Cleaning Your Leather Furniture
Leather Upholstery
All our leathers have already been permanently preserved in the tanning process and need
no maintenance other than the simple cleaning recommended.
Once a Week
Keep your furniture dust and dirt free. Dust with a clean dry soft cloth and occasionally
vacuum with a soft brush to prevent dirt and dust from being ground into the leather.
Monthly
Wipe with a warm and damp clean cloth to remove body oils and dust that builds up in
the crevices. Thoroughly dry with a towel.
Once or Twice a Year
If required, apply leather food (cream), carefully following the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Spills and Stains
Deal with spills and soiling as soon as possible. Permanent stains can result if food and
liquid is not wiped away immediately. For soiling use a mild solution of liquid Ivory soap
and clear lukewarm water. Apply the soap to a clean wet sponge and gently wash, then
rinse well with clean water and towel dry.
Do not force dry by using a hair dryer, etc. Always try the cleaning method in a hidden
areas first to convince yourself of the results. Wipe excess butter, oil or grease off he
leather with a clean, dry cloth, then leave it alone as the spot should dissipate into the
leather in a short period of time. Do not apply water to try to wash a butter, oil or grease
spot.
Do Not Use
Saddle soap, oils, furniture polish, abrasive cleaners, soaps, varnishes, or ammonia based
products as these products may contain solvents which will break down the protective
coat on the leather.
Cleaning Nubuck and Suede Leather
To clean nubuck and suede, blot (don’t rub) excess immediately with a clean white cloth
or sponge. Allow area to air dry naturally, then brush lightly with a suede brush to restore
the nap.
Body oils will stain the leather, but they gradually blend into its surface giving both
patina and character.
Because of the lack of surface coats, pure aniline leathers are less stain resistant and
should be handled with extra delicacy.
Polished Wood
Once a Week
Frequent dusting will remove abrasive dust build-up, which can damage a finish over
time. Vacuum clean or dust with a soft cloth.
Monthly
Use a cloth just barely dampened with solvent-based cleaning wax to wipe the surface to
pick up more dust, and immediately wipe with a dry cloth or soft paper towel. Occasional
polishing with a high-quality, non-silicone furniture polish will enhance the beauty of the
fine finish. Avoid using oily polishes or waxes.
Once or Twice per Year
Use a solution of one tablespoon of vinegar to a quart of water. Rub with the grain until
the surface is completely dry. Or saturate a cloth with cleaning wax and we the surface
thoroughly, one square foot at a time. Wipe area dry with a clean cloth.
Occasionally wax with paste (carnauba) wax. Rub on a very light coat with a soft cloth
with the grain of the wood (or put a lump of wax inside a few layers of folded
cheesecloth and rub onto wood thus preventing heavy smears); then buff at once with soft
cloth, turning often, until wax coating is hard. (Old cotton tee-shirts are good.) Be sure all
wax is completely buffed until hard to avoid smears and streaks. A small electric polisher
is a great “arm-saver” on all smooth surfaces; wipe surface gently with clean soft cloth
after applying wax to remove any loosened soil and then let set several minutes
(following wax label directions) before power buffing. An occasional re-buffing will
renew the soft gloss. Paste wax helps cover small cracks and checks in old finishes, and
can easily be removed with solvent with desired.
Spills and Stains
Soil build-up can be removed by rubbing with a soft cloth dampened in a 50/50 solution
of warm water and an ammonia-free detergent. Follow by wiping with a clean cloth
dampened in warm water. Wipe dry. Always rub in the direction of the wood grain.
Liquids should be wiped away from the surface immediately with a soft, slightly damp
cloth, in the direction of the wood grain.
Small marks and scratches may be touched up or covered with a mar, scratch remover or
touch-up stick.
Do Not Use
Do not use spray waxes and polishes on surfaces as they will leave a higher gloss and
some silicone which may make future refinishing more difficult.