How To Clean Leather Sofa At Home

After 'bottom testing' numerous sofas in store, it's a big sigh of relief – and excitement in equal measure – when you find your perfect match.

You feel so content and comfortable that you don't imagine ever leaving the spot you've already bagged as yours, and the style and material of the sofa perfectly fits in with your decor. Once your dream sofa gets delivered, like every big item of homeware, it becomes the centrepiece of your living space.

But what's next? Ensuring that your sofa still looks as good as the day you first bought it, however many years later it is.

We speak to the experts at Sofa Workshop about the tasks we should be carrying out all year round to ensure that our sofa is in the best condition it can be – whatever the material.

Zennor, Sofa Workshop

Sofa Workshop

1. Daily and Weekly Tasks

You should... Plump your cushions, re-dress your covers, check legs are tight, dust down your leather, and remove any bobbling from fabrics and give them a gentle brush.

'One thing we recommend for all fabrics is weekly brushing,' says Sofa Workshop. 'Your sofa will love this as it will stimulate the pile, helping with pressure marks and shading through use, particularly for velvets, which are delicate flowers. If you have leather, whip a clean duster over it once a week, don't use any polish though. Go easy, brush gently.'

2. Monthly Tasks

You should... Vacuum fabric sofas, rotate your cushions and if you've got a sofa bed, turn and vacuum the mattress.

'We recommend you vacuum your sofa once a month, advise... 'Don't use an industrial strength machine and, if you can, turn yours down to a low setting and use a brush attachment. This will remove pesky dust particles and prevent soiling and undue wear. A gentle vacuum will also help reduce pilling which some fabrics are prone to.'

3. Yearly tasks

It's time to clean the entire sofa. If you have washable fabrics clean them as per the washing instructions, if not have them professionally cleaned in situ.

Cassidy sofa from the House Beautiful collection at DFS

Rachel Whiting

The one essential item Sofa Workshop recommends is... Fuzz-Away

'Some fabrics (brushed cottons, linens and some wools, for example) have a layer of fibres on the surface and may well pill or lint, a bit like your favourite jumper. This isn't a fault and will disperse in time. Meanwhile a gentle vacuum will help until the fabric has lost its top coat. If you can't live with bobbles we find a Fuzz-Away can't be beaten!'

BUY NOW: Remington Fuzz-Away, £12.99, Amazon

Caring for your Filling

1. Interiors will need plumping, some more than others, including seats and back cushions too.

2. The best way to plump cushions is to remove them from the sofa, punch them from all sides then drop them onto a clean floor. This pushes air back into the cushion, maintaining its shape and comfort.

3. Don't forget to rotate your cushions to help even out the wear and minimise any potential fading from sunlight.

Glow Decor Getty Images

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Olivia Heath Executive Digital Editor, House Beautiful UK Olivia Heath is the Executive Digital Editor at House Beautiful UK where she's busy uncovering tomorrow's biggest home trends, all whilst delivering stylish room inspiration, small space solutions, easy garden ideas and house tours of the hottest properties on the market.

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