Leather, suede and vinyl couches: care, and which of them WATERFALL cleans
Wipe smooth leather with a soft, barely damp cloth, keep it out of direct sun and condition it as its maker's guide says; brush suede dry with a suede brush and keep water off it; wipe vinyl and faux leather with mild soap in water. WATERFALL cleans suede, faux leather and all fabric upholstery, not smooth leather; for a fabric piece see fabric furniture cleaning, the methods compared and the prices. WATERFALL cleans couches at your home from $130: call (747) 214-6199.
Do you clean leather couches?
Smooth leather, no; suede and faux leather, yes. We clean every fabric upholstery too, plus mattresses, rugs and carpet.
Can a leather couch be professionally cleaned?
Yes, by a leather-care specialist, and not by us. Leather needs its own cleaners and conditioners, and a method built for fabric, with water and extraction, is the wrong one for it. The maker's care guide, or a specialist who works only on leather, is the place to start.
How do I clean a leather sofa at home without drying it out?
Check the maker's care guide first: aniline, nubuck and unfinished leather take only the maker's method. We do not clean genuine leather; for finished leather the usual home routine is below.
- vacuum it with a soft brush attachment, seams included
- test a cleaner made for leather furniture on a hidden spot
- wipe one section at a time with a cloth that is damp, not wet
- wipe off the residue with a second cloth barely damp with clean water, then dry it with a towel
- let it air-dry with no hair dryer, heater or direct sun
- once it is dry, condition the whole panel, not just the cleaned spot
What should you not use on a leather couch?
Harsh cleaners and heat damage leather, and the common ones are below.
- dish soap, bleach, ammonia and alcohol-based sprays
- vinegar mixes, which can dull the finish
- baby wipes, which contain alcohol or fragrance and can leave a residue
- heat, from a hairdryer or from a steamer
Is it okay to use baby wipes or dish soap on a leather couch?
Better not use either. Baby wipes leave moisturizer, fragrance or alcohol on the finish, and dish soap is a degreaser that strips the oils that keep leather supple; where a maker's guide allows soap, it means a few drops of a neutral soap in water on a damp cloth, wiped off after.
If you have already used either, wipe the residue with a cloth barely damp with clean water and let the couch air-dry.
Is it safe to steam clean a leather couch?
No. Heat and moisture dry leather out and can stiffen, warp or discolor it, which is why steam extraction is a fabric method and not a leather one.
How often should you clean a leather couch?
Dust or wipe it regularly and condition it once or twice a year; that is a common rule of thumb in makers' care guides, and your maker's guide has the exact advice for your leather. Wipe spills at once.
How do you remove stains from a leather sofa?
Blot a fresh spill straight away without rubbing, and keep the water to a minimum. Ink, grease and old marks are for a leather specialist, since the wrong cleaner can lift the finish and leave a pale patch.
How much does leather couch cleaning cost?
We cannot price genuine leather, because it is not our service. A leather specialist sets that price. Our own prices, for fabric couches, chairs, mattresses and rugs, are on the prices page.
How do you clean a suede couch?
Dry. Suede is leather with a soft, brushed surface, and water marks it: brush it with a suede brush, work out a fresh mark with a suede eraser and keep liquid off it, because steam cleaning it at home would damage it. WATERFALL cleans suede couches, unlike smooth leather; text a photo of the piece to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
A microfiber that looks like suede is a fabric, and the tag says how it is cleaned.
How do you clean a faux leather couch?
Wipe it with a soft cloth dampened with mild soapy water, then with a clean damp cloth, and dry it. Faux leather is a coated fabric, and solvents and heat damage the coating. A coating that has started to peel cannot be fixed by cleaning. WATERFALL cleans faux leather: text a photo of the piece to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how.
How do you clean vinyl furniture?
Wipe it with mild soapy water, rinse with a damp cloth and dry it. Vinyl is a plastic surface, so avoid abrasive pads, solvents and heat, which scratch or soften it. Vinyl is a faux leather, and we clean it: text a photo of the piece to (747) 214-6199.
How do I clean a vinyl sofa that has gotten sticky?
First rule out residue: polish, protectant sprays and soap that was never rinsed off are the usual cause. Wash it with warm water and a little mild soap on a soft cloth, wipe again with a cloth dampened with clean water, which is the step that takes the tackiness away, and dry it.
Avoid silicone protectants, oils, waxes, solvents, alcohol and bleach unless the maker allows them. If it is still sticky, or cracking or peeling, the vinyl itself is breaking down, and cleaning will not fix it.
What do you clean?
Every fabric upholstery, and suede and faux leather: couches, sectionals, chairs and ottomans, plus mattresses, rugs and carpet. If a piece is part fabric and part genuine leather, text a photo to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm what we can do.
Questions and answers
What is the best way to clean a very dirty leather sofa?
Ask a leather specialist, because it needs its own cleaners and conditioners. We do not clean genuine leather.
What can ruin a leather couch?
Harsh cleaners, soaking, heat and sun. Wipe spills at once and follow the maker's care guide.
What not to use on a leather couch?
Harsh cleaners, solvents, heat and anything that soaks the surface. A slightly damp, clean cloth is the safe start.
Is Murphy's oil soap good for leather furniture?
Use it only if your leather maker's care guide allows it, and test a hidden spot first. We do not clean genuine leather.
How do professionals clean leather sofas?
A leather specialist uses leather-specific cleaners and conditioners. We do not clean genuine leather.
How to clean leather furniture?
Dust it with a soft cloth, wipe with a slightly damp clean cloth and dry it. Check the maker's care guide first.
How do you deep clean a suede couch?
At home, dry: a suede brush and a suede eraser, with liquid kept off. WATERFALL, (747) 214-6199, cleans suede; text a photo of the piece to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
Can you steam clean a suede couch or will it ruin it?
Too much water or heat can ruin real suede: it leaves water marks, stiffens the nap and can change the color, so at home brush it dry and use a suede eraser. WATERFALL, (747) 214-6199, cleans suede; text a photo of the piece and its tag to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it. Microsuede is a fabric, and its tag decides how it is cleaned.
How to clean a vinyl sofa?
Wipe it with mild soapy water, rinse with a damp cloth and dry it. Avoid abrasive pads, solvents and heat. WATERFALL cleans faux leather; text a photo of the sofa to (747) 214-6199 and we confirm how we clean it.
How to clean leather dining chairs?
Wipe with a slightly damp cloth and dry them, and follow the maker's guide. We do not clean genuine leather, and we do clean faux leather.
Show 1 more question
How to clean a white leather couch?
Wipe it with a slightly damp cloth and treat marks as the maker's guide says. A specialist handles ink and old marks.
Prices and booking
More guides
- Upholstery fabrics: all guides
- Can you steam clean a couch? By fabric — Fabric tagged W or W/S can; for S and X tags, a photo of the tag tells us how we clean it.
- Upholstery cleaning codes: W, S, W/S, X — W is water-based, S is solvent only, W/S is either and X is vacuum only; read the tag before anything touches the fabric.
- Durable upholstery fabric and how to tell yours — Read the tag under a cushion; if it is gone, the maker's care guide and the weave tell you the rest.
Sources: IICRC (The cleaning and restoration industry's standards body, for how professionals clean fabrics and carpet.)