How to Maintain Leather Furniture

Place your furniture out of direct sunlight. Sitting in the sun for hours will cause leather to dry out much faster, which will lead to cracking and rips.

Pick up newspapers and magazines from the furniture sooner than later. The ink on the pages may soak into your leather and leave a stain.

Use a rag dampened with a conservative amount of petroleum jelly to soften spots on the furniture that have become hard. Dab the hard area with the rag and lightly then wipe off any excess.

Avoid the use of all-purpose cleaners and detergents. If you need to clean your leather furniture, use a product designed specifically for leather. Use a hand vacuum to clean up dust and dirt from the surface.

Clean up spills by blotting at the liquid, rather than wiping it away. Blotting will reduce the likelihood of spreading the spill.

Apply a leather conditioner to the furniture twice a year per the manufacturer's instructions.