Having a leather couch in your office can provide an effective space for visitors to your company to wait. It’s also a nice place for employees to relax during work breaks. However, while leather is easy to care for, it can start to look tired quickly, particularly if it’s in a high traffic area of your office. Knowing the best way to clean leather sofas will help you to restore your piece of furniture to its original condition.
Here, we reveal how to deep clean a leather sofa and keep it protected from dirt and damage.
How to Clean Leather Sofas
Use the following steps to fix any general wear and tear that your leather sofas may be showing.
1. Prepare Your Cleaning Agents
- Soap and water
- Leather cleaning solution/leather cleaner
- Microfibre cloths
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton swabs
- Distilled water
- Small bucket
Before you start cleaning, make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing in any potentially harmful chemicals.
2. Vacuum Thoroughly
Once you’ve gathered all your cleaning supplies, the first thing to do is to vacuum your sofa. This eliminates any dust, dirt, crumbs and other loose debris. It’s easy for these types of litter to accumulate under cushions, especially if people are eating on your sofa.
Remove all the cushions and seats and begin to vacuum your couch. Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to assist you. Once you’ve completed this step, you can give the sofa a quick wipe down with a slightly damp cloth.
3. Inspect Your Sofa
Inspect your leather sofa to determine its condition. If certain areas are looking weary or are covered in stains, these are the main parts that you should focus on.
4. Use Soap and Water
For any dirty areas or stains, you can use soap and warm water to gently clean them. Slowly place part of a cleaning cloth in warm soapy water and gently start to wipe over the dirt or stain in circular motions. You can use a special type of soap called saddle soap which is ideal for cleaning leather.
Alternatively, you can dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol for tougher stains. Just ensure you apply it directly to the problem area to prevent the alcohol from touching non-affected areas of leather.
5. Leave to Dry
It’s best to leave your leather sofas to dry once you’ve cleaned them. Ideally, you should leave them overnight to air dry. Then, wipe them down with a clean dry cloth the very next morning.
6. Wipe Away Grease Stains
If you have any grease stains, wipe them with a soft cloth. Avoid using water on them as this could make the grease soak deep into the leather, making it harder to remove. Instead, use a tiny amount of baking soda. Sprinkle the baking soda over the grease stain and leave it for a couple of hours. This will help to draw the oil out of the leather. Finally, wipe away the baking soda with a dry cloth.
7. Apply A Leather Cleaner
A leather cleaning cream will help to put the moisture back into your leather sofas. Simply apply the product with a clean, dry cloth and allow it to sink into the leather. You can also gently buff it in to help produce a shine. If you’ve never used this type of product on your sofa before, always do a patch test first.
If you have a coloured leather sofa, be aware that applying a special cleaning lotion may darken your piece of leather furniture. Remember, always follow the product instructions as this will give you optimal results.
How to Clean a Faux Leather Sofa
Faux leather tends to be much easier to clean than real leather. Most of the time, faux leather can be cleaned in the same way as general upholstery, using water-based cleaning products. If your sofa is made from vinyl, you may be able to use bleach products. However, always check the manufacturer instructions first as your sofa may require specialist care.
Here are a few steps you can take to clean your faux leather sofa.
1. Gather Your Products
- Soap or mild detergent
- Warm water
- Vacuum cleaner
- Small bucket
- Clean microfibre cloths
- Baby oil
- Sponge
- Faux leather cleaning solution
Check out our article on the best places to buy cleaning products.
2. Vacuum Your Sofas
Using a vacuum cleaner, hoover up any crumbs or dirt that may be hiding in nooks or crevices. Remember to remove any cushions beforehand. It’s easy for an accumulation of dust to become pressed into your sofa if you don’t clean it regularly. This makes it look dirty and unattractive. Regular vacuuming will ensure all surface debris is eliminated.
3. Wipe Down Your Sofa
Next, it’s important to wipe down your faux leather sofa to remove any surface grime or dirt. Use hand soap and warm water or mix some mild detergent with warm water. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and wring it out so it’s damp rather than dripping wet. Then, wipe over the whole of the couch. Finally, using a dry cloth, wipe it dry.
4. Use Special Faux Leather Conditioner
A faux leather conditioner will help to make your sofa gleam, leaving it looking almost as good as new. Conduct a small patch test first to check that no adverse reaction occurs. Once you’ve completed the patch test, use a sponge and dab the product all over the sofa. Buffing it in will help the material to shine.
Always check the instructions of your conditioning product as you may be required to leave it to dry for a specific time period. If you can’t get hold of any faux leather conditioner or you prefer to use a homemade solution, try pouring a tiny amount of baby oil onto a sponge. Lightly wipe the oil all over your sofa and wipe it down with a clean cloth.
5. Leave Your Sofa to Air Dry
Leave your sofa to air dry before sitting on it. Once it’s dry, you’ll see how clean and shiny it looks. For best results, follow this routine once a month to keep it looking immaculate.
Always remove spills, such as food or water, right away to prevent staining. The best way to do this is to blot a piece of paper towel over them to soak up any excess liquid. Similarly to real leather, you can use a small amount of rubbing alcohol on ink, and baking soda on any patches of grease. If you have a light-coloured faux leather sofa, newspaper or magazine print can be removed with soap and warm water.
How to Protect Your Leather Sofa
- Moisturise it with a leather cleaner regularly as this will ensure it maintains a good condition
- Wipe down your leather sofa with a dry cloth weekly
- Keep pets away from your leather sofas as they can easily scratch the leather surface
- Avoid placing leather sofas close to air conditioning or heating as this will dry out the leather fabric. Additionally, avoid placing near windows or glass as sunlight often has the same effect
- If your leather sofa gets torn or cut, contact a professional leather repairer instead of trying to tackle the issue yourself. Fixing leather is not easy and most likely requires the skills of an expert
- Be aware that some types of leather naturally have a more ‘lived in’ appearance than others
- Clean any spills or stains immediately rather than waiting for them to dry. It’s much easier to eradicate them instantly
Confidently Deep Clean Leather Sofas with Ease!
Now you know how to deep clean leather sofas, you can begin to remove any dirt or stains efficiently to make your furniture look as good as new. By using our step-by-step process, you’ll be able to ensure your sofas look inviting for years to come.
Professional Upholstery Cleaning to Restore Your Furniture!
Cleaning a leather sofa can be time-consuming and involve a lot of hard work. Wave goodbye to the hassle of cleaning your upholstery by using a professional cleaner instead. At Perfect Clean, we provide advanced office cleaning to make your leather sofas look as good as new. Our highly trained cleaners are experts in providing the very best cleaning, ensuring your furniture is free from dirt, grime and bacteria. Get in touch now for a free quote.
