Leather care

Preventive leather care

Practical care tips
To preserve the beauty, suppleness and natural appearance of your leather for as long as possible, regular and correct care is important. A few simple habits make a big difference:

Remove dust and dirt regularly
Dust, sand and crumbs are often barely visible, but over time they can damage the leather surface. Vacuum your furniture regularly at the lowest setting, using a soft, blunt attachment. You can also wipe the leather weekly with a clean, soft cloth.

Clean preventively, not only when dirt becomes visible
Do not wait until the leather looks dirty or dull. Regular light care keeps it fresh, supple and in top condition.

Clean first, nourish afterwards
Leather can only absorb care products properly when the surface is clean. Always clean it first and only then apply a suitable nourishing product. Avoid so-called all-in-one products for high-quality upholstery leather.

Use products suited to your leather type
Every type of leather has its own characteristics and requires appropriate care. Preferably use the products recommended by JORI via www.jori-care.com. Always test any care product first on an inconspicuous area, for example on the back or underside of the furniture.

If you prefer a more natural cleaning method, you can use a mild soap solution made with 20 g of alkali-free soap, such as Marseille soap, in 1 litre of distilled water. Apply the solution with a clean, slightly damp cloth and gently rub the leather in large circular movements.
Then remove the residue as thoroughly as possible with a fresh, slightly damp cloth without any product. Allow the leather to dry naturally for at least 48 hours. On heavily soiled areas, you can repeat the treatment, allowing the same drying time between applications.
If you also prefer a more natural way to nourish the leather, you can use a mixture of 1 tablespoon of castor oil per litre of distilled water. Castor oil is available from pharmacies. Apply the mixture with a clean, dry, lint-free cotton cloth and gently rub the leather in circular movements.

Never use aggressive or unsuitable products
Avoid solvents, abrasive products, ordinary all-purpose cleaners, shoe polish, overly greasy products or care products that are not intended for upholstery leather. They can permanently damage the leather.

Use a soft, lint-free cloth
Use a clean, soft, lint-free cotton cloth. Avoid microfibre cloths: they can damage the leather surface.

Use only slightly damp cloths
Leather benefits from moisture, but not from wet cleaning. Always work with a slightly damp cloth and preferably use distilled water to avoid limescale marks or stains. Never make the leather too wet.

Allow leather to dry naturally
After cleaning or care, allow your furniture to dry naturally at room temperature. Do not use a hairdryer, heater or direct sunlight to speed up the drying process. After more thorough cleaning, allow sufficient drying time.

Protect against direct sunlight
Leather is sensitive to bright light. Direct sunlight or strong artificial light can cause discolouration, depending on the leather type selected. Where possible, avoid leaving your furniture in full sun for prolonged periods.

Keep away from heat sources
Extreme heat dries out leather and can make it less supple. Do not place your seating too close to radiators, fireplaces or other heat sources. A distance of at least 30 cm is recommended, with sufficient ventilation around the furniture.

Maintain a healthy indoor climate
Leather stays at its best in a stable environment. A room temperature of 18 to 20 °C and a relative humidity of 45 to 50% are ideal. Sufficient humidity is especially important in winter, when the heating is often in use.

Take care with strongly coloured materials
Dark jeans, brightly coloured cushions, throws or accessories can transfer colour to leather, especially lighter shades. Avoid prolonged contact if you are unsure whether the dye may transfer.

Avoid contact with sharp or rough objects
Zips, keys, buckles, sharp nails or pets’ claws can cause scratches, abrasion marks or other damage. Try to avoid this type of contact as much as possible.

Protect heavily used areas
Skin oils, perspiration and hair products can affect the leather over time, particularly on headrests and armrests. JORI offers special protective covers for these areas.

Act quickly after spills
If something is spilled, immediately and gently blot up the liquid with unbleached kitchen paper or a soft cloth. Do not rub or press. You will find the specific approach in the next chapter.

What to do about stains?
A stain is never welcome but responding quickly and calmly often makes a big difference.

Act immediately
Fresh stains are easier to treat than stains that have already soaked in or dried. Dab liquids as quickly as possible with neutral, unbleached kitchen paper or a clean, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.

Dab, do not rub
Never rub hard or apply pressure. This helps prevent the stain from penetrating deeper into the leather or damaging the surface.

Remove solid residue carefully
Heavy or solid soiling can be removed carefully with a blunt object, such as a spoon or wooden spatula. Never use sharp objects.

Always treat a wider area
Do not clean only the stain itself; treat the entire panel from seam to seam. This helps prevent a visibly lighter or different area from remaining after cleaning.

Work from the outside in
Always treat the stain from the outer edge towards the centre. This helps prevent the stain from spreading.

Use only suitable cleaning products
Do not use household products, bleach, solvents, vinegar, nail polish remover, hairspray, abrasives or other home remedies. They can permanently damage the leather.

Never apply the product directly to the leather
First test the cleaning product on an inconspicuous area. Then apply the product with a soft cloth, not directly to the leather.

Allow the leather sufficient drying time
Do not use the furniture again until it is completely dry. After cleaning, preferably allow at least 48 hours of drying time.

Take extra care with sensitive leather types
Open leather types are more sensitive to stains, moisture and signs of use. Treat them with extra care and use only products that are suitable for the specific leather type.
 

These tips are intended as first aid for stains, but they do not guarantee complete stain removal. If in doubt, or in the case of stubborn stains or serious damage, JORI recommends contacting a specialised cleaning partner via www.jori-care.com and clearly stating what caused the stain. In the event of serious damage, always contact your JORI dealer.