Leather Care

Follow the simple suggested maintenance schedule in this Leather Care and Protection Guide and your new purchase should remain just as beautiful as it is today
Determine Your Leather Type
General Care Tips  

Cleaning Different Types of Leather
"A"Aniline
"P" Protected or "SA"
"N" Nubuck

Why Do I Have to Clean My Leather?
How Often Do I Clean My Leather?
Benefits of Buying Leather

Determine your leather type by following the procedures for identification in this booklet or locate the deck label under the seat cushions of your leather upholstered furniture.

WAYS TO IDENTIFY "A" ANILINE:
For care and maintenance purposes we need to know if the surface has been brushed (has a texture like velvet) or not. This is the point at which people have difficulty distinguishing Nubuck from Aniline. There are several ways you can identify Aniline leather.
1. Lightly scratch the surface to see if it leaves a lighter color scratch mark. If it scratches to a lighter color, it is Aniline. This is not the only test because some Nubucks will also do this.
2. Wet your finger and lightly rub it into the leather to see if it darkens. It should darken lightly, but dry invisibly.
3. Apply the Protection Cream to a hidden area and dry it. If it dries invisibly, it is an Aniline leather.

WAYS TO IDENTIFY "P" PROTECTED or "SA":
1. Lightly scratch the surface to see if it leaves a lighter color scratch mark. If it does not scratch to a lighter color (this means the color remains the same), then this is a Protected leather.
2. Use Soft Cleaner and clean the leather. The cleaner should stay on top of the finish and should not darken the leather.
3. The surface should have some sort of sheen to it. It is like looking at wood that has a lacquer finish compared to a wipe-on oil treatment.

WAYS TO IDENTIFY "N" NUBUCK:
1. The surface should have a texture similar to velvet. You move your hand across the surface and, if it leaves shading traces similar to the effect when you vacuum a carpet in one direction and then in another, it is Nubuck.
2. Wet your finger and rub lightly on the surface. The surface will darken and also will dry to a slightly darker shade.
3. For waxed surfaces, rub an area of the leather with a sponge several times. This will remove the wax and let you see if the leather meets test 1 or 2 above.

ANILINE: CLEANING CODE "A" Also called natural, pure, naked or unprotected These leathers are colored with transparent dyes. This means that you are able to see the actual surface grain and markings. These leathers have very little or no protective treatments applied to them. The most common thing to do is to spray a wax finish on the surface that provides short term water repellency.

• Due to the many varying types of ANILINE Leathers we recommend following the care procedures supplied by the manufacture to clean and care for these types.

PROTECTED: CLEANING CODE "P" or ( "SA" Semi-Aniline)
Also called finished, full finished, semi-Aniline, pigmented or painted. These leathers have combined the best aspects of a natural product (leather) and have utilized tannery technology to create a product that is more uniform in appearance and color due to pigments that are applied to the surface. Protected leathers are the most common leathers, and for most consumers the most practical. Unlike aniline leathers, you can cover and color the damaged area with pigments. The pigments actually create a film on top of the leather covering up the actual surface.

• To prevent fading, avoid placing semi-aniline leather in direct sunlight.
• To avoid excessive drying, maintain at least two feet between leather furniture and heating sources.
• Dust weekly with the soft brush attachment of your vacuum or wipe with a cloth dampened with Leather Master Soft Cleaner.
• Fully clean with Soft Cleaner and reapply Protection Cream at least every six months.
• To help prevent staining, apply Leather Master Protection Cream to increase surface resistance to soiling, body oils and perspiration.
• Never use harsh chemicals, cleaning agents and avoid all products containing solvents or oils.

Cleaning spills
Gently blot the spill area with a soft clean damp cloth. Allow to air dry. For sticky spills, blot with a sponge containing Soft Cleaner. Blot in light circular movements. Do not rub. Allow to air dry. Slight discoloration should fade with time and use.

Cleaning oil, butter or grease spills
Immediately remove excess oil, butter or grease with a clean, dry cloth. Do not apply water or soap. Blot with a sponge containing Soft Cleaner. The spot should fade with time and use.

Consumer alert
These are recommended methods of cleaning, but the manufacture is not responsible for damage incurred with cleaning.

NUBUCK: CLEANING CODE "N '
Also called chaps, distressed, bomber or suede These are actually Aniline leathers on which the surface has been brushed, and have a texture similar to velvet on leather. Many people confuse these with Suede leather. Suede is the flesh side of a piece of Leather, and Nubuck is an effect that is done to the grain side, making it incredibly soft. The brushing also makes the leather even more absorbent than Aniline leathers. This makes these two leathers sometimes difficult to distinguish from each other.The most difficult to identify are the ones which are in the distressed leathers category or which have waxed finishes applied to them.

