Leather Sofa Troubles and Maintenance: A Guide to Caring for Your Leather Sofa in the UK

Leather has always been a valued commodity, and humans have gravitated towards leather furniture throughout time. However, with leather furniture, you may encounter common issues, and this blog offers easy home fixes for them. Now keep your genuine leather sofa UK in the best possible presentable condition.

How to Overcome Leather Sofa Problems?

Here are a few easy prevention tips  and solutions for the most common leather sofa problems

Body Oil Affecting the Leather Sofa

The most common issue people face with leather sofas is body oil absorption, as body oil is one of the causes of discolouration and darkening of leather. It can also cause cracks in leather upholstery, especially in the most-used areas, such as headrests and armrests. The question is: how can you prevent it, or what is the solution for it?

Firstly, regular cleaning is best for leather sofa maintenance and the prevention of oil absorption. Leather has a delicate balance of fat and water, and when it dries out, it starts to absorb your body oil. You can regularly use a leather conditioner specifically for your leather sofa to help maintain its moisture and balance.

But once body oil is absorbed, it becomes difficult to remove it entirely from your sofa. You can get a temporary solution, such as applying a new dye to the discoloured area, but it is not a permanent fix. Sometimes the new dye doesn’t bond well because of residual oil; it’s like putting a Band-Aid on an oily arm. It may hold the texture temporarily, but eventually it will need reapplication.

Fading of Your Leather Sofa

On a leather sofa, colour fading is inevitable; it will fade, especially when exposed to UV light. You can expect fading when placed near heat sources, but buying a genuine, premium-quality leather sofa UK that ages beautifully and develops an attractive patina can enhance its luxurious feel. This is what Furniture Instore delivers.

How can you slow down this fading? This should be the real question. Try not to place your leather sofa under direct sunlight or near a heating source. The heat can fade the colour of your leather sofa, and it is the most common leather sofa problem UK homeowners face. If you have a room with occasional sun exposure, reposition your sofa regularly to help even out fading and keep it patch-free.

Not that you can repair the fading, especially with a pigmented leather sofa. Aniline leather is an exception, and it isn’t easy to restore without compromising its look, as it is dyed with a soluble dye. Complete colour restoration is not possible if fading has affected 30% of the piece.

Leather Cracking and How You Can Fix It

In an environment with fluctuating humidity levels, you can expect your leather sofa to crack, just like skin. Leather tends to react to its environment, and if the weather is parched, your leather sofa can crack, eventually leading to peeling.

To prevent this, keep your leather furniture away from heat sources to help prevent dryness. You can prevent this from happening by using a good leather conditioner as well. It will help maintain moisture levels, preventing dryness and peeling.

Fixing cracks in your leather sofa can be complicated. Synthetic compounds and re-dyeing can repair cracks in pigmented leather, while dye application alone is enough for Aniline leather. But if your sofa has extensive cracks, especially in areas with severe damage, the repairs will become impractical.

Common Leather Sofa Problems For Different Leather Types and Easy Home Fixes