We have a lovely distressed leather sofa but where my husband's head has been has left a greasy patch!?
Question:Does anyone know if there is anything we can do to get rid of this dark patch - forget bleach or any silly answers, please. I used a Mr Sheen (oops advertising tut, tut) polishing cloth on it and it seems to have made it worse. I guess we should have had covers on it.
Answers:
You have an aniline style leather which is absorbent. Unfortunatley as with many retail stores you ahve been given very bad care advice. You need to look after these leathers with regualr clening and protection. A good leather protector would have inhibited this from happening.
The dark patches are as you say from body oils on the head area and now they are in the leather they are impossible to remove without professional degreasing compounds. There will be far more grease on the inside than is showing on the outside.
To stop it gettting any worse you need to use a good water based leather cleaner which will clean any residue on the surface and start to dissipate the oils that are there. Also use a leather protector (not conditioner) to help prevent any more from soaking in.
Please feel free to telephone 01423 881027 for sensible advice if you need it.
YOU DON'T SAY IF IT'S SMOOTH OR NOT, CALL A DRY CLEANER THEY SHOULD KNOW.
Have u tried getting your husband to wash his hair??
Try dab of mild shampoo on damp cloth . May have to repeat several times but should do trick
vinegar,, malt white, mmm i dunno, but may work,, try small disecrete area first
tell your partner to wash his hair and then buy some leather wipes to get rid of the grease
My answer is to check the furniture manufacturer's website, and see what they recommend.Maybe you still have the tags that came with your furniture? I know most people trash them, but It would be great to have saved for reference. You also can try checking if there is a cleaning information tag sewn into a seam, or under a cushion.
I'd guess you need something to remove the grease, but not dry out or discolor the beautiful leather. You can definitely check with your local dry cleaner, or your local home improvement store. They may have a ready made leather cleaner available.
You can also check websites such as Heloise.com, you may have some luck there.
Good luck with this, and I suggest buying your sweetie a (washable covered) special napping pillow.
I use pears soap on mine and it comes up gleaming.test on a small area first.just use a wet cloth and rub the soap on the cloth but not to much.
I do not know what or who has got some men to use the grease on their hair in the first place. It is uggly slimy and greasy looking.I am sure it does not do any good for the hair either. Your first concern should be to have him stop using that greez on his hair.
Next you should try the shampoo,use it when he is at home to see you working at it, using it repeatedly until you get rid of the unsightly greezy spot. Allow him to sit on the sofa again when his hair is free of grease. In the meantime have him sit in a strait wooden chair. You should have banned the greazy stuff he uses on his hair, a long time ago . If he gives you any difficulty suggest he shave his hair .
get a damp facecloth and rub it against a bar of soap, then rub the greasy patch with the facecloth, it should work wonders!!
let me know how you got on!!
I would sprinkle some cornstarch or baking soda on it,
let it absorb it up for a while, like overnight, then brush
it and vaccuum it.
Unfortately with body oils it is very difficult if impossible to get it clean. I suggest you try some different things. Water based products will only make it worse and spread so that is out. You can use a light sanding of the area and from now on he needs to use a pillow or blanket to cover his head. Body oils do the same thing to a painted wall. You wind up having to repaint.
I wouls suggest the cornstarch or baby powder too to try to absorb the grease like the other poster said.
get rid of it by putting all its clothes in binbags and throwing the greasy git out! Just kidding, use baby wipes they seem to be really gentle but at the same time get through grease!!
clean with mild detergent then apply bee's wax on a soft sponge, use only a very small amount on the sponge, you will be amazed!
Ya, I think the baking soda is worth a shot.
If that doesn't work you could put a paper bag on top of it and a piece of cloth (like a washcloth) over that, then iron over it, moving the paper bag around to a clean spot periodically.
Pine-Sol works great on grease, too.
Take your sofa out doors.
Use cotton wool with a drop of methylated spirit. Dab the cotton wool gently on the greasy marks.
Don't smoke or attempt this indoors. Meths has a very low flash point, so don't set yourself on fire.
Only a drop at a time wait for the meths to evaporate before moving the sofa back indoors.
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