7 Answers
Some tips for cleaning pigskin leather.
Dust regularly with a soft lint-free cloth.
Vacuum regularly with a soft brush as dust and crumbs, especially under Seat cushions, can cause premature wearing.
Wipe away spills and stains with a damp cloth (not wet!) and mild soap solution. Pay particular attention to heavy wear areas such as arm pads and head rests. If the upholstery should be over-wetted then mop up any surplus liquid then allow the leather to dry naturally, away from direct heat.
Never use household detergents, wax or spray polishes, saddle soaps, spirit-based cleaning fluids, abrasive pads or scourers on leather as this will remove the surface colour.
Leather furniture in a normal domestic environment should require little attention and any cleaning should be done only when necessary. It is not essential to the life of a leather that it should be cleaned regularly, but at the same time an accumulation of dirt and grease over a period of time is undesirable and obviously, the longer it is left, the more difficult it will be to remove.
Regular cleaning can be done simply by using a damp cloth, taking care not to soak the leather. The best procedure to follow is to wring out a soft cloth in soap suds (mild soap flakes diluted in warm water) and apply to the surface of the leather in a light circular motion until the dirty parts are clean. Repeat this procedure with clean water only. Once any residual dirt has been removed, which could otherwise have an abrasive affect on the leather, a proprietary hide cleaner/protector may be applied. If proprietary cleaners are preferred then these must be recommended by the manufacturer as suitable for the type of leather upholstery purchased, eg, some cleaners are only suitable for pigmented leather.
You need to use a good quality water based foam leather cleaner. (LTT Leather Shampoo) With light coloured leather dye transfer from clothing can be a problem although using a good quality leather protector (LTT Leather Protect) will help inhibit this. Black obviously does not show this problem.
DO NOT use anything containing oils, waxes or silicones. (Most ‘conditioners’ contain waxes or oils) and furniture polish (pledge) contains silicones which will eventually destroy the finish on the leather. Most car cleaners also contain oils or waxes so should not be used as they leave residues on the surface of the leather which attract more dirt which eventually leads to cracking.
BABY WIPES are the worst thing you can use as they will destroy the finish on your leather.
Saddle soap should never be usd on upholstery leather or garments it is meant for saddles which are very different from todays finished leathers.
A lot of leather wipes contain chemicals which will also destroy the finish or leave residues on the leather which will damage it. They are not cheap in the long run as you would need a lot to clean. A bottle of foam cleaner should do your car about 3-4 times.
Fairy liquid contains more salt these days to get dishes clean and this will break the finish down on your leather. This has been verified by the manufacturers (as with the baby wipes).
Magic Erasers should not be used unless you are going to renew the finish on you r leather. We have tested these recently and they sand away the top finish on the leather.
You should also follow cleaning with a good water based leather protector which will act like a ‘scotchgard’ and inhibit dirt and stains from being absorbed and make cleaning easier the next time.
Dry leather needs rehydrating with water and oils and waxes should not be used as the natural oils do not dry out of leather. Wiping over with a damp cloth regularly will help to do this.
It is important to maintain a regular cleaning regime cleaning dirt off the surface regularly and inhibiting the absorption of body oils into the leather with a protector is the best way of doing this. The only ‘moisturizer’ a leather needs is from water.
The alternative is a brand new product on the market called Lazy Leather. This is the latest technology in cleaning and combines an effective cleaner with a protector. It is quick and easy to use and should be used as a maintenance product once your suite has been cleaned or from new if you have just bought it.
Using incorrect care products is usually the cause of deterioration in the leather.
Source(s):
Leather care consultants to the furniture and cleaning industries
Professional knowledge
The best way to clean leather furniture is to buy the product from a furniture store, after you clean it you will also want to condition it to keep the moisture of the skin and continue that process every 6 – 12 months. MAKE SURE YOU TEST BOTH THE CLEANER AND CONDITION IN A UNVISIBALE PLACE ON THE BACK OF THE SOFA.
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RE:
How do you clean pigskin leather furniture?
You can buy a COPCLEAN spray which is very good for scouring the skin of PIGS
This was bugging me too
thanks everyone for all the answers.