My upholstered leather chair is looking dry and dull. What will bring back the soft supple leather texture?
Question:
Answers:
You need to use a good quality water based foam leather cleaner.
DO NOT use anything containing oils, waxes or silicones. (Most 'conditioners' contain waxes or oils) and furniture polish contains silicones
BABY WIPES are the worst thing you can use as they will destroy the finish on your leather. They are very strong alkiline cleaners to neutralise urine (acid) on babys skin so they are not the right thing to use on leather.
Saddle soap is too harsh to use on todays furniture.
A lot of leather wipes contain chemicals which will also destroy the finish or leave residues on the leather which will damage it. They are not cheap in the long run as you would need a lot to clean a whole leather sofa. A bottle of foam cleaner should do your furniture 1-2 times.
You should also follow cleaning with a good water based leather protector which will act like a 'scotchgard' and inhibit dirt and stains from being absorbed and make cleaning easier the next time.
Dry leather needs rehydrating with water. Oils and waxes should not be used as the natural oils do not dry out of leather and they can actually cause more problems by adding them to your leather.
Wiping over with a damp cloth regularly will help to keep it rehydrated..
It is important to maintain a regular cleaning regime cleaning dirt off the surface regularly and inhibiting the absorption of body oils into the leather with a protector is the best way of doing this.
The alternative is a brand new product on the market called Lazy Leather. This is the latest technology in cleaning and combines an effective cleaner with a protector. It is quick and easy to use and should be used as a maintenance product once your suite has been cleaned or from new if you have just bought it.
Dirt and body oils are the 2 main things that damage leather so anything which attracts more dirt (ie things containing oils and waxes) will lead to further damage.
If you want any further advice you can telephone 01423 881027 and I will be glad to help.
Source(s):
www.LTTsolutions.net
Leather care consultants to the furniture and cleaning industries
Try using Armor All Leather Care. You can find this in the auto section of Wal-Mart or any auto parts store. If you have heard of Armor All for cleaning/protecting your car's dash, the Leather Care formula does the same for leather interiors. No reason this will not also work for your chair.
We have a product here in Canada called Dubbin.It is a leather preserver and restorer.It's a paste and comes in a tin similar to a shoe polish tin. You rub it on and then polish with a dry cloth.Works fabulous.
My son also uses for his ball gloves and hockey pads.
This product has been around for many yrs.Hope this helps.
Step 1
Place a small amount of a gentle, moisturizing soap such as Dove on a damp cloth and bring it to a light lather.
Step 2
Rub the damp cloth on the leather without putting too much water on the leather.
Step 3
Wipe away lather with a fresh damp cloth. Don't rinse the leather in water.
Step 4
Polish leather with a dry towel.
Step 5
Treat leather with a leather conditioner after it has dried completely.
And to keep leather supple, use the following homemade recipe :
1 part white vinegar
2 parts linseed oil
Jar with a lid
Pour the solution into a jar with a lid, shake well and apply to the leather with a soft cloth. Let it sit for 12 hours and buff. If the cloth starts to soil, be sure to change it often. Store the leftover solution for future usage
Simple $1.99 solution, called Jubliee from SC Jonhson wax. I buy a lot of furniture on the secondary market that I recondition, reconstruct and make reuseable with this very inexpensive product. Not only does it clean surface dirt, it leaves a wonderful shine and renews that flexible supple feeling back to leather. I can buy a piece of leather furniture on the secondary market that looks like it has seen it's better days, use Jubliee and renew it's life. It is so simple, too, just spray it on, let it soak in and buff with a soft lint free cloth. This stuff is well worth investigation because it makes me a million.
Armorall. I know, it's for cars. But I promise it's going to work. And it's cheaper than using the high priced leather cleaners, works just as good.
I've always used Saddle Soap. Just follow the directions on the can. I usually find this product at the auto store. Great Product for a low price, it's environmentally friendly, and doesn't take up much space.
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