How to Make Leather Furniture and Dogs Work
If you share your home with dogs, you’ve likely searched for and purchased dog-friendly furniture. Like most dog owners, we purchased leather chairs and sofas because they’re easy to clean and puncture-resistant. After a few months though, our leather furniture looked beat up, and I soon learned leather isn’t indestructible. Vinyl and leather furniture options are certainly dog-friendly, but you have to take good care of them for maximum benefits.
Leather Furniture Care
Use a Quality Leather Cleaner
Every 2-3 months, your leather furniture needs a thorough cleaning with a good quality leather cleaner. Leather is tough, but temperamental, so I suggest only using gentle leather cleaners. Everyday household cleaners, vinegar, baking soda and water are simply too harsh and can harm leather. Remember, leather is cow skin that’s been tanned and dyed, so harsh chemicals can cause discoloration and dryness.
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Gentle leather cleaners will remove stains, slobber and grime, and the before-and-after difference is amazing. Before using leather cleaners, it’s best to vacuum your furniture to remove any dog hair first. Then, spray leather cleaner on a soft white towel and massage the cleaner onto your leather furniture. Over the years, I’ve found small circular motions work best.
Don’t forget to clean all cushion sides and the back of your furniture. I’ve used cleaning products made especially for leather sofas in the past, however, these products either left a sticky residue or streak marks behind. We’ve used Meguiar’s Gold Class Leather & Vinyl Cleaner for years. I swear it’s magic.
Condition Leather Furniture Regularly
After cleaning your leather furniture with a gentle leather cleaner, it’s time to moisturize. If leather is allowed to dry out, it will crack, flake, discolor and become susceptible to punctures. All leather furniture needs to be conditioned every 2-3 months, especially if your furniture sits in direct sunlight, gets regular use or is located in a dry climate.
For years, we’ve used Meguiar’s Gold Class Leather Conditioner and it works wonders! Honestly, it restores leather furniture back to its original condition; I’m shocked every time. We’ve tried leather cleaning and conditioning combos in the past, and they just didn’t condition leather thoroughly. Plus, they wouldn’t last as long. If I’m doing all of this work, it must last. 🙂
Using a clean soft white cloth, pour a tiny amount of leather conditioner on the cloth and start massaging onto the leather. Use small circular strokes, and don’t forget to condition the outer sides, sides of cushions and back of leather furniture. Now, stand back and admire your work. Your leather furniture will look and feel brand new.