There are few special products for cleaning eco-leather. The demand for them is very low, since most stains can be removed with more affordable products:
- melamine sponges (without adding products);
- laundry soap solution;
- alcohol solution from 20 to 50% or regular vodka;
- alcohol wet wipes;
- lemon juice;
- ammonia solution (weak, about 5%);
- hydrogen peroxide;
- dishwashing detergent.
Most special substances for cleaning eco-leather are used in dry cleaning of car interiors, but they can also be used at home. Among them:
- foams for cleaning artificial leather;
- sprays;
- universal detergents.
In a store with household chemicals, it is better to immediately contact a sales consultant.
Attention! Substances contraindicated for eco-leather:
- chlorine-containing;
- cleaning agents with acidic bases;
- solvents;
- powders;
- brushes;
- any substances of physical and chemical influence that can damage the thin layer of polyurethane on the surface of eco-leather.
What types of leatherette are there?
Leatherette is an artificial material that imitates leather. If the product is manufactured in accordance with all standards, then its quality is not lower than natural. There are several types of this material:
- Vinilis, or vinyl. It is not recommended to buy furniture made from this material for your home, because... it may emit harmful fumes. For this reason, such sofas are installed in office premises.
- Modified leather. The material is based on leather scraps.
- Polyurethane or eco-leather. Does not cause harm to health. To improve the quality of the product, some manufacturers additionally make a top layer of Teflon film.
Eco-leather is also divided into several types:
- Oregon;
- alba;
- dollaro;
- companion.
Concept of material
Eco-leather, like natural leather, cracks, becomes stained and changes color over time.
To prevent this, you need to know how to care for eco-leather.
Do you even know about this material?
This is a high-tech product. Structurally, it consists of two layers. This is a polyester fabric base and microporous polyurethane coating. The first layer serves as wear protection. The second gives the necessary appearance.
Leading and certified manufacturers use GOST. But there are also those who make eco-leather according to specifications.
How to clean a white eco-leather sofa?
The disadvantage of white color is that such upholstery may show marks from faded clothing or bed linen. You can take care of an eco-leather sofa using not only expensive products. Many stains can be removed with substances that are present in the house.
In order not to damage the upholstery, it is not recommended to use sharp objects, rough brushes, metal brushes, etc. If you choose the right cleaning method, it will not be difficult to wash a leatherette sofa.
Soap solution
To clean a white sofa, you can try dissolving washing powder or soap in warm water. It is recommended to give preference to substances that are produced specifically for delicate fabrics. It is necessary to wet a soft cloth, for example, microfiber, in a soap solution, and then wipe the dirty areas. Wash off the detergent composition with clean warm water. After cleaning, wipe the sofa with a dry cloth to remove all moisture.
Ammonia and dishwashing detergent
You can clean the sofa from stains, for example, biological ones, using hydrogen nitride. To prepare the cleaning product, you will need to dissolve 1 tbsp in 250 ml of cold water. ammonia and add 0.5 tbsp. dishwashing detergents. Moisten a rag in the resulting liquid and begin to remove stains. If the stain is difficult to remove, you can try scrubbing the stained area with an old toothbrush. When the stain is removed, wipe the treated area with a clean wet cloth and then wipe it with a dry one.
Foam
You can clean leatherette with shaving foam. Using rubbing movements, distribute it evenly over the surface. To maximize the effectiveness of this cleaner, you should wait 20-25 minutes after applying the foam. When the time is up, wash off the detergent from the upholstery with a soft cloth, and then wipe everything dry.
Wet wipes
You can clean eco-leather with special wipes. They wipe the stained area and leave until completely dry. In most cases, after using such a product, there is no need to additionally treat the surface with a protective cream. The wipes are impregnated with more than just a cleaning compound. Most manufacturers add a substance to the impregnation that cares for the eco-leather product. You can find out whether the material requires additional protective treatment if you read the instructions in detail.
Wash
Is it possible to wash eco-leather in a washing machine? To find out whether clothing can be subjected to such a procedure, you should read the information on the label. The label indicates the mode, temperature and how to wash eco-leather by hand or in a machine.
How to wash eco-leather in a washing machine:
- Turn the clothes inside out. Place the equipment in the drum.
- Pour detergent into the dispenser; it should not contain chlorine.
- Eco-leather items should be washed at a temperature of no more than 30 degrees.
- The cycle is delicate or manual.
- Do not dry or tumble dry.
If you cannot wash your clothes using modern technology, soak them briefly in a soapy solution. Rub gently, squeeze out the water lightly and hang on a hanger to dry.
Special cleaning products
When you can’t remove a stain from furniture, you can try using special substances that were developed for caring for leatherette.
To avoid any complications during and after work, you should read the instructions in detail before starting to use the cleaning product. It is necessary to follow the method of application, which should be described on the product packaging.
