According to Houston furniture store Gallery Furniture‘s own leather expert, Ted Goldman, “Top grain leather should last a lifetime. With proper care the leather should never split or crack.” To avoid those unpleasant cracks or scratches in the leather make sure not to neglect your furniture. The lifespan of a piece can be dramatically shortened if you don’t put work into the maintenance of it. Many people expect their leather furniture will be fine without special care, but can end up with unsightly cracks, dust and overall wear over time.

When you first purchase a beautiful leather furniture piece be sure to apply a leather protector say HGTV. This will help protect it from future stains, spills, or general wear and tear. For daily maintenance, wipe down your leather with a clean, dry cloth to remove any dust or hair and keep it looking its best. Also vacuum or dust debris from the crevices of your seating so it doesn’t build up.

In order to keep the leather fresh and moisturized, apply a leather conditioner. Buy a product that is specifically made to condition leather; it should have a creamy consistency designed to be buffed into the furniture. This will keep your piece from developing those terrible cracks and tears. You should fully condition your leather once every 6 to 12 months. Goldman recommends Leather Honey for leather conditioners. If you choose to buy something else make sure to spot test the product first on a hidden area of the piece. This way you can see the effects of the product without ruining it, just in case.

Never use soap or detergents to clean your leather furniture. No matter how mild, the soap will remove naturally occurring oils from the piece that the leather itself cannot replace. If you try to wash it with soap and then apply oil you will stain the leather permanently.

Avoid leaving your furniture in direct sunlight or heat. Beware of space heaters that get too close, windows that are open and shine light directly on the seating, or heating pads and blankets placed directly on the furniture. Heat and sunlight will fast forward the aging process of the leather and cause cracks and drying out of the leather.

We hope that these tips will help you maintain the beauty of your investment and allow you to have a fantastic handmade leather product last you a lifetime.