Leather Furniture Maintenance: Crack Prevention

While you may consider leather furniture a luxury purchase it can also be a wise investment that, if cared for properly, will give your home a classic look for many years to come. Leather is a durable choice for chairs and couches that get a lot of use, but to keep the leather supple and healthy looking, you'll have to maintain it regularly. Special cleaners and conditioners are available to protect your leather furniture against cracking and fading.

Cleaning the Leather Furniture
When choosing a cleaning solution for your leather furniture, be sure to buy one that is designed for leather and not for upholstery. Specialty cleaners made for use on leather will remove stains and keep it clean. Spills should be wiped up immediately to prevent damage to the leather. Note that suede should never be cleaned with a liquid cleaner.  

Fading Furniture
To keep the leather in good shape and free of fading and cracks, you should position the furniture so that it does not get a great deal of direct sunlight. Sun can damage the leather and fade the color in the spots that are directly exposed for long periods of time. For instance, if a patch of sun hits your leather couch in exactly the same place every day, you might end up with a faded spot that exactly reflects the sun's presence. Invest in some adjustable window blinds that allow you to direct the sun away from the couch, or rearrange your furniture to avoid direct sunlight.  

Heat and sunlight can dry out natural oils in the leather, causing it to crack. A steady conditioning regimen will replace the lost oils in the furniture and keep the leather supple and free of cracks not to mention healthy and new looking.

Schedule the Cleaning
Plan to clean and condition your leather furniture every 3 to 4 months. Establish a regular schedule and stick to it. Quickly clean up spills on the furniture and wipe away residue left from sticky fingers and pet slobber.

Leather furniture is a handsome, durable choice for your home. If you clean regularly with the right products, your leather will last for years free of cracks and stains.