Leather Office Furniture — Proper Care Tips
Posted on: 20 January 2015
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If you want the front reception area of your office to stand out, then it is wise to place comfortable and luxurious leather furniture in the space. If you run your business on a tight budget, then you want the furniture items to last as long as possible. Leather furniture requires special care and cleaning, so follow the tips below to make sure you are not spending extra money on replacement furniture items every year.
Clean Properly
If a client or customer spills coffee or food on your furniture, then you may be in a rush to clean the leather before it becomes damaged. You do need to clean quickly, but you also need to use the proper cleaning methods and products or you may ruin the leather.
The first thing you want to do is blot the area with a rag dampened with distilled water. Distilled water is better than tap water, because city water contains a number of contaminants. Chlorine, mercury, copper, barium, and bacterial microorganism are a few examples. The water also contains minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sodium. All of these substances can seep into the leather and cause damage.
Using Soap
If distilled water is not enough to remove the spill or stain, then you need to use soap to clean your furniture. Leather is considered an acidic material with a pH value between 4.5 and 5. Most cleaning products and soaps are basic though, and they can cause a chemical reaction when the cleaner is applied to the furniture item. This reaction can cause the leather to dry out and crack over time. You can prevent this from happening by finding a soap that has a neutral pH.
Look for a leather cleaner or mild soap that has a small amount of citric acid added to it. The acid helps to neutralize the basic materials in the soap. Once you find the right soap, use a small amount of the cleaner to blot at the stain. Use distilled water afterwards to clear the soap and debris away. After the cleaning is complete, add a small amount of linseed oil to a clean cloth and massage it into the cleaned area. This will help to replenish the natural oils that were lost.
Do Not Place Furniture in Direct Sunlight
If your reception area is lined with glass doors or several windows, then make sure your leather furniture is moved away from the sun rays that cascade through the glass. The sun creates a great deal of heat, and this forces the natural moisture to evaporate from your furniture. This can dry out the leather and cause it to crack. Also, ultraviolet rays that are created by the sun break down the pigment bonds that color your furniture. When this happens, the furniture item will appear faded.
Secure Window Films
It is best to make sure that sunlight does not hit your leather furniture item. If this is not possible due to the size of your reception area, then consider adding films to glass doors and windows to keep ultraviolet rays from damaging your furniture. Insulating films are a good option for your office, because they block 99% of ultraviolet rays. They can also help to reduce your office costs by keeping heat from escaping through your windows. Just make sure not to buy tinted films, because they will block the visible light that enters your office. This will not help to maintain your leather furniture and it will make the space appear dark and drab.
Leather furniture, like from D and R Office Works, Inc., in the sitting area of your office can help to make your business appear more professional. You need to supply proper care though to reduce your maintenance costs. This means making sure to clean the furniture properly and securing it out of direct sunlight.