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.