Leather Cleaning

Leather, like fabric, can be finished in many different ways, such as coatings or treatments applied at the tannery or furniture manufacturer. However in our industry, there are two basic categories of leather: Absorbent and Non-absorbent. Protected (or topcoated) leather is a non-absorbent leather; Aniline (or Natural), Suede and Nubuck fall into the absorbent category; although, Aniline can at times lie somewhere in between absorbent and non-absorbent.

	Protected/Topcoated: Leather that has been treated at the tannery with various processes to create a surface that tends to be more uniform in color and texture; can withstand frequent use and spills. Also referred to as Finished, Semi-aniline, Everyday, Pigmented and Painted. Easiest leather to clean, maintain and "keep looking new." We come across this type of leather 90% of the time.
	Suede/Nubuck: Leather that has had it's surface brushed to produce a nap or soft, velvet-like texture. Suede is produced from the "flesh" side of leather. Nubuck is usually an Aniline leather. Also referred to as Chaps, Distressed and Bomber. Due to their very absorbent nature, they soil and stain more readily. They will require the most care and maintenance. Tend to be very expensive.
	Aniline /Natural: Leather that has been dyed with transparent dyes, which will give the grain a more natural look and softness of hand. Also referred to as Pure, Naked and Unprotected. They rarely have a protective finish, and therefore can soil and stain more readily. They will require more care and maintenance. Tend to be expensive.

Request technicians always perform a preinspection on any leather we clean. Preinspection enables our technicians to determine any pre-existing conditions and detect any potential problems. An important note to remember about leather: unlike fabric, more than one hide is used to upholster leather furniture. This means that a single piece of furniture will most likely be upholstered using several hides. It is imperative for us to inspect and qualify each piece of furniture thoroughly. We complete a LeatherPlus^® Preinspection Check List for every piece of furniture to be cleaned.

We always check for pre-existing conditions, such as:

• Color loss
  We check in any concealed areas to determine if exposure to sunlight or environmental conditions (such as fume fading) may have caused a loss in color. Unstable tanning dyes, previous cleaning or spotting, as well as some hair products, may also cause color loss.
• Details
  We check zipper functionality, look for missing buttons, nails, arm covers, back cushions or throw pillows. We check for wear and tear such as rust, split seams, or loose threads. We also check the feet for cracks, scratches and poor alignment.
• Foam deterioration
  We check for foam dust (usually yellow in color) inside of cushions or on the platform. This can be caused by body heat, atmospheric conditions or age.
• Imperfections
  We check for blemishes, bruises or wounds from barbed wire, insects, parasites or branding. Also, these areas tend to not hold dye well. It is common for additional surface dyes to be applied by the manufacturer to hide these imperfections. Surface dyes such as these may be removed during cleaning, re exposing the blemish.
• Leather stability
  We check for signs of weakness from wear or naturally thin/weak hides.
• Shrinkage
  We check for poor fitting cushions. This can be due to the loss of natural oils.
• Special Finishes
  We check for finishes that are applied after tanning, such as antiquing and wax or oil pull-ups. These are typified by an overall uneven color appearance or "waxy" hand. Cleaning can remove or alter these finishes.
• Spots/stains/odors
  We check for ink marks, discoloration (such as transfer from blue jean material), water marks, residue from hair and body oil, food spills and pet or smoke odor.
• Wear
  We check for uneven appearance of nap or finish; check for scratches, cracks, cuts, nicks, holes, etc.