Basic Leather Cleaning
Introduction
Approximately 80% of all leather furniture and almost all automobiles will be protected leather. Protected leather has a pigment coat applied over the surface and is sealed by a finish of polyurethane resins. In fact, as long as the finish is intact, you are cleaning the finish and not the leather itself.
Procedure
- Identify the leather as protected. A fingernail will not scratch to a lighter color. Water does not absorb into the leather, thereby not darkening the leather. Color is consistent from panel to panel.
- Pretest by cleaning a side of the cushion which does not show. Once you are assured it is a protected leather, then proceed.
- Apply a strong cleaner to a sponge and squeeze repeatedly to create foam. Apply to leather panel and work sponge in a circular motion. Wipe up foam with a terry cloth towel. Repeat as necessary. Position a blower to dry leather that has been cleaned.
- Once the leather is uniformly clean and dry to the touch, apply a protection cream with a soft cloth. Spread evenly across the leather and let dry naturally.
Helpful Hint –
- Make sure that where leather touches leather, it is dry so when the protection cream is applied, the leather will not stick together.
Caution-
- If leather darkens in any area, then the finish may be damaged, and aggressive agitation may remove pigment.
PRODUCTS NEEDED
- Leather Kit
- Protection Cream
- Strong Cleaner
- Sponges
- Soft cloth
- Terry cloth towel
- Blower