10 Simple Steps to Clean Leather Chairs and Restore Their Shiny Look

Leather chairs are a beautiful addition to any home or office, but they can lose their shine and become dull over time.

So if you,

Then you are reading the right article. In this post, you will find all the information you need on how to clean a leather chair and how to maintain and preserve it.

Let’s begin with something very important…

What should you NOT use for cleaning leather?

Before you learn what products to use for cleaning a leather chair, you should first know what to avoid.

3 important tips to remember on how NOT to clean leather chairs

How to deep clean your leather chairs to look like new

The most important thing to remember when cleaning leather chairs is to always test out your cleaning solution on a small, hidden spot. That way you don’t damage the whole chair. With that said…

1. Identify the type of leather on your chair

Before starting the cleaning, you must learn what kind of leather your chairs are upholstered with. The manufacturer’s tag will provide you with all the information you will need, plus what products you should avoid.

Check your leather chairs from all angles for attached labels. If non can be found, check for any written materials which came with your leather chairs when you bought them. If you don’t have them, then try and find the instructions online. As a last resort, know that most leather furniture is made from top-coat-protected leather, so it’s safe to clean it with mild body soap and water.

2. Get the right cleaning materials

The safest ingredients for cleaning any kind of leather chairs are the following:

3. Dust and wipe down the chair’s surface

Before cleaning your furniture, you first need to start with dusting. A feather duster can work, but a vacuum cleaner will be much better at removing any pieces of dirt from the leather surface. Both real and faux leather look smooth, however, they are actually slightly porous. It is in these pores that dirt and dust get trapped and can cause scratches if not removed before cleaning.

4. Make the cleaning solution

You already know the ingredients, so this is what to clean a leather chair with. Get a bowl and make a solution consisting of a few drops of mild dish soap and water. If you have the chance, use distilled water and not tap water. The reason is that tap water may contain small amounts of chlorine or other contaminants, which can damage your leather chairs where as its distilled counterpart doesn’t.

5. Apply the solution

Dip a clean white rag in the cleaning solution and wring it out thoroughly. The rag must be white to avoid any potential colour transfer from it to your furniture. If you don’t notice any damage after having tested on a small inconspicuous spot on your chair, then apply the solution. Wipe the chair down with the rag using circular motions.

6. Wipe down the chair again with a clean, damp cloth

Get another clean white rag and dip it in clean distilled water. Then go over your leather chairs again, to remove any soap residue.

7. Treat stains

If you have stains, chances are they haven’t disappeared after going over the furniture with mild soap and water. You have to take different approaches depending on the type of stain.

8. Let the chair dry

It will take somewhere around eight to twelve hours for your leather chairs to dry completely after cleaning. Mind you, the drying time will depend on the cleaning method you used, the season and the humidity of your room.

9. Moisturise the leather

Any leather upholstery be it on a sofa or a chair needs to be moisturized regularly. Fortunately, you can make your very own DIY solution.

DIY leather moisturiser Ingredients:

And this is how to prepare and apply the moisturiser:

1. Mix the olive oil and white vinegar in a bowl until well combined.
2. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
3. Shake the bottle well to ensure that the mixture is thoroughly mixed.
4. Test the mixture on a small, inconspicuous area of your leather chair to make sure it doesn’t cause discolouration.
5. Once you’re confident that the mixture is safe for your leather chair, spray a small amount onto a soft cloth.
6. Rub the cloth onto your leather chair in a circular motion, focusing on any areas that may be dry or cracked.
7. Continue to rub the leather with the cloth until the moisturizer has been evenly distributed.
8. Let the leather sit for a few hours to allow the moisturizer to soak in.

10. Repeat if needed

You can repeat this process as often as necessary to keep your leather chair looking and feeling soft and supple. Homemade moisturizers with olive oil and other natural ingredients can help to restore old and damaged leather by replenishing lost moisture and helping to prevent cracking and drying out. They’re also a great way to maintain the beauty of your leather furniture without the use of harsh chemicals.

What causes leather discolouration?

Leather discolouration can be caused by a variety of factors, including exposure to sunlight, excessive water and moisture, chemicals and abrasive cleaners, body oil, ageing, and colour or dye transfer. UV rays and extreme heat can make the leather brittle and dull while water damage can cause mould or mildew to develop.

Furthermore, certain chemicals and cleaners can permanently stain the leather, while body oil and natural ageing can cause it to darken or yellow. Finally, colour or dye transfer is another common culprit, where the colours from clothing or fabric can transfer onto the leather and leave stains.

How do professionals clean and restore leather?

If you’re looking to keep your leather furniture soft and speckless, relying on highly qualified cleaning technicians is a great way to do it. That’s where Fantastic Services comes into play. Our leather upholstery cleaning services offer a safe and eco-friendly cleaning process that effectively removes stains of all sorts, while expanding the life of your leather furniture be it chairs or sofa.

The experienced and fully equipped technicians we work with will carefully inspect your leather furniture and assess its current condition to determine the most suitable cleaning approach. They’ll use, their industry-grade cleaning products effectively remove grime and make leather shinier and smoother, without risking damage to the fabric.

You can contact us any day of the week, including public holidays, and even make same-day bookings.

Tips to prolong the life of your leather chairs

Now that you know how to clean your leather chairs, it’s equally important to know how to maintain them.

1. Keep your leather chairs away from direct sunlight and nearby heat sources.
2. Clean them regularly to prevent dirt buildup and stains, pay special attention to the seams where dirt can remain trapped.
3. Clean any spills or stains the moment they happen before they set in.
4. Store leather chairs properly when not in use to prevent damage.
5. Apply a leather conditioner to keep the material moisturized.

Image source: FotoDuets / Shutterstock.com