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Leather is the only material that gets better and
more luxurious with age. No other material is so durable, easy to care for and natural.
Because leather "breathes," it won't pick up on surrounding room temperatures,
whether too cold or too hot. The list of positives goes on and on; the only drawback is
sorting out the lingo.
To help, Furniture.com is offering a short course to raise your comfort
level.
Hide and seek:
Leather begins with an animal hide that is tanned or preserved. The first quality issue is where leather is taken from
the hide. The best leather is always top grain, from the topmost layer of the surface.
Less expensive and weaker leathers, including suede, are taken from lower layers or splits
of the hide.
Dyeing to be beautiful:
The quality of leather is also based on the dyeing process. Soft and supple aniline leathers are considered the
most luxurious and stylish, but they are not necessarily the most practical option.
Sweet Aniline -
Aniline is a transparent liquid dye (and natural derivative) used to color high quality hides. These dyes provide
permanent color that also allows natural grain and markings to show through. Caution: The
word "aniline" is used in a couple of ways, which can be confusing when you're
just learning.
- Pure aniline leathers are created from the highest quality top grain and
are best for adult use. No additional pigment or surface treatments are applied after the
dyeing process, so the quality of the leather must be outstanding. Like silk or hand-woven
fabric, pure anilines are prized for their natural look and soft hand. Less than 5% of the
world's leathers qualify as pure aniline...explaining their high cost.
- Semi-anilines are soft leathers that are also more practical and easily
maintained, making them a safer family option. In addition to aniline dying, these hides
are given added color and/or protective finishes. Surface corrections are also made to
correct imperfections and pigmenting. These are a safer option, but not as heavy duty as
corrected grain leathers.
Corrected grain leathers
are also top grain-but not quite as flawless as the most expensive hides. They are buffed to remove unattractive
surface markings before color pigment is added, then embossed with a natural grain
pattern. The resulting surface is somewhat stiffer than pure aniline leather, although it
will soften with use.
Nubuck or suede? Both are buffed for a soft,
velvety nap, but there's a big difference. Suede is made from splits, so it's a less
expensive and less durable leather product. Nubuck is aniline dyed top grain leather, so
it lasts longer and shows more natural markings. Because of its nap, Nubuck often receives
a protective coating to guard against stains and markings.
Just for the record:
Suede isn't the only product made from splits. Finishing techniques like embossing or antiquing can be applied
to splits to make them resemble top grains. Such leather is less expensive, but does not
have the same hand or strength as true top grains.
Keeping it clean
Leather care is pretty basic and starts with preventive maintenance.
These simple steps will extend the life of your leather furniture:
- Heat and light are not your furniture's best friends. Try to keep leather
upholstery two feet or more from direct heat and remember that leather (especially aniline
and nubuck) will fade if near windows, under skylights or in direct sunlight.
- Keep your furniture dust and dirt free. Dusting and occasional vacuuming
with a soft brush will prevent dirt and dust from being ground into the leather.
- Deal with spills and soil gently (never scrub), but as soon as possible.
Permanent stains can result if food and liquid is not wiped away immediately.
- To clean nubuck and suede, blot (don't rub) excess liquid immediately
with a clean white cloth or sponge. Allow area to air dry naturally, then brush lightly
with a suede brush to restore the nap.
- Always use a clean cloth or sponge to clean up spills.
- It's important to blot spills, instead of trying to rub or scrub
them away...then allow to air dry.
- Body oils will stain leather, but they gradually blend into its surface
giving both patina and character.
- Because of the lack of surface coats, pure aniline leathers are less
stain resistant and should be handled with extra delicacy.
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