Prevent Leather from Cracking
There are two key things you can do to prevent cracking of fully-finished leather.
1. Clean and protect leather 3 to 4 times a year. You get rid of the dirt and oil still sitting on the surface of your furniture when you clean it, preventing it from eventually soaking in. A good protection cream will fill in the gaps and spaces in the original top coat of your leather as it gets worn down. By filing those gaps with protection cream, you remove the possibility that they can be filled with dirt and oil later – sort of like putting out the fire before it starts. Cleaning and conditioning can possibly double the life of you leather furniture.
2. Avoid exposure to excessive amounts of dirt and body oil. The fact of the matter is that if you use your leather furniture at all, it is going to be exposed to some body oil and some dirt and dust that simply come with the territory. But, you can limit the damage of normal wear and tear. You should avoid sleeping on your leatherfurniture regularly or sitting down if you come in sweaty and dirty from outside. Also, if you are wearing sunscreen or have greasy popcorn hands, use the less expensive seats in the house. It’s a good idea to try to cover your leather in areas that see a lot of dirt and oil if you can. Try tossing a blanket over the headrest of a leather recliner you know you are going to rest your head on frequently or for extended periods of time.
Repair Cracked Leather:
Once leather has been cracked, there isn’t much you can do for it yourself, but a professional can either re-dye it or replace parts of the piece, depending on the extent of the damage, to eliminate the problem.
Additional Questions?
We’d be happy to answer any additional questions you have. Give us a call to schedule a spring cleaning of your leather furniture and or car seats to help prevent cracking.
