Is Nubuck New To You?
In today’s furniture market consumers have numerous upholstery options. Those shoppers who enjoy a velvety feel often opt for Nubuck Leather. Nubuck is a very soft leather that is durable, but susceptible to staining. Luckily, there are easy ways you can protect and clean your nubuck without losing the unique character or feel. It is often difficult to differentiate between suede and nubuck as they are both soft, buffed hides with a nap texture. The difference in these two is the layer which they come from; nubuck comes from the upper layer of the hide and suede from the bottom. Being from the upper layer, the nubuck is more rugged than suede because it is meant to protect the animal against the elements.
Caring for nubuck is important, but not difficult!
Here are 3 common issues and 3 quick fixes to keep your nubuck new!
- Flattening: Being that this type of leather has a “nap” texture, high traffic areas often become flat. This is very common and can be fixed with a nubuck cleaning cloth. Simply wrap the cloth around a dry sponge and wipe the cloth in various directions on the leather. This will bring back the buffed texture.
- Staining and Soiling: If you see small spots and/or shine, use a nubuck cleaner to draw out the stain with a soft sponge and once the area is dry, renew the nap with the nubuck cloth.
- High Shine: Shine usually occurs when there is an accumulation of hair and or body oils. (For example, the headrest of a recliner.) These spots will darken and the nap will become flattened, resulting in a sheen on the leather. To correct this, use a degreaser. Cover the areas that do not need to be treated, then spray the degreaser on the desired areas. The degreaser will form into a white powder drawing out the oil. Let the product work for 4-6 hours and for more stubborn areas allow the powder to sit overnight.
*Always pretest any furniture product on a hidden area before application.
We always recommend using a protector in order to prevent staining and soiling on nubuck. Our UNITERS Furniture Care Kit for nubuck contains a special protector and well as a cloth,cleaner and degreaser. All of your nubuck needs for your new furniture! Enjoy!