We have been cleaning sofas in and around Cambridge since 2007, and would highly recommend that home owners have their leather upholstery professionally cleaned every 12-18 months, as if you leave it too long before having it cleaned and treated it could cause permanent damage to your leather sofa or chairs.
To stop your sofa from being permanently damaged from everyday dirt you will need to clean it with a damp cloth every couple of weeks, however do not use cleaning wipes to clean it as this will damage the oils in the leather. As permanent dirt will work its way into the groves of the leather, which will in time break down the protective coating and could cause the leather to crack and have a grey stain which will be permanent.
Depending on the type of leather sofa you own depends on the treatment that will be needed, here are the main types:
Aniline leather
This is a leather skin usually of high quality that is coloured by placing it in a dye bath thus allowing the colour to penetrate into the leather. There is usually no or hardly any coating (other than protective coatings) on aniline leather
Pigmented leather
This type of leather can be better quality or sometimes lower grade leather. The leather is treated with a topical colour coating followed by clear protective coatings.
Semi-Aniline leather
This type of leather is a combination of pigmented and aniline leather. Some coating on the surface and some colour inside the leather.
Aniline and semi-aniline leather is much more absorbent than pigmented leather
Therefore pigmented leather tends to stay cleaner longer and can be easier to clean.
If you would like to talk to our team about having your upholstery cleaned then why not give us a call today on 01223 863632.
