How to care for an eco-leather sofa
The popularity of upholstery leatherette is due to its high wear resistance, sophistication of style. The material is breathable, odor-free. In order for the product to delight the owner as long as possible, it is worth understanding a few simple rules on how to take care of an eco-leather sofa. There are simple methods for cleaning such furniture items.
Features of the care of eco-leather furniture
If the surface is dirty, it is advisable to remove the traces of dirt as soon as possible using a slightly damp piece of cloth. Then wipe the surface dry. The main thing is that the seamy side should not get wet. If there is excess moisture, it can be easily removed with a cotton cloth.
How to get rid of cracks
Hardware stores sell special repair kits, including adhesives. With their help, you can effortlessly eliminate minor scratches, help to completely restore the upholstery. The kit usually includes liquid skin and special tools to facilitate application.
Thanks to a wide color palette, you can choose the desired shade. Before using adhesives, you must carefully study the instructions for use of this product.
Also, in the case of cracked areas, they are masked by an alcohol-based polymer liquid. Thanks to this composition, the liquid quickly penetrates the skin. Complete drying is achieved after ten to fifteen minutes. After complete drying, the places of deformation are not visible. Thus, it turns out to create the effect of masking cracks. To apply, you need a gauze and a spatula.
Another effective method is to partially replace the material. These are extreme measures when the scratch cannot be repaired by yourself. If there is a lot of damage, it is better to overtighten the sofa. Such work should be entrusted to a specialist. This will help to avoid losing the appearance of the furniture.
Important! Upholstery repair measures must be carried out strictly according to technology in order to get a high-quality result as a result.
How to remove fresh and stubborn stains
A pleasant pastime on an eco-leather sofa can sometimes turn into an unpleasant moment. When a cup of tea is accidentally toppled over or juice is spilled. Therefore, it is imperative to get rid of any stains right away. In this case, it is not necessary to resort to drastic measures, for example, lemon will help eliminate the problem:
- you need to apply to the area where a dirty trace is noticeable, half or a third of the fruit for fifteen to twenty minutes;
- then wipe this place with a damp cloth with smooth circular motions.
Also gives a good result for cleaning unstable stains with a soapy solution. In case of heavily ingrained dirt in eco-leather, cleaners for natural leather are used, which are sold in shopping centers or shoe stores. The alcohol-containing solution is effective in removing old traces of food, wine, coffee. Sprays, compositions for washing woolen products, synthetics and silk have proven themselves well. The only thing is that the solution should not exceed thirty-five degrees.
Safe tools and tools
When going to clean the sofa from the stains that have appeared, it is important to understand that this is done with mild means. First you should try them on a separate site. In this case, the surface must be cleaned carefully, with light pressure.
Household chemicals for cleaning eco-leather
Easy care of eco-leather furniture is a big plus of this material. For these purposes, special products are sold in stores. With their help, it is easy to clean up spilled tea or coffee. The products are manufactured in the following design:
- liquid formulations;
- aerosols;
- cleaning foams;
- wet wipes for cleansing natural leather;
- pastes and gels.
Giving preference to a certain product, you should carefully read the composition on the package. It should not contain chlorine-based substances and other aggressive chemicals. Most of these drugs are made with alcohol.
To clean the upholstery, you can use:
- cotton fabric;
- wet or dry napkin;
- melamine sponge.
It is not recommended to use brushes with metal fibers, scrapers, bleaches and solvents. Otherwise, there is a possibility of breaking the integrity of the leather upholstery.
Folk methods of surface cleaning
Dustiness on leatherette can be easily removed with a damp cloth. In addition, you can prepare a soap-soda solution:
- it is necessary to take in equal proportions one tablespoon of grated laundry soap and baking soda. Dissolve all this thoroughly in a liter of water;
- using a soft flannel soaked in the resulting solution and slightly wrung out, wipe off the dirt;
- the treated areas should be wiped again with a clean, damp cloth. Then wipe off with a dry towel.
After cleaning up the upholstery, you can apply a leather-care protectant to the sofa.
