Keep your sofa looking brand-new and extend its lifespan with these easy tips on how to clean a faux leather couch.
A faux leather couch is a great addition to any home, bringing just as much style to a living room as a leather sofa would. Faux leather is incredibly popular for that precise reason, making it a popular material choice for many. However, what many owners of faux leather don't know is how important it is to take care of their faux leather sofa to keep it in pristine condition.
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Why do you have to take care of a faux leather couch?
Whilst faux leather is actually made from plastic rather than animal products, it is just as temperamental as real leather. According to The Leather Colour Doctor fake leather can crack, break, and develop stains if not treated correctly, shortening its lifespan and ruining the appearance of the product.
Can you care for faux leather furniture in the same way as real leather?
Since synthetic leather is designed to look and act like genuine leather, you may be wondering whether you can care for the two materials in the same way.
Well, to some extent, you do. Many of the principles behind cleaning and protecting an artificial leather sofa or colouring a leather will be the same as those behind the techniques used on real leather. For example, regular care, gentle cleaning with a clean cloth, protective treatment - all of these are things you have to do for both genuine leather and faux leather.
How to care for a faux leather couch
So what exactly do you have to do in order to keep your faux leather furniture looking and feeling brand new?
Clean faux leather furniture regularly
Just as with a genuine leather couch, you should be sure to clean the sofa on a regular basis. This doesn't need to be a huge deep clean. You will need:
- a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
- a soft cloth
- soapy water or cleaning solution
- a dry cloth
You should start by removing any crumbs or debris from the leather sofa using the soft brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner. If you have any smaller crevices, you can use a crevice attachment or even a cotton ball to sweep out any dirt.
Once done, use minimal clean water or a mild detergent solution to wipe down the surface of the faux leather sofa using a soft cloth. Ensure that you are using a damp cloth, not a wet one, as excess water may harm the material. Once covered, dry and wipe down with a fresh cloth or soft towel.
Avoid dyed clothes
Unlike genuine leather, some clothing dyes may rub off onto faux leather. This is particularly common with the blue denim dye used on jeans. Try to avoid any new jeans or other brightly dyed clothes on your couch, especially before washing them.
Avoid direct sunlight and heat
Just as with real leather, heat and direct sunlight can cause faux leather to crack and tear. It removes any moisture from the material and renders it inflexible. Avoid placing your faux leather couch in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
Only use a soft cloth like a microfiber cloth
When you're cleaning faux leather, you must make sure that you only use soft, non-abrasive cloths. A non-abrasive cloth (like a microfiber cloth or a lint-free cloth) is much less likely to cause damage to your imitation leather, whereas an abrasive cloth can cause tears and issues with the fabric.
Always wipe faux leather down after cleaning
Just like any other leather, faux leather never needs to be wet. Using too much liquid when cleaning and caring for your faux leather sofa could lead to more stains. If you can pour the product, the general rule of thumb is that you should avoid using it on your furniture.
Never use bleach on faux leather
You should avoid using bleach on real leather too, according to the Cleanup Team the chemical compound is so strong it's very likely to discolor and damage the material. If you feel like bleach is the only way to tackle a specific stain on your sofa, then it is always crucial that you do a patch test before committing, and know that it is ill advised.
Check your faux leather couch's cleaning labels
If you find yourself stuck on how to best clean your faux leather items, then it is always worth checking the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Most items of furniture should have these on their care labels, and these should allow you to determine the best practice for caring for your leather sofa.
These instructions should allow you to clean faux leather in confidence without concerns that you're going to leave a mark. However, it is always worth doing a patch test before you begin. It's better to be safe than sorry, especially when cleaning something as important as your couch!
What products work on faux leather?
There are plenty of products out there that are designed specifically for leather. Some of these you can also use on faux leather, but it is important to check. Alternatively, there are products designed for fake leather that will work better. You might also choose more natural products and cleaning solutions, such as:
Cleaning faux leather:
- Rubbing alcohol
- White vinegar (part vinegar can be used for tough stains)
- Soapy water or a mild soap solution
Conditioning faux leather:
- Faux leather conditioner
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
You should use clean water on your sofa most of the time, saving rubbing alcohol and vinegar for when you have difficult or stubborn stains that need tackling. Hoovering and cleaning your couch with water should be done on a weekly basis, maybe every two weeks if weekly is not doable.
Conditioning your faux leather is not as important, although it should still be done. Use coconut oil or a small amount of olive oil to keep your faux leather pliable and soft—this can be done every few months rather than every week or so. This is a great way to maintain the best condition of your faux leather sofa.
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