to the previous step, ensure that an inconspicuous spot of the furnishing is tested prior to proceeding. This process will be of greater success on heavily pigmented or coated leather. Buy a shade of shoe polish that has the identical (or very similar) color to that of your leather furniture. Using a cotton swab, rub a small amount of the shoe polish directly onto the affected area. Using a clean cloth, rub the area immediately after the shoe polish has been applied to clean the scratch. It should be noted that this process will not help eliminate the scratch, but rather disguise it.
Leather furniture is notably one of the most sought after forms of furniture in today’s economy. In this regard, by following the above steps you will be able to ensure a long-lasting lifespan for your leather chair, sofa, recliner or sectional.
