You love your leather furniture, and you want to take good care of it, like you want to keep the rest of your home clean in Austin. Leather is obviously more expensive than most kinds of cloth used for crafting fine-quality furniture, and unsurprisingly, it requires more care. Using the wrong kinds of cleaners could be disastrous, but fortunately, using the right cleaning products is relatively easy! In our last article, we talked about the right way to clean your leather furniture every week and deep-clean it every few months. Now, It’s Cleaning Time offers these tips on how to deal with the occasional spills, stains, and marks that any piece of furniture is prone to:
- Always attend to any spills as soon as possible. Even something as simple as water may quickly cause discoloration, and if your leather is dyed, this risk increases. Blot any wet spots as soon as possible, but do not wipe or smear them, as spreading the liquid may spread any staining that might occur.
- If your leather furniture is afflicted by mold or mildew, make a solution of equal parts water and rubbing alcohol and use it to blot the affected areas with a soft cloth. Always test any cleaning solution or product on an inconspicuous portion of the leather before using it in a visible spot.
- Rubbing alcohol applied with a cotton swab can also remove ink stains on your leather. Alternatively, try eucalyptus oil for ballpoint pen ink or a light spritz of aerosol hairspray for ink from permanent markers.
- Wipe up grease with a clean, dry cloth. Do not use water, as it may cause the grease to soak into the leather more. If any grease does soak into the furniture, sprinkle baking soda over the area to draw the grease out. Let it sit for a few hours, then brush it away with a cloth.
- For dark stains on light-hued leather, make a paste of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar. Rub onto stains and leave for ten minutes. Rub a little more of the paste onto each spot, then wipe it all away with a damp (not wet!) sponge.
- Other home products that have proven effective at cleaning stains on leather include non-acetone nail polish remover, baby wipes, and white, non-gel toothpaste. You can also purchase special foaming leather cleaners and leather wipes (although the latter are liable to leave a residue on your furniture). We said it before, but we’ll say it again: Always test cleaning products on a hidden area of leather before using them in a more visible area!
If your leather is suffering from stubborn spots and stains that won’t come out with any of these methods, consult with a professional cleaner rather than trying more drastic measures on your own.
It’s Cleaning Time in Austin is proud to be your number-one source for home cleaning services in Austin, as much or as little as you need, as often as you need. Contact us today to see how we can make your home sparkle and shine!
