Leather sofa conditioner/protector?
Question:I have just bought a white leather sofa and I am currently awaiting delivery. I know that with t being white I need to protect and condition it, can anyone recommed a good brand.
Answers:
Hi, I have a cream leather suite and I use products from the kleeneze book, i don't know if you have them where you live but they tend to drop through your letter box every now and again like a little catalogue, I buy their leather cleaner and the leather conditioning cream, they often have special offers on the products, and so far they have kept my suite looking like new.
You can get some leather wipes from Tesco that do the trick nicely
I just use leather wipes I got from Tesco (I think they are Mr Muscle or Pledge) - just follow the instructions, ensuring you do a test patch somewhere that can't be seen, and, if OK, clean the whole sofa with the wipes - they are quick and easy.
It is very important to protect your leather suite as soon as you purchase it and especially so with a pale colour. Make sure you choose a leather protector that works. Leatehr wipes do not have any protector in them and could actually be damaging especially ones that may contain silicones.
Most 'conditioners' are not protectors and will do your leather no good especially if they contain oils or waxes. Many products sold on the supermarket shelves either do nothing or actually damage your leather. It is best to use products that are produced by a leather specialist as these will have been tested.
To clean you need to use a good quality water based foam leather cleaner. Strong cleaner or Maxi Cleaner if it is very dirty. With light coloured furniture dye transfer from clothing can be a problem but this can be inhibited with a good protector.
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.
Fairy liquid contains more salt these days to get dishes clean and this will break the finish down on your leather. This has been verified by the manufacturers (as with the baby wipes).
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 and oils and waxes should not be used as the natural oils do not dry out of leather. Wiping over with a damp cloth regularly will help to do this.
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.
If you want any further advice and are in the UK 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
leather shoe polish with lanolin
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