Leather sofas are beautiful, comfortable pieces of furniture that can last many years with the proper treatment. Even if your leather sofa is a little worn out and stiff, you can easily restore it. The following will help you rejuvenate your sofa:
• leather conditioner
• rags
• leather cleaner or a mild liquid dish soap
Step 1: Clean the Sofa
The first step in restoring your leather sofa is to clean it. The materials needed to properly wash away dirt and grime are a premium leather cleaner and a few rags or cloths. If you don’t want to invest in leather cleaner, liquid dish soap often does the job very well. These rags need to be soft to prevent damaging the leather.
First fill up a bucket or container with water. Then pour a small amount of cleaning product into the container. Mix the solution, and then wet the soft rag with it. Next, wash the sofa with the rag. Scrub hard enough to get off all dirt, but do not use excessive force; treat the sofa well.
Rinse the rag in the soapy water, and continue to wash the sofa until all traces of dirt are gone. If one rag becomes too dirty, then grab another soft rag and use it. You will know the sofa is completely clean when you no longer see dirt streaks or residue on the rag you are using.
Step 2: Use Leather Conditioner
After the sofa has been cleaned, apply leather conditioner, such as Leather Honey, over the entire sofa. Massage the conditioner into the sofa thoroughly. Leather conditioner helps to restore the sofa by infusing it with a large amount of needed moisture. This moisture helps the leather of the sofa become flexible.
Let the conditioner stay on the sofa for around 24 hours. This gives it time to penetrate deeply into the leather and hydrate it, making the leather flexible and preventing it from future damage or dryness.
Step 3: Regular Care
With the right tools and the proper care, you can easily restore your leather sofa to its former glory. Repeat this process when the leather feels or looks dirty or dry – a chalky appearance is generally a good indicator that the leather could use conditioning. If the sofa is situated near a window or direct sunlight, or your home or climate is particularly dry, you may need to condition more often. Normal household items such as rags and dish soap can clean the excess dirt and grime while leather conditioner can restore the suppleness and state of the leather itself.
These tips were contributed by Jim McGowen, founder of Leather Honey, the top-selling leather conditioner product on Amazon.com.