Genuine leather upholstery exudes elegance, sophistication and a warm and welcoming feel. Also, particularly when used as upholstery, it adapts to the weather and your body temperature, keeping cool in the summer and warm over winter. These attributes, however, don't come cheaply. High-quality leather upholstery is quite expensive, thus requires the utmost care. 

The following are tips on leather upholstery cleaning and care.

Avoiding Stains

Being a natural material, leather tends to absorb liquids, including dyes, leading to staining. This can damage the natural colour and grain. Wiping and using abrasive materials further deteriorates the issue. Blot instead of wiping. This absorbs the stain and moisture instead of spreading it. Note that excess water damages leather. Ask the salespeople at the local grocery store about the best leather cleaning agent. If the stain persists, contact an upholstery cleaning specialist for professional attendance. 

Avoiding Scratches

Leather upholstery is susceptible to scratches. Avoid sharp objects of all manner including scissors, pens and toothpicks, amongst others. Gentle rubbing with your fingers and soft cloth dipped in distilled water eliminates most minor scratches. For deeper scratches and cuts, consult an upholstery specialist to avoid the risk of further damaging the material. 

Providing Extra Protection

If you have a large family, especially children and pets, invest in extra protection for your leather upholstery. Commonly used extra protection measures include the following:

• Protective leather coating: applied after cleaning and polishing the leather. This helps to protect the leather from pitting, scaling and weakening of the fibres. The coating is especially important in areas with high traffic and human skin contacts such as living rooms, lounges, bed headboards and vehicle interiors. 
• Accessories: these include pillows and decorative rugs. They minimise contact between the material, human skin and other items that may damage the leather. Avoid printed covers as leather absorbs dyes over time.
• Leather Protection Plan: an insurance plan for your leather items maintenance covering typical damage. Useful where you have expensive leather upholstery furniture such as antiques, and collectibles. For this, however, read on the warranty period and the covered damages. 

Leather requires care and maintenance to maintain the natural colour of the hide. Clean spills immediately, regularly wipe down with a soft cloth, and for heavy usage, invest in extra protection. If buying from a store or manufacturer, follow the accompanying care tips for basic leather care. However, for persistent or serious damage, do consult a leather upholstery specialist. Reputable cleaning service providers have ample knowledge to maintain your fancy upholstery in prime condition.