Good products for cleaning artificial leather are Famaco Detacheur, Glutoclean and Bagi Stichonite.
Old furniture that has not been looked after for a long time can also be restored independently, without the help of cleaning companies. A melamine sponge will help you clean a greasy sofa at home. It is moistened and the surface of the upholstery is cleaned in a circular motion. The use of a melamine sponge does not require any other cleaning aids. The sponge can also be used to clean the armrests, which quickly become dirty when touched by your hands.
Melamine
This eco-leather furniture cleaner effectively removes stains. Wet only the tip of the sponge to save on the amount of substance. Do not twist the tool too much or deform the structure. Also, do not add chemicals - it is better to avoid mixing melamine with other drugs, this can lead to undesirable consequences.
How to clean leatherette from various contaminants?
In addition to traces of dust and dirt that fall on furniture with clothes or shoes, stains that are more difficult to remove may appear on the sofa. In order not to spoil the material, but to get rid of contamination, it is recommended to select the most gentle cleaning agent.
Traces from pens and felt-tip pens
If marks from a ballpoint pen or felt-tip pen appear on the furniture, you can try to remove them with warm water. You can additionally dissolve detergent in water. If this method does not help, or there are blurry traces of stationery dyes on the white sofa, you should use ethyl alcohol or vodka. Moisten a cotton pad with the product and begin to remove dirt.
If the furniture has been stained with a fat-based felt-tip pen, in this situation vegetable oil will be a good stain remover for leatherette. They moisten a napkin with it and treat the contaminated area. Oil does not always immediately and completely remove the mark from the felt-tip pen, but it changes its properties. For this reason, immediately after using the oil, it is necessary to wipe the upholstery with vodka or alcohol.
Another way to make cleaning easier is citric acid. The stain is moistened with water and citric acid is poured on top. After 10-15 minutes, the powder is washed off with soapy water and then wiped with a clean cloth.
If marks from a ballpoint pen or felt-tip pen are old, you can try to remove them with milk. A napkin is moistened in it and applied to the stain. After 4-5 hours the stain will disappear. All that remains is to wash off the remaining milk and wipe with a napkin.
Hairspray will help get rid of ink on white eco-leather upholstery. It is sprayed onto the stain and wiped with a dry cloth. If the ink does not immediately begin to wash off, it is recommended to re-spray the varnish and leave it for 3-4 hours. When the time is up, wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Along with the varnish, the ink will also be washed off.
Paint stains
You can try to remove traces of acrylic paint with laundry soap. It is grated on a fine grater and dissolved in cold water. The resulting liquid wipes away traces of dirt.
You can try to get rid of paint using products that are sold in cosmetic stores. These products are designed to remove stains from the body after hair coloring, so their use will be as safe as possible for artificial upholstery.
Drink and fruit stains
You can try using a steam generator to get rid of traces of wine or fruit juice. The use of this device does not imply the use of other chemicals. If all rules are followed, the steam generator will not damage the eco-leather upholstery.
After dust and other debris have been removed from the furniture, turn on the device. Use the nozzle to pass over the contaminated area and immediately wipe the upholstery material with a microfiber cloth.
What retains moisture in the skin?
This same moisture can be obtained using hyaluronic lotions, mists and serums to hydrate the skin, but to retain them in its upper layers, occlusive substances are needed, that is, those that slow down the evaporation of moisture. These can be vegetable oils, silicones, lanolin, squalene, natural waxes and animal fats.
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How to properly care for leatherette furniture?
A blanket can protect furniture from stains and mechanical damage. But even this method does not completely guarantee that the fittings will retain their original appearance for a long time. Therefore, if the sofa is made of fabric or eco-leather, it still needs proper and constant care.
When cleaning the house, it is recommended to wipe the furniture with a soft, clean and damp cloth. You can clean hard-to-reach places on folds using a vacuum cleaner. To avoid damaging the material, you should use a special attachment.
Regardless of whether the sofa is white or colored, the paint may change its shade (white may turn yellow). For this reason, it is recommended to install furniture so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight. You can prevent eco-leather from drying out if you place the sofa away from the heater.
To ensure that the upholstery lasts a long time, it is recommended to treat it with special sprays or creams at least 2 times a year. When purchasing furniture, you should immediately ask the seller what leatherette care product the manufacturer recommends using.
Rules for removing stains
Any product that will be used to clean covers, furniture upholstery, and eco-leather clothing must first be tested on a less noticeable area. To ensure that products made from the material look well-groomed and retain an attractive appearance:
- Do not clean old stains with abrasives.
- You need to wipe off traces of paint, paste, and felt-tip pen, starting from the end and ending with the center.
- Disks made of cotton wool and sticks must be constantly changed so as not to smear dirt on the surface.
White artificial leather is treated with a conditioner, which creates a film that protects the product from dust settling and prevents the absorption of fat and pigment.
