LEATHER PRODUCT MAINTENANCE
Upon purchase
Most leathers for furniture are processed from cattle, which are firmer hides with decent thickness. Look at the quality of leather by the different finishes available. Often, capped leathers are lighter than open or semi-capped leathers. In contrast, uncovered open leathers often have a more pleasantly soft and warmer hand feel. It all depends on your preference. But don't be under any illusions, every material will discolour/change under the influence of light.
NOURISH AND IMPREGNATE BEFORE USE:
With the exception of pigmented smooth leather, we recommend that new furniture be from day 1 maintain with the recommended nutrition lotion and impregnating agent, when you are allowed to impregnate your leather according to the leather manufacturer's instructions. With nutrition, the moisture and fat levels of the leather remain at the right level, keeping the leather alive. With impregnation, the coating keeps the leather more beautiful. Both products make cleaning easier and prevent liquids from being sucked directly into the leather, giving you more time to remove any spills. Note: Do be aware that most manufacturers no longer provide a guarantee on a defect in the quality of the leather after treating it with an impregnating agent. An impregnating agent actually makes leathers on which this can be done firmer and allowing them to remain more beautiful with the extra coating, however, most manufacturers rule out any risk that an impregnating agent could affect the leather. Check the leather and seating seams for defects after your seating is out of its plastic packaging before impregnating it. Try an inconspicuous piece first.
_ If you have bought a leather product that comes with the care products with any impregnating agent and/or the care advice, always follow this advice.
_ In the case of a well-known brand product, consult the manufacturer's website for the latest advice on care products for your leather product to be purchased.
_ In other cases, we recommend the following impregnation maintenance products. Follow the instructions as described for the maintenance product purchased.
__We ourselves provide Oranje Furniture Care's unique All In House service which offers a whopping five-year guarantee against stains and structural damage. The All In House guarantee service is only offered in combination with the purchase of new seating and the complete All In House Care Kit. It contains for the respective leather an impregnating agent, cleaner, and products to apply and remove the care products. View the All In House Service.
The following other recommended products can be found on the market:
__The products of James for leather. The Fibre protector Eco is an impregnating agent, which protects all textiles, microfibres and (artificial) leather and makes them water- and dirt-repellent. Contains no harmful substances for humans, animals or the environment. It is often said: the more natural the material, the more natural the care product. Furthermore, James offers mild cleaners and products for stubborn stains.
__Keralux® Care sets for different types of leather from LCK. These include, if possible for the leather in question, an impregnation agent, without harmful substances for humans, animals or the environment, a cleaner, and products to apply and remove the care agents.
__Leater Care Kit (XL) from Orange Furniture Care for the leather in question. This kit has the same contents as in the iProtect care kit, is available separately in the trade, however this does not offer the 5-year guarantee. An excellent maintenance kit if you did not buy an All In House service when you bought your furniture. Contains an impregnating agent, cleaner, and products to apply and remove the care products.
Prevent damage
Sharp objects on clothing such as zips, buttons and buckles can cause irreparable damage. Pets can also damage leather.
Beware of materials that give off colour
For example, do not sit on the furniture with clothes that can give off dye (such as jeans!). Some dyes are so aggressive that they can even migrate into the leather. When that has happened, the damage is permanent.
WEEKLY CLEANING:
- Weekly dusting and dirt removal to remove house dust, crumbs and other daily dirt, preserving the appearance of leather and extending its lifespan. Dust and dirt can cause wear, compromise fire resistance, and make any stain 10x harder to treat.
- Depending on the leather With:
_ A clean lint-free cloth. If the furniture has loose cushions, pat outside.
_ The vacuum with a clean and soft special furniture attachment at up to 500 watts.
_ A dry cotton terry cleaning glove to go over the entire surface once more. If the leather may be wet cleaned, moisten the glove with a few drops of distilled (lime-free) water/special cleaning water. And if advised, some mild cleaner from your care kit. Do not use household cleaners with bleach or solvents, these can damage the textile.
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE:
At least twice a year it is time for a thorough cleaning, then applying the recommended maintenance lotion, which maintains the moisture and fat levels of the leather and protects it, and then the impregnating agent (if possible) to protect leather from dirt and external influences again. This is a guideline. With more or less use, perhaps 4x or 1x per year will suffice. Always pay attention to the contact areas that are used the most and need more attention. Follow the instructions of the cleaning and protection products in your maintenance kit.
SMOKE:
If a spill occurs, always clean up immediately!
Always check whether your leather can be wet cleaned.
- Liquids
Remove liquid as quickly as possible, trying to dab as little as possible on the stain. Take uncoloured kitchen paper, for example, or a dry clean absorbent cloth, and use it to soak up the liquid. This is easiest if you keep the tip in the liquid. Did you spill a lot? Then put the kitchen roll or well absorbent clean cloth whole in the liquid. Continue with a new dry absorbent piece each time until all the liquid is gone. - Solids
Remove stains with solid substances as much as possible with a clean spoon. Make sure to spoon up the substance in one go. Does this not work? Then clean the spoon again with a piece of dry kitchen paper, before removing the rest of the solid contamination bit by bit. - Do not scrub, rub, apply pressure, scratch
Try to resist the temptation to scrub, rub or apply pressure in any way on stains. You are likely to keep seeing this permanently. You cannot be too careful! Do not use household, garden and kitchen detergents, which often contain solvents. Under no circumstances scratch dried-in stains out with your fingernails, as you risk damaging the leather. - Your cleaning product
_ If you want to use a cleaning agent, follow the instructions for use of the purchased care product, and never work directly on the spot where the stain is. First test on a not so visible area of the leather whether the colour remains good. For this, use a white, soft, clean cloth.
_ When you have impregnated your furniture, which is the best preventive measure, soiling or a stain can still occur. With the professional cleaner from the All In House Service Set, Together with the special products for applying and removing care products, your leather will be clean and fresh again. Per our advice, you can also opt for the professional Keralux® cleaners or sets of LCK, or the separately available commercially available leather cleaners and kits for leather from Oranje Furniture Care. After cleaning with these agents, you should protect the textile again with the impregnating agent from the individual manufacturers. Read the recommended cleaners for each type of textile at the bottom of this page. - Complete leather plastering from seam to seam, outside to inside
Always clean an entire area (like a whole seat/backrest) and not just the stain. Cleaning ‘locally’ can make the stain more noticeable. Always treat a stain by dabbing from the outside in, using as little pressure as possible. Let the foam from your chosen cleaner do the work, allowing it to penetrate briefly (do not let it dry out completely). Then, remove the foam with a lightly damp cloth or the recommended product. - Rinse with distilled water
After you have cleaned a stain, we recommend cleaning the entire property after with a slightly damp cloth. Do not use tap water. Cleaning with tap water can leave annoying chalk edges, which are very stubborn and sometimes even impossible to remove. To avoid this, it is therefore best to get 1-2 litres of distilled/demineralised water. Available at almost every chemist's or supermarket. - Drying
Before you can use the cleaned piece of furniture again, it must be completely dry.
Keep all care products out of reach of children.
Recommendations are carefully compiled in consultation with suppliers, but no guarantee that every problem can be solved.
Some problems you cannot or do not want to handle yourself. The All In House service department is ready to help you if you purchased this service product when you bought your furniture. If you did not purchase this service product, the service department of Oranje Furniture Care or LCK Nederland can take a lot of work off your hands.
Or if you can make do with somewhat ‘livelier’ leather.