Sunday, December 21, 2008

Different Ways to Use Upholstery Leather

By Ethan O. Tanner

Leather is the best ever durable and most long-lasting upholstery material you can find. It is a perfect fit for any room of your home or office the strongest upholstery material known to man will withstand the rigors of daily life, including children and pets. Although the initial outlay of quality leather may be more than fabric upholstery, leather is actually your best investment in the long run

All leather must be tanned before it is suitable for use as upholstery leather. Depending on the end use, tanning may enhance strength, suppleness, resilience or resistance to wear. That means your piece of leather upholstery is built to last inside and out. Because leather is a wonderful, natural unique material, each hide will have unique characteristics. Several hides are used to upholster each item, so variations in color, grain and natural markings can be expected.

A leather hide is one of the most long-term upholstery materials, proper care is vital to preserve its look and performance. Unprotected leathers will soak up spills and stains; they will develop a patina over time. Protected leathers will resist most spills it is critical to blot them quickly to prevent stains.

Fully clean leather upholstery every two to three months or as needed using Leather Cleaner. You can care for the fabric from stains and spots, which will also increase in length the life of the fabric. Name brand products such as Scotch guard, Fiebings Suede and fabric coat, and Teflon are topical applications and give protection for anywhere from 6 to 12 months.

Car leather requires intermittent cleaning and simple care. Use a cloth soaked in a mild soap and water solution or clear warm water to remove dust and dirt. Dirt is abrasive and under extreme circumstances it can cause the damage of the protective coating that auto upholstery leathers have. Then lightly polish using a dry, soft cloth

Leather will last a lifetime if given the care it deserves. Upholstery leather is made from the full hide of a cow. It is usually sold by the entire hide which is a whole hide. The typical hide ranges in size from approximately 45-56 square feet

Upholstery leather is generally tanned in two types. Furniture upholstery leather is tanned to a softer temper, and this leather may also be used for handbags, chaps, jackets, pouches and other accessories in addition to furniture.

Upholstery leather is also tanned for automotive use. This leather is of medium temper, and it may be used for chaps, saddle seats, handbags and other upholstery uses. Automotive upholstery usually has protective finishes, and this makes the leather very stain and puncture resistant. Upholstery leather is quality leather with many uses, and it will outlast many fabric materials on the market. - 16651

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