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Tips on How to
Correctly Care for
& Maintain your
Leather,
Vinyl or
Fabric
Lounge or Car
Upholstery
NOTE:
This document is for the sole intention to provide you with information to educate you on how to care
and maintain your leather, vinyl or fabric surface. This information is general advice and each person
should seek professional advise before taking any action. The author specifically disclaims any liability
resulting from the content of this information.
The
The Electric
Electric Recliner
Recliner Mechanic
Mechanic
Rest easy and get your life back
www.electricreclinermechanic.com.au
Copyright © 2009
Page 1
Over the years we have learnt how furniture can deteriorate without regular maintenance. That
is proper maintenance; unfortunately consumers are not well informed on how they should be
caring for their lounge on a regular basis whether it’s leather, vinyl or fabric.
In this article I will be providing you with tips on how to clean & maintain these three most
commonly used materials on your lounge or car upholstery.
LEATHER
I first want to talk about the environmental factors that people don’t really take into consideration
when purchasing their leather lounge, how they can affect it. Which I totally understand, when
I purchased my first leather lounge, thinking about the
environmental factors was the last thing on my mind. If I had to think about them I probably
wouldn’t have purchased a leather lounge, thinking it was all too hard for something I just want
to sit on and enjoy.
I just want you to be aware of these factors and that there is something that you can do
relatively easy on a regular basis to prevent things like premature cracking, colour fades, dirt
and oils penetrating deep into the leather.
The five main factors that can affect the lifespan of your leather lounge or even your car interior
are:
•Climatic Environment: Climate plays an important part in determining how to care for
leather. If you live in a humid area, you will need a strong cleaner to remove excess
perspiration and body oils as well as conditioning it. In drier climates, you will need
to use moisturizers (conditioners) more often.
•Dust, Dirt and Pet Hair: Dust, dirt and pet hair will cut into the surface of the leather if it is
not regularly removed.
•Natural Body Oils: Natural body oils can stain and sometimes discolour leather if allowed
to settle into the surface (left for quite a while).
•Direct Sunlight: Direct sunlight will eventually fade and dry out leather, especially anilines.
•Direct Air vents: Direct air vents (both hot and cold) will accelerate the drying out of the
leather, causing cracking.
The
The Electric
Electric Recliner
Recliner Mechanic
Mechanic
Rest easy and get your life back
www.electricreclinermechanic.com.au
Copyright © 2009
Page 2
In today’s society it is unrealistic to even contemplate on suggesting avoiding these factors to
ensure you get a longer life span and healthier looking lounge because some of these factors
are just part of life.
That is why a regular clean & condition is essential to help minimize the effects of these
environmental factors and where necessary a protective finish will need to be applied.
I am going to provide you with a step by step guide on how to clean, condition and protect the
two different categories of leather (protected and unprotected).
Care & Maintenance Tips For Semi Aniline, Pigmented & Corrected Grain Top Coated
Leathers (Protected leather):
NOTE: Never use aggressive substances such as stain removers, cleaning solvents, turpentine,
shoe polish, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, detergents, ammonia water or any
other type of chemical solution on your leather as they are likely to damage the leather.
On a general note soil should not be allowed to accumulate and spills and stains should be
removed as soon as possible and the affected area should be cleaned at the same time.
Regular Maintenance
1. Remove any dust and lint with a vacuum cleaner using a soft brush attachment, pay
particular care to the crevices, seams and joins; this can be done weekly.
2. Clean the entire lounge with a water based leather cleaner only (in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions and first test in an inconspicuous spot). This should be done at
least every 6 months (more frequent if the area is heavily used and soiled).
Here is a general guide:
• Apply cleaner with a soft clean damp cloth (microfibre) or sponge and apply it to one
section at a time. Some cleaners need to work up foam to lift the dirt out of the
leather.
• Use a clean cloth or sponge in warm or cold (some time both) water to remove all
traces of suds. Blot with a clean dry cloth.
3. Condition the entire lounge with a water based leather conditioner only (in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions and first test in an inconspicuous spot). This should
be done every time you clean the lounge and if the lounge is in an area that is susceptible
to drying out.
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Here is a general guide:
• Apply conditioner with a soft damp cloth (microfibre) or sponge over the entire cleaned
area.
• You may need to wait a few minutes once you have applied the conditioner to give it a
chance to penetrate through the leather.
