How to clean & look after your sofa!

How to Clean a Leather Sofa

Follow these steps for general spills and messes:

1. Make a homemade cleaning solution by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water in a bowl.

2. Remove loose particles from the surface of the leather sofa, such as dust and dirt, with a vacuum cleaner.

3. Mix the solution a few more times in case the mixture separates. Then dip a soft cloth into the solution.

4. Wring out the cloth so that it is damp (not soaking), and begin wiping the dirty areas of the leather.

5. Once you have wiped down any problem spots, wipe any remaining damp areas with a dry cloth.

How to Condition a Leather Sofa

Cleaning is only half the process. Keep your lounge looking and feeling new with some deep conditioning.

1. In a bowl, mix equal parts vinegar and a natural oil – lemon oil or flaxseed oil tend to work the best.

2. Dip a soft cloth into the solution. Wring it out (so that it is damp and not soaking), and begin gently wiping down the surface of the sofa.

3. The next day, wipe down the sofa with a fresh, dry cloth

Tips for Preventing Stains

• When a stain occurs, attend to it immediately. This will increase your chances of getting it out.

• Clean regularly. In order to avoid the hassle that comes with cleaning stains, the best thing to do is to regularly clean. This is because most of the “stains” you see on leather are actually the setting-in of dirt over a long period of time. Taking a second to wipe down your leather sofa with a damp cloth to prevent any build-up.

• Condition after cleaning. Cleaning with a water-based cleaner can lead to the drying of natural oils found in the leather. This can eventually lead to cracking and even destroy the leather's soft sheen. What is the solution you might ask? Conditioning after cleaning. Whether it’s coconut or leman, a mild oil will help to replenish any lost softness.

• Limit the use of water. If you want to stick to a cleaning solution that’s organic and natural, you can easily make one at home by mixing equal parts of natural ingredients and water. Once you’ve created the solution, it can be easy to overdo by applying too much solution. Please remember that although natural and organic is great, it still shouldn’t be considered a “friend” to your sofa. Limit the amount of solution you use to treat stains or be at risk of water damage.

Tips

• Always be mindful that sharp or abrasive objects such as shoes, belt buckles, and zippers can damage furniture.

• Dye transfer from clothes is also possible and ink stains from pens must be attended to quickly to avoid becoming permanent.

• Avoid sitting on furniture with wet bathers or towels as this can leave a watermark on fabric, and can contribute to bleaching, dye transfer, and growth of mold.

• Do not attempt to use alcohol, chemicals or detergents as these may cause greater damage and discoloration.

What not to use on the leather!

Never use detergents, alcohol, chemicals, soaps, shoe polish, wax, window cleaner, silicone, saddle soap or any cleaning product not designed specifically for your type of leather. We also recommend not sitting on furniture when wearing wet bathers and towels, as chlorine can damage the leather.

Tips for cleaning a Fabric Sofa!

Get to the stains as soon as possible. As soon as a spill or stain occurs, attend to it immediately. If you wait too long to treat a stain, even if it is a matter of a few minutes, it can cause the stain to set making it extremely hard to get out.

Check the manufacturer’s recommendations. Before using any cleaning detergents or solutions, check the manufacturer’s instructions for care. This can usually be found on the sofa’s tags. Failing to use safe cleaning products could mean permanently damaged upholstery.

Use a dry brush to remove the looser particle. Go over the entire sofa with a stiff brush with natural bristles to help loosen stains and bring dirt and dust to the surface.

Vacuum. Before cleaning and scrubbing your sofa, use a small handheld vacuum to remove any loose particles. This will make it easier to identify and pinpoint the troublesome stains when it comes time to clean.

Clean with baking soda. Baking soda isn’t just for baking, it also doubles as an effective cleaning treatment. Did you know, sprinkling baking soda over the entire couch will help to remove odors and further loosen stains? You can also make a homemade solution for any areas of deep-set stain. Please see below.

How to: Homemade Solution 

In a bowl, mix together equal parts baking soda and water. For either the dry or wet solution, let the baking soda sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Once the baking soda has fully absorbed the stain, vacuum it up with a brush attachment. And as with all types of cleaning solutions, always spot treat a test portion of the sofa before cleaning it fully.

Fabric will fade over time

To ensure your Banana Home fabric keeps its luxurious look for longer, position it away from direct and indirect sunlight. The sun’s rays can not only cause fading but can also weaken fibers, which can lead to holes over time.

Avoid placing furniture near heaters

As we are quickly approaching the winter season, we need to assure we avoid placing furniture close to the heaters as much as we can. The quality of any fabric can be significantly impacted by a heater that produces sulfur compounds. When combined with humidity and oxygen, the furnishing fabric can absorb these fumes. This can contribute to odor, discoloration, and deterioration of the fibers.