• To prevent fading, avoid placing Nubuck leather in direct sunlight.
• To avoid excessive drying, maintain at least two feet between leather furniture and heating sources.
• Dust weekly with the soft brush attachment of your vacuum or brush/wipe with Nubuck cleaning cloth to remove light soiling and revive nap.
• Fully clean with Nubuck Cleaner at least every six months.
• To help prevent staining, optional Leather Master Nubuck Protector, for increased resistance to soiling, body oils and perspiration is available.
• Never use harsh chemicals, cleaning agents and avoid all products containing solvents or oils.

Cleaning spills
Gently blot the spill area with a soft clean cloth. Apply Nubuck cleaner to a soft sponge and squeeze to produce a white foam. Gently work the foam into the stain. Allow to air dry. Use the cleaning cloth to renew the Nubuck nap. Slight discoloration should fade with time and use.

Cleaning oil, butter or grease spills
Immediately remove excess oil, butter or grease with a clean, dry cloth. Use Leather Master degreaser (available through your dealer). Do not apply water or soap.

Consumer alert
These are recommended methods of cleaning, but the manufacture is not responsible for damage incurred with cleaning.

Benefits of Buying Leather

• When maintained, leather has an incredible life expectancy. Most experts rate leathers a 4:1 lifetime over textile.
• It is non-allergenic. All of the dust particles can be fully removed from leather making it perfect for dust sensitive persons.
• Leather maintains room temperature until it comes in contact with your skin. Then it adjusts to your temperature. It is naturally comfortable.
• There are endless variety of colors, effects,and textures. Leather is so versatile; it is used for fashion, furniture, automotive,shoes, handbags, and more.
• It is a prestige item. Most items like furniture or automobile seats are available in leather or textile. The leather version always indicates quality.

• CARE TIPS:
  Try to maintain at least two feet between your furniture and heating sources. Prolonged exposure to heat vents or radiators can cause your leather to dry out. Call Leather Master for a product to moisturize your leather.
• Avoid placing your furniture in direct sunlight. All materials will fade over time when placed in direct sunlight. Aniline leathers, cleaning code "A", are especially sensitive to sunlight. Do not place Aniline leathers in windows or under skylights. In case of fading, call Leather Master for a Color Refresh Kit.
• Never use any harsh chemicals on your leather! Keep materials like fingernail polish, paint, bleach, nail polish remover and household cleaners away from your leather.
• Dust your leather regularly as you would other items in the room. Dampen a soft cloth (like a diaper) with the Leather Soft Cleaner and wipe the surface of the leather.You may also use the soft brush attachment of your vacuum. Unlike textile, you can fully remove dust from the leather's surface, making it ideal for dust sensitive persons. On Nubucks, use the Nubuck cloths from Leather Master.
• Fully clean your furniture (follow directions on bottle) with Leather Soft Cleaner every six months. For pieces in high use areas, like TV rooms, clean them every three months. For difficult soiling like newspaper print or blue jeans transfer, use Strong Cleaner. In case of particularly resistant stains, call Leather Master for assistance at (800) 300-2359.

We strongly recommend you protect your leather furniture with Leather Protection Cream That came with your purchase of Stainsafe Leather Protection from your Dealer. Over time, use and cleaning will diminish the protection level. Using Leather Protection Cream after each cleaning will renew the protection level. Pay particular attention to treat high use areas like arms, seats and backs.

WHY DO I HAVE TO CLEAN MY LEATHER?
We will show you how to get many years of use and enjoyment out of your leather furniture by maintaining it properly. One of the reasons you purchased leather furniture is because of its reputation for a long life. This especially holds true when you maintain it.Over time body oils, perspiration, skin acids, and soiling will work into the leather if you don't clean it. We provide a care and protection program that gives you the products needed to maintain your leather furniture and keep it looking great. This program is easy to use and doesn't require much time. If you prefer to have your furniture cleaned professionally, call Leather Master at (800) 300-2359 and we will refer you to a qualified leather cleaning specialist in your area. If you have any other questions regarding the care of your leather upholstered furniture please call (800) 300-2359.

HOW OFTEN DO I CLEAN MY LEATHER?

• Once per week - Dust your furniture weekly or when you dust the other items in the room. You can lightly dampen a soft cloth with the Leather Soft Cleaner and wipe the surface. One of the great benefits of leather is that you can fully remove the dust particles from the surface) making it ideal for dust sensitive persons.
• 4 times a year - Fully clean your furniture at least every six months. For pieces in high use rooms you should clean them every four months. It is important that you pay particular attention to clean all high usage and skin contact areas like: seats, arms, front railing and inside backs.
• 4 times a year - After full cleanings or spot cleaning, apply the Leather Protection Cream to renew the original protection level. Be sure to apply the Leather Protection Cream to all high usage and skin contact areas like: seats, arms, front railing and inside backs. Regular application of the Leather Protection Cream will prevent stains and allow for easier cleaning.
• These steps should take very little time and will make a dramatic difference in the overall appearance of your leather furniture. It is our desire that you have a trouble-free, enjoyable experience with your leather furniture.