Leather Furniture, Care and Upkeep

In many cases, fine leather furniture  can be looked upon as an investment. As with your home, car and other investments, you want to ensure that your good leather furnishings retain their value over time. To accomplish this, you need to employ some basic maintenance and cleaning routines. The right tools, a little of your time and your leather sofa or chair will remain beautiful and valuable for years to come.

There are lots of products on the market for cleaning and caring for your good leather furniture. While I’ve enjoyed some success with a few newer treatments, I still employ my trusted ally of yesteryear, mink oil, for softening and protecting valuable leather furnishings. Mink oil rubbed into leather softens the material, making it suppler and less vulnerable to rips or tears that can happen if the material dries out. The oil, moreover, provides waterproofing that will enable you to mop up spills on that soft butter colored leather sofa before they can permeate the surface.

Of course, as with all better furniture, you want to use common sense in locating your good leather pieces. Leather will be affected to some degree by sunlight. If you’re using it in a brightly lit room, situate the item where it can be out of the harshest rays of the sun. It also doesn’t do well in humidity. The use of a dehumidifier in areas where dampness is pervasive can add years of life to the luster of good leather furniture.

Simple cleaning, proper location and immediate attention to any damages incurred to leather furniture are all key components to ensuring it holds its value. Even if you’ve been neglecting these tasks, it is not too late. Start today by thoroughly cleaning and oiling your leather and then by ensuring you have it in a good location, and eliminating any excess moisture. Then, keep up the efforts. You’ll be doing more than housework. You’ll be protecting an investment.