Leather furniture is highly sought-after, but far too many homeowners buy leather items without realizing how to properly care for them, and sometimes end up overwhelmed by what’s required. To make things easier for you, here’s our expert advice on proper leather treatment.

Know Your Leather

Many people think all leather requires the same treatment, but that’s not true! It's very important to know what kind of leather you have before attempting to clean it.

Protected Leather- This makes up the majority of leather upholstery. Protected leather may also be labeled finished, semi-aniline, or pigmented leather. Protected leather, as the name suggests, is topped with a protective coating and is more durable than other leathers.

Unprotected Leather- Also called aniline, pure aniline, or unfinished leather, this leather has a more soft and luxurious feel. This type of leather is more sensitive to staining and is also more expensive than protected leather.

Cleaning and Conditioning

When cleaning unprotected leather, you may use a slightly dampened cloth with distilled water, a dry cloth and vacuum (make sure you’re using the small brush attachment), or an approved leather cleaner. The specific manufacturer may have their own instructions, so be sure to check that out. But no matter what the method is, clean very gently with unprotected leather, as it is much more susceptible to staining.

Protected leather can handle a lot more, but you should still be careful to not use certain products. Clean with a vacuum and damp cloth, but only use approved leather cleaners.

An approved leather conditioner should be applied every six to twelve months. To properly condition, add a small dollop of conditioner onto a small cloth and gently rub the conditioner all over the leather. This will keep your leather looking shiny and moisturized.

The Steam Team Method

You might be thinking all these steps are too much to deal with yourself, but that’s what we’re here for! The Steam Team can completely clean and condition your leather furniture for you. Feel free to call any time!