Your Leather Future is BRIGHT
We've all seen it somewhere and wanted one. Spotted on Instagram, Pinterest, blogs, TV, and of course that friend Sally Spotless has one ....The Perfect White Leather Sofa.
So, why can't you have the pretty sofa too? Many would walk right by it and say, “It would never stay survive my house”. When in actuality, leather holds up! Leather is great for furniture because of its durability. With a little maintenance, you can keep light colored leather bright for years to come! Now, if your house looks like the set of Cheaper By the Dozen, maybe white isn’t for you, but if you aren’t raising a spaghetti-o spilling brood of 12 then why not get what you actually want?
The biggest trick to light color leather is creating a layer of protection so you don’t experience things like dye transfer from day to say sitting. Using a leather barrier will prevent dye in highly pigmented clothing from transferring onto your light colored leather.
To Do This:
- Pour Leather Barrier onto a soft clean cloth
- Apply in circular motions
- Allow to dry completely
This protective layer will NOT change the look or feel of the leather, but it will prevent unwanted dyes from penetrating into the hide.
If you already have a light colored leather piece in your home and you have experienced dye transfer, use a color transfer remover. BEWARE of DIYs. If you are going to invest hundreds and thousands of dollars in your furniture, why would you try to clean it with something not meant for leather? Unfortunately, there are A LOT of DIY solutions on the internet that can actually do more damage than good. Using abrasives, bleaching elements or polishes can make a small problem worse!
If you have a small food or beverage stain, use a leather cleaner. Find those easy steps here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/3-tips-summer-loving-leather-jana-angel
Then apply the leather barrier, as mentioned above, to re-protect the newly cleaned area.
If you have previous color residue (from those awesome dark wash jeans you just bought) simply use a color transfer remover. The difference in this product over many DIYs is that it is a water based product with no stripping agents. This product pulls excess color out of the leather, as opposed to scrubbing off layers of the leather and potentially the whole finish.
To Do This:
- Pour remover onto a soft clean cloth and dab onto the dyed area
- If needed, allow the product to work for 2-3 hours. Dabbing intermittently.
**This pertains especially to older dye transfers **
- Once dye has been removed, clean the treated area with leather cleaner
- Wipe area with damp clean cloth and allow to dry completely before applying leather barrier.
All that's left to do now is invite Susie Spotless over and show off your new lux leather look!