Skip to content
logo The DIY portal for home and garden
Cleaning Furniture Living room All topics
Proper Care

When to Apply Lotion to Your Leather Sofa

Proper care with the right products gives leather sofas a new shine.
Proper care with the right products gives leather sofas a new shine. Photo: Getty Images
Share article

January 14, 2020, 7:03 am | Read time: 2 minutes

Whether it’s heating or sunlight, warmth can significantly affect a leather sofa. Older models, in particular, tend to show signs of wear over time. Proper care can help protect the upholstery from damage.

Leather remains supple when regularly treated with special lotions or creams. This is especially true for sofas near radiators. The German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW) advises maintaining smooth leather furniture once or twice a year—first cleaning, then moisturizing with care lotions or creams.

Properly Caring for Leather Sofas with Lotions

For leather, the right care depends on the type of material. For smooth leather surfaces, such as Nappa, leather foam cleaners are suitable. For suede furniture, regularly roughen the surface with a crepe brush or special rubber blocks.

More on the topic

What to Consider When Caring for Leather Sofas

Avoid using colored leather care products, as achieving a uniform color on large surfaces is difficult. Additionally, these products may sometimes stain.

Also interesting: How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home

Note: Always test products and lotions on an inconspicuous area. This allows you to see how quickly the product absorbs and provides a direct comparison.

When Leather Furniture Needs Extra Care

This also applies if the furniture is exposed to direct sunlight.

If the seating is made of suede that is already heavily used and worn, experts recommend roughening the fibers with a crepe brush. Focus especially on the seating area, which is typically the most stressed.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

You have successfully withdrawn your consent to the processing of personal data through tracking and advertising when using this website. You can now consent to data processing again or object to legitimate interests.