What are the Different Ways to Maintain Artificial Leather?

Artificial or synthetic leather is made of two primary materials- poly urethane or polyvinyl chloride. These materials are commonly known by their abbreviation PU and PVC, respectively. The applications of synthetic leather are as vast as genuine leather from personal accessories, clothing to vehicle upholstery.

Synthetic leather is available in various types such as poromeric imitation leather, corfam, koskin and leatherette. This type of leather is used widely across categories due to its low cost. Synthetic leather has many positives when compared to genuine leather. One of them is low maintenance. Here are some simple steps to ensure the long life for your synthetic leather products.

Prevention: There are some preventive measures you can take to keep your artificial leather products looking as good as the first day you bought it. Most of the products used to protect real leather will also work for Artificial Leather. However, avoid excessive use of these products on synthetic leather. One easy preventive step is to rub a little baby oil gently on the product to create a protective layer which will keep it looking new. You can also use water repellents and leather stain removers.

Clean gently and regularly: To attain best results, it is essential to clean synthetic leather products regularly and gently. Some synthetic leather products come with the tag saying that it is safe to wash them in a machine. However, it is advised not to do so as it can damage the overall finish of the product. Instead, you could just remove the dirt with a soft bristled brush. Gently take out as much dirt as you can and then wipe the product with a dry cloth.

Stains from products made of PVC Leather can be easily removed using dish soap diluted in warm water. All you need to do is- remove the dirt with the help of a soft brush dipped in the diluted soap water. Another process is to mix some mild leather shampoo with water. The proportion to be used is two cups of water for one teaspoon of shampoo. Now immerse the synthetic leather product in this mixture and then squeeze out all the liquid till the product is dry and water stops dripping. Remove remaining stains or dirt from the product by blotting and wiping it with a soft cloth or sponge.

Dry it out: Once you are done cleaning, hang your synthetic leather product and let it air dry. It is important to avoid drying these products in too much. It is not recommended to use a dryer for this purpose. Exposing the material directly to sunlight causes the color to fade. Exposure to ultra violet rays causes the product to crack because the plastic used in the material breaks under these rays.

You can follow the above-mentioned steps when required; however, remember to avoid excessive cleaning of your synthetic leather products. If you don’t want to clean them on your own, you can take them to a professional cleaning service.