A beautiful and well maintained leather sofa is a treat for the eyes, and equally comfortable to sit on. Therefore, a significant amount of money goes into buying one, or having one made. But there are some mistakes, which might end up ruining your leather sofa. Leather is a durable material, yet it is porous. The slightest negligence on your part can make your investment go in vain.

Here are some common leather furniture mistakes everyone must avoid.

1. Exposure to Heat and Sunlight

Visual appeal is one of the factors which dictate the placement of your leather furniture in a particular room. However, if you place a leather sofa too close to the heating equipment, chances are that it will wear off quickly. Prolonged exposure of leather to the heating equipment can dry the leather out and destroy it completely, with the passage of time. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to the sunlight can make the color of your leather furniture fade, thus leaving your sofa with ugly faded patches.

2. Placing Printed Materials on Leather

If left laying on the leather furniture, printed materials like books, handouts and magazines can bleed onto your furniture, thus blemishing it. It is fairly convenient to leave your reading material on leather furniture, but you may end up ruining your furniture. This normally happens due to colored magazine pages which bleed the color onto your leather furniture. 

3. Not Fluffing the Cushions

When it comes to leather furniture, the look and the shape are everything. However, some of us are so negligent that we fail to frequently turn and fluff our leather cushions. This causes the cushions to wrinkle, which ruins the overall look. These wrinkles are somewhat permanent, and never fully go, no matter how hard you try.

4. Negligence in Dusting

Leather is one such material that needs regular dusting. Leather furniture must be dusted at least once a week.  Whether you use a soft bristle brush or a vacuum cleaner, dust must not be allowed to settle on the leather. Dust is the primary cause of wear and tear in most fabrics, and leather is no exception. Regular dusting keeps your leather furniture safe, and also maintains its look. 

4. Using the Wrong Cleaners

When cleaning your leather, you must make sure that the right kind of cleaner is used. Avoid using soap, detergents, polishes and oils. When you purchase a leather sofa, go through the cleaning instructions on the manual. To keep your sofa clean, all you need is a piece of cloth and some lukewarm water.

To keep your leather furniture safe and good as new, try avoiding all of the above mentioned mistakes.