by Bernice Dennis

Created on: December 23, 2009   Last Updated: December 24, 2009

Removing the stain is simple.

Before you clean, know what you are attempting to clean. Leather comes in several types and grades.

Leather is one of America’s finest goods and, there was a time it was an honor to own leather goods. The presence of leather indicates that we have invested a little bit more into the purchase. Owning leather goods is very impressive: the car with fine leather, the furniture, clothing etc. So many times do we purchase it without giving thought as to how we might clean and maintain that fine leather we have just purchased. Actually there are several ways of cleaning and maintaining fine leather.

Most furniture is made from a grade of leather known as Bicast - this product was first discovered by manufacturers wanting to make leather shoes. They quickly discovered that this durable yet in expensive product was suitable for making furniture. 

For consumers, newly purchased leather furniture comes with a problem; how to remove those unwanted ink pin stains. They just seem to pop up from nowhere and you are left wondering how to remove them.  Removing the stains is fairly simple all you really need is a good dishing washing liquid and a damp cloth and rub briskly. You might have to repeat the process a couple of times but it will work.

Secondly, the same process will work with tooth paste or baking soda, and the job is done.  These simple cleaning was will work wonders throughout your house for different cleaning jobs.   

Before you clean your leather furniture and other leather products you should know what type of leather you are cleaning.  Did you purchase the real thing or not?  There are several grades of leather; the average person most likely does not know the difference.  For instance the top quality leather is aniline has a protective coating but, it is open to stains and scratches. The different grades of leather and how to determine grades:

1.  Pure Aniline leathers are the fines in the world. This grade only counts for about 5% of the world’s supply of leather.

2. Full Aniline leather is a slightly lower grade –this section of hides has a slightly protected coat of protective finish.

3. Semi Aniline leather is dyed and the finished is coat is sprayed with pigments of colors. This type of leather has a very light scratch resistance and is very easy to clean.  

 4. Corrected grain leather is a very small percentage of leather in the market-less than 20%. This is a very thin layer like leather and cuts are below grade C. 

5. Top Grain leather - this name is very confusing because it is not the genuine grain; yet it is called full grain or top grain. This type leather is without the natural grain.

 6.  Nubuck has a natural finish and a light protective coat. This type of leather will usually turn dark when water gets on it.

7. Bicast leather is the low end of leather or lower quality-part polyurethane. This was first discovered to be used for shoes and was later decided for furniture.

The above information is provided for your reading and knowledge of the different types of leather.

Having leather professionally cleaned can get to be very expensive. Sometimes I think you are charged based on the product and not the time that is required to clean them.  Take care and enjoy your newly purchased leather.

Remember true leather is a hide from an animal.   

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