Cleaning leather furniture at home is a scary proposition. Furniture cleaning, at best, is iffy, but when it comes to the new leather sofa or leather chair, what cleaning materials, products to use, techniques and things to avoid must you be aware of?

Leather Furniture Cleaning 101 – the Finish

Not all leather furniture is created equal. Most leather sofas are finished, but there are also a good many which are not. If at all possible, determine if the leather is finished or not. Use the LTT Leather Care site for help, if you are not certain.

Leather Cleaning 102 – Step Away from the Baby Wipes and Armor All

There is precious little baby wipes cannot clean – except leather furniture. Sure, they’ll clean whatever spilled on the leather sofa, but they also take some of the luster, color, and finish right with them. The same holds true for car aficionados’ Armor All.

Cleaning the Leather Sofa 103 – Avoid Spot Cleaning

When your golden haired child spills the content of the juice box on your leather sofa, you are tempted to only clean the seat cushion that was affected – and rightly so – but what about the finger prints on the side? Avoid rubbing and spot cleaning, which over times make the leather furniture appear spotty. Instead, remove excessive debris and then clean the entire side in big sweeps. This avoids unsightly looking spots.

Leather Cleaning 104 – Don’t Compromise on the Tools

You have it heard said that leather furniture cleaning with gentle dish soap is quick and easy. It is also a surefire way of dulling the leather furniture’s finish. Invest in good quality leather cleaner that is formulated for the finish of your leather furniture.

Leather Chair Care 105 – Frequent Furniture Cleaning is better than Infrequent but Vigorous Rubbing

Furniture cleaning might not be on the forefront of your mind, but if you want your leather furniture to remain in good repair, you should clean more frequently rather than try to make up for lost time by scrubbing extra hard. These infrequent cleanings do little more than damage the exterior surface of the leather couch.

Furniture Cleaning 106 – Everyone Has an Angle

When it comes to leather furniture cleaning, almost anyone has a special recipe or trick. Tips on how to clean a leather sofa abound, but it is crucial to remember that leather is an individualistic substance. Remember that it was once a very much alive cow, and as such it follows a different course than the upholstered couch you used to have. Excessive sunlight exposure, dirt, dust, and debris have entirely different effects on your leather furniture than it might on someone else’s that is stored under different conditions.