Care and maintenance of leather furniture:
Leather is an organic, preserved material which does not produce
its own fat. A piece of furniture that is in daily use is exposed
to external stress. It is important to be aware of the following
if the leather is to be protected as long as possible:
•Leather fades when exposed to direct sunlight.
•Leather is exposed daily to grease and dirt from hands, hair
and clothing.
•Leather dries out from warm and dry air.
•Alcohol based cleaning products or sanitary wipes will destroy
the leather finish on your furniture.
For these reasons, Ekornes recommends the
following treatment of the furniture:
•Avoid direct sunlight. If the furniture is near a large window,
use blinds or awnings.
•Avoid placing near radiators or fan heaters.
•Avoid drying. Air humidity which is comfortable for you is
best for the leather.
•Vacuum the leather carefully to remove dust particles.
•Clean the leather regularly, using only an approved leather
cleaner, to remove grease and dirt.
•Never use products such as sanitary wipes, Windex or other
chemicals on your chair.
Ekornes recommends the following maintenance
procedures:
•Start maintenance immediately.
•Apply "Leather Protection Cloth" which is shipped with the
furniture to all surfaces, head rests, armrests, seats, etc.
The cream saturates the leather and obstructs/ delays absorption
of grease and perspiration.
•Leather cream (Stressless Leather Protection Cream is recommended)
and may be applied to the furniture approximately 2-4 times
a year (or when the leather is dry).
•Never use alcohol based cleaning products or sanitary wipes/products
on the leather.
If you follow these simple directions, you will
be able to enjoy your furniture for many years.
Stain removal:
How to remove a water stain:
Do not allow the stain to dry - remove it as quickly as possible!
Apply a mild liquid skin cleaner on a sponge or cotton cloth
to absorb all the liquid. Do not allow the leather to become
saturated. If this should happen, dry it quickly and carefully
i.e. with a hair drier. Do not rub.
How to remove a greasy stain:
Remove as much as possible of the stain with a paper napkin
or a soft cotton cloth. Do not rub. Press the cloth against
the stain to absorb the grease. Use mild soapy water (i.e. Sunlight)
to remove the rest of the stain.
Furniture leather is neither
self cleaning nor self-maintaining. Leather absorbs moisture.
Spills can leave marks and must be dealt with immediately.
1. Leather has limited elasticity. This means that when stretched,
it does not completely return to its original shape. Therefore,
when leather furniture is used more or less intensively, the
leather may become looser over time.
2. Leather like any other natural material can fade when exposed
to direct sunlight over a long period of time. Royalin, being
one of our more natural leathers, is being particularly sun
sensitive. Therefore to minimize fading, avoid placing your
furniture in direct sunlight.
3. To maintain the surface properties of the leather, we recommend
that you keep a minimum distance of 30cm between your furniture
and any source of heat.
4. Leather is not resistant to animals. Do not allow pets on
your leather furniture. Their claws may scratch the leather
which can lead to an expensive repair. Their saliva is acidic
and may also attack the leather finish.
5. In order to avoid stubborn stains protect your leather when
using household chemicals e.g., (most) domestic detergents such
as window cleaners, bleach and finger nail polish, nail polish
remover, glue, shoe polish, paint, corrosive materials. Avoid
domestic detergents and ALL products containing solvents and
oils, as they may destroy your leather surface. Do not use any
traditional household products to remove stubborn stains. Many
of these are harsh and cannot be guaranteed safe for use on
leather. Do not use a steamer to clean the leather.
6. Certain cosmetics and body care products contain solvents
and oils. These products are not beneficial to leather, as they
may weaken the leather finish over time. Avoid using your leather
furniture with wet hair or with freshly applied hair care products
or cosmetics. To avoid buildup of these products, please clean
regularly the leather as described.
7. All leathers last longer and look and perform better when
preventive maintenance is practiced.
8. Maintain surface appearance and texture by gently wiping
your leather once a week with a clean dry cloth or vacuum with
a soft brush. This will remove dust.
The leather of Stressless furniture
is a natural material that comes from cattle hides: When
the hide has gone through a tanning process and further processing
to achieve the correct utilization properties, it is called
leather. One characteristic of hide is that it is marked by
nature, vegetation and the care the animal has been subjected
to. Cattle spend most of their lives outdoors and will therefore
be marked by external influences like insect bites, tears, scars,
wrinkles, stretch marks, etc.
The following are some of the
properties of leather that you should be aware of: Leather
is a natural product and is a beautiful and lively material
used in furniture making. Each hide is unique in its structure,
appearance, nuance and size. Ekornes may use several hides when
making your furniture. This, together with the leather’s play
of colors and natural marks, makes each piece of furniture unique.
In time, the leather will age and gain patina. It is important
that you are aware of one thing: Although leather furniture
can withstand a lot of wear and tear, its appearance will change
with the years.