L E AT H E R C A R E G U I D E
A B O U T O U R F U R N I T U R E & N AT U R A L L E AT H E R
MOORE & GILES FURNITURE IS MADE-TO-ORDER IN THE USA
What are best practices for caring for leather furniture—simple strategies that a homeowner can employ daily, weekly, monthly, yearly? FROM DAY ONE Select a leather that will last. Real, natural leather will wear in and not wear out. DAILY Change your mindset! Many treat investment leather furniture pieces with kid gloves, but good leather will take on unique character over time, and begin to slowly patina and take on the life of the owner. Think about your favorite pair of denim jeans.
What are the best cleaning supplies to keep at home for leather furniture? Is there a particular type of tool or conditioner that’s recommended? CLEANING We recommend a simple soap and water solution to spot clean. Avoid using abrasive cleaning agents. Instead, mix three parts water with one part mild soap, such as Ivory or Dawn dish soap. Tap or distilled water works just fine! Keep in mind, the stain will look its worst on the day of the incident, but over time, the stain will begin to disperse through the protein fibers of the hide and eventually become part of the look. CARE We produce our own products to clean and care for leather. To learn more, please visit our website at mooreandgiles.com. Is there a recommended placement for leather furnishings? For example, out of direct light, or at a certain distance from a heat source? Sunlight will eventually cause leather to fade—Avoid positioning your leather furniture in direct light. If your chair or sofa is positioned in direct sunlight a simple throw a blanket over the back of your furniture is an easy way to beautifully battle the sun. It comes back to choosing well, not often. True full- aniline dyed natural leather will not peel or flake. We’ve all seen the cheap bonded “leather” sofas that look as if the top is wearing off the leather - this is not a true natural leather. Click here to learn more about the types of natural leather.
Our custom furniture program puts you in charge of design, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your space and style. Choose a leather and leg finish and we will take care of the rest. Ask your sales associate for our latest swatch book to start designing.
No. 1 D U S T
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. Why don’t my chairs look exactly the same?
Dust periodically. Dust is a drying agent for leather.
Q. Will my chair scratch easily?
A. Your chair will scratch, however the waxes and oils applied to the leather work to repair those scratches over time with normal use. For more immediate repair simply use your thumb or a dry cloth to work the oils in around the scratched area; you will see a difference almost immediately. The natural markings you see upon delivery of the chair make it unique; the look and wear it acquires over time make it yours.
A. Each hide contains color variation and natural markings that we celebrate by upholstering into prominent areas of our furniture, like the back and sides. Our skilled craftsmen upholster with care to ensure the features we love are showcased appropriately. We feel that natural leather is the most luxurious leather available. Since no corrections are made to the hide during tanning, natural leather uses the highest grade, most valuable hides available. This allows your furniture to age and wear over time as it should.
Q. Is my chair well-built? (What’s under the leather?)
Q. What are these marks on my chair?
A. Our solid wood frames are handmade in the United States by craftsmen who have been in the furniture industry for years. They are sturdy and designed to wear evenly over time. Down cushions in each chair provide a comfortable seat that restores its shape when unoccupied.
A. Bug bites, scratches, and stretch marks are a natural part of an animal’s life. In turn these natural markings will appear in some areas of your chair, though we are conscious not to use parts of a hide that are torn or excessively scarred.
MONTHLY Dust is the enemy! Dust absorbs moisture and will cause your leather to dry out and crack. To counteract, periodically dust with a dry cloth.
No. 2
L I M I T D I R E C T S U N L I G H T If possible, place leather furniture out of direct sunlight. Sunlight can fade any natural product.
Q. How will my chair age over time?
Q. Why are parts of my chair different colors?
AS NEEDED Cleaning: Less is more! First, rule is do no harm. If a stain arises, simply blot the stain immediately with a dry rag to absorb all moisture. Avoid rubbing the leather and spreading the liquid. A dry white cloth will suffice in most cases. If that does not do the trick, add a small amount of mild dish soap. Scratches: If you get an undesired scratch in your leather, use the heat of your hand or a blow dryer to smooth it out. The natural waxes and oils in our natural leathers with shift and move to cover the scratch. A patina is certainly lovely, but how can a homeowner know when to step in before leather wears so much that it is in disrepair? Natural leather is the original performance material and is meant to endure wear and use—from pets and children alike. Simple cleaning and care will handle most concerns. If you think about it in terms of other furniture, you’ll have to reupholster your fabric sofa several times over the course of your lifetime, while leather stands the test of time.
A. Every hide accepts color a little differently. Some appear slightly darker, others lighter. We place hides of similar shades in “batches” to mitigate extreme variation. Our expert upholsterers skillfully cover each frame in way to beautifully accentuate these natural characteristics. A flow of color from hide-to-hide (or even within a single hide itself!) is a feature of natural leather that we love and embrace. No two hides, no two chairs, are exactly alike.
A. The rate of wear depends on where and how often you use it. A chair used only on special occasions will age slower than one used every day. Putting a chair closer to a window or fireplace will affect how quickly and visibly the wearing occurs. Natural materials change within their environment, and natural leather is no different. With use, you will see high-touch areas like armrests, cushions, and chairbacks start to burnish beautifully. These are multigenerational pieces that are made to be passed down.
No. 3
C O N TA I N T H E S TA I N For spills, contain as quickly as possible. For stubborn stains, clean using the Moore & Giles leather cleaner.
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