Treating leather furniture can often be seen as a very tricky task, as any slip up can ruin the furniture. That being said, however, one should not fear the unknown when cleaning leather. This means that cleaning leather does not have to be thought of as so hard and stressful, as many people make it out to be.

The first thing that you need to do to clean your furniture well is to identify the kind of leather upholstery that you have. Different types of leathers require different cleaning methods so knowing the kind of leather that you have is extremely important before you start using any kind of cleaning products. Leather that has been protected with surface finishes and coating is the easiest and simplest to clean.

Clean any spills immediately to avoid staining the leather. Better still, protect your leather furniture with a leather protector to prevent spills from seeping into it and cause stains. It's much easier to prevent the stains rather than trying to clean it after the stains have occurred.

Aniline leather is a leather that has been dyed to colour, but has not received any coating or surface finish. Due to the dyeing process that is used, aniline leather is less stain resistant, but stays softer and more pliable than leather with other finishes. Water will darken the leather and in some cases damage the leather permanently. Special care and cleaning products are required to maintain this type of leather.

If you would like your leather to have an additional shine, you may use a polishing kit specifically made for furniture leather. When applying polish, ensure that any excess polish is wiped off. Using too much polish will leave unsightly streaks on the leather. In some cases it may deteriorate the leather if it is of poor quality. Good quality leathers will absorb the conditioners in the polish and keep it looking good.

Another popular type of leather is Aniline or Nubuck. Furniture made from this type of leather is sold due to its appearance, feel and comfort. These leathers are usually more expensive and correct maintenance is crucial to protect your investment. Aniline leather does not have the durable finish that pigmented or protected leather has. It could be described as porous as it does not have the lacquer finish and therefore has a high absorbency rate.

Leather is such a natural material which contains a huge range of qualities that make it absolutely perfect for sofas and chairs of different shapes and sizes. Additionally, the 'essence' of leather is so very unique, and is not matched by any other type of material, as it provides a beautiful richness and luxury to whatever it is used on.

If you do get a scratch in your leather furniture it can either be ignored completely and just seen as adding to the natural charm and beauty of the piece, or it can be treated with a leather stain or dye. Many people like leather precisely because it is not absolutely perfect. It's going to have swirls and grain in it.

You should make sure to wash any leather at least twice a year. The cleaning should be done by hand and with a very gentle cleaner made for leather. You use this product by making suds in a bowl and using the suds only. Make sure that the cloth you are using is just barely damp. After you wash the leather you will want to completely dry and buff the area with a separate cloth.