• Wipe any excess off with a dry clean cloth.
4. Contact your preferred leather professional to inspect, clean and apply leather conditioner. This should be done either 6 monthly or annually.
5. There already is a protective finish applied to the leather during the tanning process but
over time with normal wear and tear the protective finish does wear down. In this circumstance
you can use a leather protector but it will be a temporary solution only, you will need to re-apply
on a regular basis. This protective finish will minimize the ingress of soil.
Care & Maintenance Tips For Pure/full Aniline & Nubuck Leathers - Excluding Suede
(Unprotected Leather):
NOTE: Never use aggressive substances such as stain removers, cleaning solvents, turpentine,
shoe polish, furniture polish, oils, varnish, abrasive cleaners, detergents, ammonia water or any
other type of chemical solution on your leather as they are likely to damage the leather.
On a general note soil should not be allowed to accumulate and spills and stains should be
removed as soon as possible and the affected area should be cleaned at the same time.
Regular Maintenance
1. Remove any dust and lint with a vacuum cleaner using a soft brush attachment, pay
particular care to the crevices, seams and joins. This should be done weekly.
2. Clean the entire lounge with a water based leather cleaner only (in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions). This should be done at least every 6 months (more frequent
if the area is heavily used and soiled).
Here is a general guide:
• Apply cleaner with a soft clean damp cloth (microfibre) or sponge and apply it to one
section at a time. Some cleaners need to work up foam to lift the dirt out of the leather.
• Use a clean cloth or sponge in warm or cold (some time both) water to remove all traces
of suds. Blot with a clean dry cloth. Wait for it to completely dry before conditioning.
3. Condition the entire lounge with a water based leather conditioner only (in accordance with
the manufacturer’s instructions). This should be done every time you clean the lounge and
if the lounge is in an area that is susceptible to drying out.
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Electric Recliner
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Mechanic
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Copyright © 2009
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Here is a general guide:
• Apply conditioner with a soft damp cloth (microfibre) or sponge over the entire cleaned
area.
• You may need to wait a few minutes once you have applied the conditioner to give it a
chance to penetrate through the leather.
• Wipe any excess off with a dry clean cloth.
NOTE: Aniline and nubuck leathers may darken if treated with a leather conditioner. For this
reason the use of suede leather conditioners is not recommended.
4. For any spills, gently mop up using a soft absorbent cloth or paper towel, avoid pressing the
liquid into the leather. Always clean from the outside to the centre of a stain. This will
minimize spreading of the stain.
5. Aniline and nubuck leather generally do not have a protective finish-top coat applied. However some manufacturers do apply some type of water based soil resistant finish. Over time and once the surface has been cleaned it will need to be retreated to restore
the original soil resistance protection.
The leather protector is there to resist the absorption of stains and soils and make the cleaning
process easier. Keep in mind these protectors cannot prevent the leather from becoming soiled
so care should be taken to avoid soiling in the first place.
If at any time you get any type of damage on your leather surface you should seek professional
advise for the best option to repair it or maybe replacement might be required.
VINYL
Vinyl is one of the world’s most versatile materials being chosen because it is durable, easy to
clean and cost effective. Vinyl upholstery will last for many years if maintained properly.
Care And Maintenance Tips For Vinyl Upholstery:
NOTE: Avoid using solvents, concentrated abrasives & wax polishes and do not use ammonia
or bleach. Using any of these products can dull the sheen of the material as well as cause
premature fading.
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Electric Recliner
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Copyright © 2009
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Vinyl is relatively resistant to most stains and can be superficially cleaned with a damp cloth.
However, vinyl cleaning can be a little more time consuming if you’ve allowed several layers of
dirt to accumulate. Here is a general guide:
Regular Maintenance
1. Remove any dust and lint with a vacuum cleaner using a soft brush attachment, pay particular
care to the crevices, seams and joins. By doing this you eliminate the possibility of a breeding
ground for bacteria that may produce unpleasant odors. This should be done weekly.
2. Wipe the material with a clean, soft cloth dampened with a mild solution of liquid detergent
and warm water. Too much water can cause the vinyl to dry and crack over time, so
make sure to use a lint free cloth to dry the area after cleaning. This can be done as
frequent as you think it needs to be done – at least every 6 months to prevent layers
of dirt accumulation.