Lemon juice, vinegar, which are diluted in half with water, will help from stubborn dust. Hydrogen peroxide is also effective. You can freshen up the surface with shaving foam.
After applying one of the homemade formulations, be sure to remove the remnants of the product with a damp cloth and wipe it dry. The material can be treated with a silicone sponge. This will add shine.
Note! Do not mix different compositions and methods, otherwise the stain can penetrate deep into the upholstery texture.
How to clean a white eco-leather sofa
Light-colored upholstery looks beautiful but requires special care. You will have to clean white eco-leather more often, because the slightest dirt is visible immediately. For these purposes, use special compounds and a soft sponge.
Simple recommendations will help in the question of how to clean eco-leather on a white sofa:
- it is impossible to wet the upholstery, only the use of dry cleaning. If liquid is accidentally spilled onto the surface, blot with a cloth so as not to deform the skin;
- a solution of laundry soap will help get rid of contaminants;
- white eco-leather is easy to clean with warm milk. After that, be sure to wipe the surface dry;
- if the furniture is dusty, you can wipe it with a terry towel.
If the question arises of how to wash a sofa made of white eco-leather, cleaning with a soft rag dipped in lemon juice or soapy water will help solve the problem. You can also take ammonia together with water 1: 2, add half a teaspoon of glycerin. Stir the mixture thoroughly and apply on dirt. Allow to dry, then wipe with a damp sponge and dry cloth.
It is not permissible to use too hot water for the preparation of the compositions. Leatherette does not tolerate thermal effects. Drying a white eco-leather sofa should be done naturally. Using a hair dryer or heater can only harm the upholstery, which will lose its appearance.
Light-colored material is afraid of solvents and bleaches. Therefore, they will have to be abandoned immediately. In the case of tough stains, it is best to use a dry cleaning service.
Advantages and disadvantages of eco-leather products
This material has hypoallergenic properties, therefore it is suitable even for those who have similar problems. The structure of eco-leather is breathable. The main advantages of the products:
- availability of the price segment;
- similarity to natural leather;
- long service life;
- pleasant tactile sensations: softness, warmth;
- the material does not emit foreign odors and harmful substances.
Due to the unique structure of the leatherette, a different design and color of the canvas is possible. It is a worthy analogue of the natural variant, safe and easy to maintain.
There are fewer negative aspects of the material, they are more associated with improper care of the products. In addition, eco-leather can crack in places of folds, scratch from the use of abrasive cleaning agents.
How to avoid problems
To prevent rapid wear of eco-leather products, you must adhere to and follow simple rules:
- the location of the sofa should be away from the heaters, otherwise the upholstery may deform when heated;
- regularly remove dust with a slightly damp cloth;
- strong dirt is removed with soapy water;
- carry out cleaning by cleaning the surface with a vacuum cleaner;
- An ethyl solution will help get rid of greasy stains.
Oil marks on white skin can be removed with hydrogen peroxide diluted in half with water. It is advisable to treat the upholstery with protective sprays and gels designed for these purposes a couple of times a year.
If you want to buy furniture made of light-colored material, you should study in advance the features of how to care for an eco-leather sofa. Also stock up on preparations for cleansing. This will help fix the problem immediately if spots appear on the surface.
In addition, it is important to use the products recommended by the manufacturer of this furniture. It is imperative to study the symbols on the upholstery label. This will usually provide the necessary information for proper cleaning and drying.
Spectacular furniture made of eco-leather can emphasize the owner's taste.In addition to aesthetics, it makes the room cozy. At the same time, the material is not particularly demanding in content and is perfectly breathable. To prolong the life of the product while maintaining an attractive appearance, you must adhere to the recommendations for daily care. It is enough just to regularly wipe the upholstery with soapy water, followed by wiping dry.
To eliminate stains from food, drinks from leatherette, you can use products that are free of acids and chlorine. Using a mild solution of ethyl or isopropyl will help remove old stains. The use of shine creams, lemon juice and glycerin oil will add chic to the product. If the upholstery is heavily soiled, milk will help, it should be at room temperature.
Video: how to distinguish natural leather from eco-leather