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Although leather is so resistant to harm, it is always wise to take precautions when taking care of you’re furniture in order to ensure it always looks great.

First thing to consider is where you will place your leather furniture for it to give the effect that you desired and of course, for it to last long. Leather should not be placed within two feet of any direct heat source including fireplaces, radiators and heating vents. Direct sunlight should also be avoided as this can dry out and cause fading over the years. It is also important not to place your leather furniture in a place where many people will not be constantly rubbing against it causing irreversible marks. Most marks can be removed with leather conditioners but the constant rubbing will cause wear and tear manifestations early which you can not fix.

Cleaning your leather furnishing is very important as this will help in maintaining its beauty. Weekly dusting it is recommended. Use a soft cloth to rub it down to keep the leathers pores free of any dust particles.

A leather stain can be easy or nasty depending on circumstances. You have to take note of two things before you attempt to clean your leather. First is the leather type and second is the type of stain on it. If someone happens to spill food on your leather you should wipe it up immediately with a wet cloth and liquid hand soap. General cleaning of aniline and pigmented leathers can be done using a good leather cleaner followed by a conditioner and a leather protector.

More serious spills such as blood, urine, grease, wax or ink should be removed immediately and this might entail the service of a professional. But before you call in the pros, you can use the following tips in cleaning:

Grease and Oil

If the leather stain is from cheesy pizza, body oils, or other grease stains on the leather, you should use a de-greaser as the first step, then clean and finally, condition. If the leather is pigmented, you can use leather cleaner to try to remove the leather stain. Spot cleaning a leather stain is always difficult because water and all other chemicals react with it. After you’re done the area may be stain free but look a little different in color from the surrounding surface. If the leather is aniline, you have no choice but to call in a specialist.

For suede or nubuck, the procedure to remove a leather stain is much the same except that you’ll use a cloth especially made for suede and nubuck leather.

Paint

Getting paint out of leather is a tough business because not much can be done since just about everything used to remove the paint will also take the pigment out of the leather. If the paint is water based, try using water and mild soap. If not, its time to bring in the pro.

Water

Water spots is the most common complaint of leather owners. You cal rollo up a piece of white bread inot a tight ball and use it to blot out the stain by rubbing it gently.

Odors

Dealing with smells in leather is not that difficult, even with something as nasty such as cat urine. You need to look for a non-toxic enzyme-based cleaner that is designed for leather, which can often be found at a pet store. The bacteria that live on organic, protein-based substances like urine as well as fecal matter are responsible for the smell. Follow the directions and your leather should come out smelling alright.

When you first buy your leather, you should apply a protector to ensure years of beautiful furniture. After this you should be cleaning your leather thoroughly four times a year. You should be using a professional leather cleaner and then seal it again with the protector. The best approach to dealing with any leather stain, especially leather furniture is to prevent it.

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