7 Simple Tips For Refreshing Your Real Leather Couch
How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It can be difficult to determine if are purchasing genuine leather couches because of misleading product descriptions and price tags. It is important to get close and personal - smell, feel and then turn over a couch to look at the back.
For instance, one 'leather' couch CHOICE was tested with contact areas (such as seats and arm rests) with genuine leather upholstery but the non-contact areas were made up of coated polyester and cotton.
1. Smell
A real leather couch should smell natural, fresh and luxurious. Faux leather however is often chemically processed and synthetic. If your couch is smelling bad smell, it may be due to stains or pet urine. In most cases, a thorough clean will eliminate any smell. If you're not satisfied with the results, you can try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather which makes it softer, less fragile, and more resistant to odors.
Baking soda is a fantastic natural odor eliminator that can be used to remove unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then use a cloth (preferably microfibre) to wipe the leather couch. If the cloth begins to absorb dirt, you can wring it out or switch to an alternative. Alternatively, you can put the solution into a spray bottle and spritz it onto your couch. Let the mixture dry before wiping it again.
The process of airing out your leather is another method to remove smells. Set the couch in a sunny space to let it air out. This will help eliminate unwanted odors and give it an aroma that is fresh and natural.
If you'd like to keep away from unpleasant odors, you can purchase a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will keep your leather fresher for longer, stopping it from absorption of odors.
The smell of leather can be appealing, but it can be difficult to maintain. Over time, leather may absorb odors such as smoke, cooking and even body odor. These odors are difficult to eliminate, particularly in homes with pets or children. Fortunately, leather couches aren't able to trap these odors like fabric upholstery can, making them an ideal option for families with active families.
It's important to take action immediately if your couch smells like it was soaked in puppy poop. Try some of the tips above, or use a specific product such as Leather Honey to treat the issue. The best option is to prevent the problem therefore, make sure to train your dog to not pee on your couch.
2. Feel
When you're looking for a brand new leather sofa there are some things to be looking for. But the best way to tell whether it's genuine is to smell it and feel it. Real leather has a distinct natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. The smell can fade as time passes but it should remain evident when the couch is fresh.
A genuine leather sofa should be warm and comfortable to the touch. Bonded and faux leathers on the other hand, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test, gently press your fingers to the surface of a couch and check for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it is likely bonded or faux-leather.
If 3 seater leather sofa see vertical seams that are stitched on the back of the sofa, it's another sign of a fake. This indicates that the leather isn't one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are characterized by this.
The quality of a leather sofa's frame can have a significant effect on its longevity however, it's not always obvious. Ask what type of wood was used to construct the frame. This will help you select the right sofa that has an extended lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but also the most expensive. Particle board or engineered frames will be less sturdy. To increase durability, hardwood frames should be kiln dried to prevent warping or mildew.
If you're on a budget, you can still find an authentic leather sofa you are awestruck with. For instance the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a stylish and versatile option that is often available for sale and can be easily personalized to fit your home.
Another budget-friendly option is La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa It is classic in design and is available in hundreds of fade-resistant fabric. The sofa is modular and quite difficult to set up at home and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Genuine leather couches are different from other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and stand up to wear and tear better than fabrics. They last for a long time. They are also less likely to attract allergens, dust or spills. Leather couches aren't any different. Like every other purchase, it's essential to be aware of the risks before making a final decision.
If you're unsure if your new sofa is genuine leather the first thing you should do is examine the materials tag on the frame to determine what kind of fabric or leather it's made from. However, you should also use your own senses to help make the right choice if you don't find any information about the material composition of the sofa.
The surface of the sofa must be carefully examined with a keen eye on the texture, shading and patterns. Real leather couches are likely to have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be consistent. If the surface is uniform and smooth or if a mesh backing is visible instead of the coarse leather, it's a dead giveaway of fake or synthetic leather.
Another good test is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If it has stitched vertical seams on the back of the cushion, this is an indication that it's not genuine leather. The reason is because animal hides are limited in their size, and they are only cut to a certain big. To ensure the best quality of their products top-rated manufacturers will sew and stitch across the entire back of the couch to ensure it's genuine leather and not fake or bonded leather.
If you are able raise one corner and look at the padding on the back. If the back of padding is covered in a woven material or polyurethane then this is an indication that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should have a rough and coarse coating that feels sturdy when you contact it.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a classic, and for good reason. The natural, warm feel and look of the leather can add a touch of class to any living space. A modern tanning procedure gives it added durability, so it is resistant to cracking or sliding. Each hide is distinctive with its own unique marks, grain and blemishes.
While labels and prices are great pointers but the best way to know whether you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and personal with it. To get a better idea of authenticity, examine the surface texture, pattern, and structure. If the structure is completely uniform and there aren't obvious flaws, it's probably fake or bonded leather.
Another dead giveaway is a backing made of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a common characteristic of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will have a more natural appearance and is backed by materials that closely match the fabric used to create the furniture.
Also, look at the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This is a sign the leather has been made with attention to last. On the other the other hand, if you notice no seams and the back of the sofa appears like a piece of cloth, it's most likely to be a low-quality faux or bonded leather couch.
Once you've established that a sofa is made of genuine leather, it's time to match it with your other living room furniture. For a sleek, unified look, match your couch with other furniture made of wood, and accent it with pillows that match the colors of your space. You can also opt for an energizing, relaxing arrangement by putting the couch between two pieces of furniture with a coffeetable in between.
Be sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area to ensure it doesn't deteriorate or show scratches due to direct sunlight. And if you want to safeguard your investment by prolonging its lifespan, consider applying a leather protection product every two or three times a year.