How to Protect a Leather Sofa

Apply a leather protectant to your sofa to prevent cracking and stop water from seeping in to the leather. Many manufactures (see Resources) offer a line of liquid leather protectants that are easy to use. Make sure you choose a protectant that is made specifically for the type of leather your sofa is covered in.

Place the sofa in your living room in a spot that is located away from direct sunlight, away from a window. This will protect your leather sofa from fading caused by the sun.

Cover your leather sofa with a sheet. This is really only necessary if you are going away on vacation for a few weeks or if you need to store your leather sofa while moving. The sheet will protect the leather from dust and allergens while you are away.

Make sure that your sofa is not directly next to your heater or air conditioning unit. Temperature of both extremes affects leather. Your leather sofa should remain in a room that has a constant comfortable temperature in order to protect it.

Keep sharp objects such as knives and scissors away from your sofa, as these can puncture the leather, causing permanent damage. Do not smoke on or near your leather sofa--cigarette burns are permanent.

Wipe your leather sofa down once per week with a semi-moist cotton cloth. This will remove the dust particles that have collected on the couch during the week. Keeping up with the dust will protect your couch and keep it looking like new.

Use leather wipes if you feel that your sofa is dirty and you must clean it. One tube of these wipes should last you a long time as leather doesn't need to be cleaned very often. These wipes are safe for cleaning your leather sofa. If you use water, the leather can actually absorb the water, which can cause it to become brittle.