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Leather Furniture Care

Here’s how to care for leather furniture and upholstery, such as sofas and bar stools, to prolong its life and keep its luxurious look.
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Leather is a traditional favorite for upholstered furniture, with its classic charm and timeless style. It is a durable and resilient natural material that, if treated with care, can stand the test of time.

Furniture that gets used on a regular basis and is at risk from food and drink spills, such as leather bar stools, needs to be looked after to prolong its life and keep its luxurious look.


With a little care and maintenance, leather furniture should keep its sophisticated look and feel and provide many years of use.
With a little care and maintenance, leather furniture should keep its sophisticated look and feel and provide many years of use.
How to care for leather upholstery depends on whether it has been coated with a protective treatment to minimize staining. Every now and then, coated leather seats can be wiped clean with mild soapy water and then buffed dry. Leather cream cleaner can also be used every six to twelve months.

In comparison, unprotected leather bar stool seats will be vulnerable to liquids and oils, which could cause staining. To avoid damaging an unprotected surface, it's best to just clean them often with a soft, dry duster.

That said, most contemporary bar stools with leather cushions have been treated with a surface protector. A water-based leather cleaner will be effective at both removing dirt residues and offering future protection from stains.

It is important to use a cleaner specifically formulated for cleaning leather as there are lots of products that really shouldn't be used on leather seats as they could do more harm than good. Do not use anything that contains oil, wax or silicone, such as furniture polish or car cleaner. These can damage the finish and can cause leather to crack. Baby wipes are another thing to avoid using on leather as they are very alkaline and too harsh for this type of upholstery.

To soften and revitalize dry leather that has been neglected, simply use water to rehydrate it. To prevent the surface from drying out in the future, regularly wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

With a little care and maintenance, leather furniture such as bar stools should keep its sophisticated look and feel and provide many years of use.



Text by Simon Phillips
© 2008 BobVila.com


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