How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
Due to the misinformation on price tags and product descriptions it's sometimes difficult to determine whether you're buying a real leather couch. You must get up close and personal - smell, feel and then turn over a cushion to examine the back.
For example, a "leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered 'contact' (such as the armrests and seats) in genuine leather, whereas 'non contact' areas were a mix of cotton and polyester coated.
1. Smell
A genuine leather sofa should smell rich, natural and luxurious. The faux leather, however, is often chemically processed and synthetic. If your sofa has a bad smell, it may be due to pet urine or stains. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will eliminate the smell. If you aren't satisfied with the results of your cleaning, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore the moisture to the leather, making it softer and less brittle. It will also make it more resistant to odors.
Baking leather sofas for sale is a fantastic natural odor eliminator that can be used to get rid of unpleasant odors from your couch. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe your leather couch. If the cloth begins to collect dirt, you can wring it out or swap for an alternative. You can also spray the solution on your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping it over again.
Another method to eliminate the smells from your leather is by airing it out. Set the couch in a bright space to let it air out. This will help eliminate unwanted odors, and provide it with a fresh, natural scent.
If you'd like to avoid unpleasant odors, purchase a leather conditioner with healthy oils. This keeps your leather looking fresher for longer, preventing it from absorbing the smells.
While the smell of natural leather is appealing but it can be difficult to maintain. As time passes, it will absorb the odors of smoking, cooking, and even body smell. These odors are difficult to eliminate especially if you have children or pets. Fortunately, real leather couches don't hold the odors as fabric upholstery and are a good choice for families with active families.
It is crucial to act immediately in the event that your couch smells like it was soaked in puppy poop. You can try some of the suggestions above or you can try a specific product such as Leather Honey to treat the problem. Prevention is the best option however, so make sure to train your dog not to pee on the couch!
2. Contact us if you have any questions.
When shopping for a new leather sofa there are some things to be looking for. The most effective way to determine if it's real is to smell and feel it. leather sofas for sale has a distinct, natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. This aroma can dull as you age but it is impossible to miss it when a sofa is brand new.
A genuine leather couch is supposed to be warm and soft to the touch. Bonded and faux leathers, on the other hand, often have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this, gently press your fingers against the surface of a couch and check for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it is likely bonded or faux-leather.
Another dead giveaway is if you see stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This indicates that the leather isn't one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are characterized by this.
The quality of a frame for a sofa can have a significant impact on its lifespan but this isn't always immediately apparent. Ask what type of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you choose the right sofa that has a long lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, however they are also the most expensive. Particle board or engineered frames are less durable. To improve durability, hardwood frames should be dried kiln to stop the growth of mildew and warping.
If you're shopping for a price that isn't too expensive There are plenty of low-cost genuine leather sofas you can still enjoy. For example the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's often offered for sale and is easily customized to match your home.
Another option that is budget-friendly is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which has a classic design and is available in hundreds of durable and fade-resistant fabrics. This modular sofa is somewhat difficult to put together at home and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas are an exception to other types of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can withstand wear and tear much more than fabric, making them last for a long time to be. They also resist staining and spills and are less likely to attract dust and other allergens and therefore don't require as much regular care and cleaning. Leather couches aren't different. As with any other purchase, it's important to be aware of dangers before making a final choice.
If you are not sure if your new couch is made of leather or fabric then you must first verify the tag that identifies the material on the frame. This will reveal exactly what kind of material it is. However, you should also utilize your own senses to assist you in making a decision if you can't find any information about the composition of the material used in the sofa.
A key indicator is to take a close look at the surface of the couch and examine the texture, shading, and patterns in detail. Real leather couches will have natural imperfections and the structure, pattern or shading won't be uniform. If the surface is smooth and uniform or if a mesh backing is visible instead of the coarse leather, it's a sure indicator of fake or synthetic leather.
Another way to test this is to check the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has vertical stitching on the back, it is not genuine leather. The reason is that animal hides are limited in their size, and can only be cut as big. To ensure the best quality of their products, top-rated manufacturers will always stitch and sew across the entire back of a couch to ensure that it is genuine leather and not fake or bonded leather.
If you are able to try lifting up a corner of the sofa or a cushion and examine the back of the cushion. If the back of the padding is covered in a woven fabric or is covered with polyurethane, it is another indication that the couch is not genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to have a coarse and rough coating that feels solid when you contact it.
4. Patterns
A real leather couch is a timeless piece, and for good reason. The material's warm, natural design and feel can add a touch of class to any living room. Modern tanning methods give it additional durability, meaning that it resists cracking or sagging. Since each hide comes with distinct patterns, grain, and blemishes each leather couch is unique.
While labels and prices are great pointers however, the best way to know whether you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and personal with it. Inspect the texture, structure, and pattern for an in-depth glimpse of its genuine. If the structure is completely uniform and there aren't visible flaws, it's most likely fake or the leather is bonded.
A back made of polyurethane on the sofa is a different indicator. This is a typical feature of bonded leather. Genuine leather will appear more natural and will be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making furniture.
Finally, check the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This is a sign that the leather has been constructed with care to last. If there aren't any seams, and the back appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it is likely to be a faux or bonded leather couch.
If you've concluded that the couch is authentic leather the next step is to match it with the rest of your living room furniture. For a sleek, unified style, pair your sofa with other furniture made of wood and line it up with pillows that echo the colors in your living space. You can also choose an energizing, relaxing layout by placing the couch between two pieces furniture with a coffeetable between.
Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a well-lit area to ensure it doesn't fade or leave scuff marks due to direct sunlight. If you want to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect your investment apply a leather protector agent at least once or twice a year.