3. Surface spills should be dealt with immediately. In most situations wiping up coffee, juice
or any other liquid soon after the spill takes place will require nothing more than a damp
cloth. If you allow the liquid dry on the upholstery it will need more drastic cleaning efforts
to completely remove the residue.
4. You can apply a vinyl protector that will help prevent fading, cracking or drying and keep the
surface looking original.
If at some point you get a hole, tear or cracking occur on the surface of your lounge or car
interior you should seek professional advise on options how to go about repairing them.
FABRIC/CLOTH
When you choose the right fabric for the right place you will make your upholstery maintenance
task easier. Always make sure that you choose fabric that is appropriate for your lifestyle, for
example synthetic fibres are a better choice for upholstered
furniture that sits in areas of heavy usage.
Turn Loose Cushions
You can extend your upholstered furniture’s life by periodically turning over the loose
cushions. This easy maintenance method allows for an even distribution of wear & tear
and your cushions won’t develop indentations right away. Caring for your cushions by
fluffing them after you have cleaned them also helps keep their shape.
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Electric Recliner
Recliner Mechanic
Mechanic
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Copyright © 2009
Page 6
Avoid Direct Sunlight & Pollutants
Too much sun can damage your upholstery fabric by causing it to fade and even fray. Try to
position is so that it doesn’t sit in the sun for extended periods of time. This is especially true
for silks.
Airborne pollutants such as fumes from cooking or smoke can also harm your fabric. It isn’t
always easy to avoid that from happening, however proper ventilation can help. It can also
help with odor control, as upholstered furniture can easily absorb odors.
Care And Maintenance Tips For Fabric Upholstery:
NOTE: When you need to use a cleaning product on your lounge you should check under the
lounge to see if there is a tag stating how to clean.
Regular Maintenance
1. Remove any dust and lint with a vacuum cleaner using a soft brush attachment, pay particular
care to the crevices, seams and joins. This should be done weekly.
2. Where accidents happen, below is a guide to help towards fast and easy stain removal:
• Always test before you use any product for spot cleaning in an inconspicuous area of your
upholstery before applying to your stain, and wait for the result.
• Act fast: as a rule of thumb, the longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove so fast action
is definitely a step in the right direction.
• Wet stains - blot a white cloth on the area to absorb any excess moisture. Do not rub.
• Thick stains - leave the stain to dry and brush off the residue.
• For non-protein based fabrics (ie: acetate, herculon, nylon, olefin and polyester), rinse
the stain in pure water, blot with a white cloth, rinse, blot, rinse, until the stain disappears.
For more stubborn stains rub in a mild, water soluable detergent into the area in a circular
fashion, and then continue the rinse, blot, rinse cycle again until the stain lifts.
• For protein based fabrics (ie: cotton, linen, rayon, silk and wool) apply water free solvents
or dry cleaning products (to avoid water stains) to the area and gently rub, rinse and blot.
• Organic dye stains like juice, wine, mustard etc: spot clean with water-based cleaner.
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Copyright © 2009
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Fabric Protection
A lot of work is done for you when the upholstery fabric undergoes the finishing process at
the factory. It is usually treated with soil and/or water repellents and some form of mildew
inhibitors may also be used. Additional fabric protectors can be applied to your furniture in
the store or at home.
This helps with maintenance and care by keeping spills from being absorbed into the upholstery
fibers right away. Never regard fabric protection as an invisible shield. Always clean up any
spills or stains immediately and follow manufacturers’
instructions for proper care methods.
Call a Professional
It is best to have a professional clean your upholstered furniture every couple of years or so.
Experts recommend having this done on a regular basis and not wait for it to get visibly dirty. The dirtier a sofa or chair becomes, the harder it is to restore to its original glory.
Thank you for reading this information and I hope you found it informative and helpful, I welcome
any feedback or questions you may have.
Please visit our website at www.electricreclinermechanic.com.au
• You will find details regarding the services we provide.
• Information on our professional ‘early detection’ maintenance program.
• Contact us if you wish to arrange an inspection of your recliner or lift chair.
You can email The Electric Recliner Mechanic at info@electricreclinermechanic.com.au or
phone (02) 9625 3538
The
The Electric
Electric Recliner
Recliner Mechanic
Mechanic
Rest easy and get your life back
www.electricreclinermechanic.com.au
Copyright © 2009
Page 8