Care & Cleaning
Since leather is inherently resilient and durable, it requires very little maintenance.
Cleaning Leather
One of the most asked questions is, "can I clean leather upholstery?" Occasional dusting with a clean, dry cloth should be all that is necessary for cleaning and maintenance. Pure aniline leathers and leathers without a protective finish (such as suede, nubuck and distressed leathers) should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.
In the case of a spill, wipe excess liquid immediately and let air dry. Do not apply saddle soap, oils, cleaners or “home remedies” such as hairspray to the leather as these products are not made specifically for use on upholstery leather and can actually harm the leather. When it comes to cleaning a stain, there are different procedures for different types of leather. Read below our comprehensive care and cleaning instructions for each type of leather.
Pure Aniline
Pure aniline leathers are designed to age and patina gracefully, increasing in beauty over time.
Cleaning Code: 1
Cortina Leathers’ pure aniline leathers are treated in the drum for water and soil repellency and so can be maintained with very little care. General upkeep requires only an occasional dusting with a clean cloth. Never use oils, saddle soaps, conditioners or cleaners on pure aniline or aniline leather.
Pure aniline leathers have the least amount of protective finish, so spills and soiling should be removed immediately to avoid permanent discoloration. Should a spill occur, blot immediately using a clean, dry, absorbent cloth. Should soiling remain, use lukewarm water to minimally dampen a clean white cloth and gently blot the affected area. Blot dry with paper towel or dry cloth, and allow to air dry. It may be necessary to cease efforts prior to total stain removal lest over-rubbing or over-wetting do additional harm to the leather’s appearance, so caution must be used. It may not be possible to remove all stains from this natural product.
Aniline Leathers
Aniline leathers are designed to age gracefully, increasing in beauty over time.
Cleaning Code: 2
Aniline leathers require very little care—general upkeep requires only an occasional dusting with a clean cloth. Never use oils, saddle soaps, harsh cleaners or cleaners containing abrasives on aniline leather. Periodically, you may wish to gently wipe the leather with a clean, damp cloth to remove accumulated soil and allow it to air dry.
Should a spill occur, remove immediately by blotting with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth to avoid permanent discoloration. Should soiling remain, a solution of lukewarm water and a mild soap such as Ivory® or a mild cleanser such as Woolite® may be used. Dampen a clean white cloth in the solution and gently wipe the affected area using a circular motion. Never apply the solution directly to the leather. Rinse completely with a clean cloth to ensure all cleaner is removed. Dry with a paper towel or dry cloth and allow to completely air dry. It may be necessary to repeat this procedure, allowing the leather to completely dry between applications. To avoid harming the leather, do not rub vigorously or for an extended period. It may not be possible to remove all stains from this natural product.
Semi-Aniline
Semi-aniline leathers are protected against scratching and scuffing and designed to maintain their beauty over time.
Cleaning Code: 3
Semi-aniline leathers require very little care--general upkeep requires only an occasional dusting with a clean cloth. Never use oils, saddle soaps, harsh cleaners or cleaners containing abrasives on semi-aniline leather. Periodically, you may wish to gently wipe the leather with a clean, damp cloth to remove accumulated soil, then allow it to air dry.
Should a spill occur, remove immediately by blotting with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth to avoid permanent discoloration. Should soiling remain, a solution of lukewarm water and a mild soap such as Ivory® or a mild cleanser such as Woolite® may be used. Dampen a clean white cloth in the solution and gently wipe the affected area using a circular motion. Never apply the solution directly to the leather. Rinse completely with a clean cloth to ensure all cleaner is removed. Dry with a paper towel or dry cloth and allow to completely air dry. It may be necessary to repeat this procedure, allowing the leather to completely dry between applications. To avoid harming the leather, do not rub vigorously or for an extended period. It may not be possible to remove all stains from this natural product.
Universal Cleaning Wipes formulated specifically for Cortina Leathers make it easy to keep your leather sterile and looking like new. While being strong enough to kill bacteria and certain viruses, the detergent is gentle enough to clean richly colored leathers and tough enough to clean worn leather upholstery. Available for purchase.
Pigmented Leathers
Pigmented leathers are resistance to wear, scratching and staining so they require very little maintenance to maintain their beauty over time.
Cleaning Code: 4
General upkeep requires only an occasional dusting with a clean cloth. Periodically, you may wish to gently wipe the leather with a clean, damp cloth to remove accumulated soil and allow it to air dry. Leather conditioners and protectants, such as those by Leather Master® can be used as directed.
Should a spill occur, blot immediately using a clean absorbent cloth or paper towel. Should soiling remain or for a more thorough cleaning, Cortina Leathers Universal Cleaner High-Tech Wipes or a solution of lukewarm water and a mild cleaner, such as Ivory® soap or Woolite®, may be used. Dampen a clean white cloth and gently wipe the affected area using a circular motion. Rinse completely with a clean cloth to ensure all cleaner is removed. Dry with a paper towel or dry cloth, and allow to completely air dry. Repeat the cleaning process as needed, allowing the leather to dry between applications. While it is possible to remove many deep stains and soiling from semi-aniline and pigmented leathers, it may not be possible to remove all stains from this natural product.
Universal Cleaning Wipes formulated specifically for Cortina Leathers make it easy to keep your leather sterile and looking like new. While being strong enough to kill bacteria and certain viruses, the detergent is gentle enough to clean richly colored leathers and tough enough to clean worn leather upholstery. Available for purchase.
Crypton
Cortina Leathers with Crypton® provide the industry’s greatest stain resistance and cleanability.
Cleaning Code: 5
Our full line of Crypton protected leathers can be disinfected with Clorox® products and up to a 5% bleach solution (sodium hypochlorite).
Stains which can be easily removed include wine, coffee, sunscreen, hair gel, hair mousse, vinegar, blood, urine and most other stains from food and typical soiling. Should it be necessary, most stains can be easily removed using just gentle soap and water or the readily available commercial and household cleaning products listed below.
Note: To ensure complete removal of any stain from Crypton-treated leathers the cleaning process outlined below must be undertaken within 60 minutes of any spillage or staining occurring. Successful stain removal will become less possible over time, so always treat spills and stains immediately. Avoid the excessive application of cleaning products on seams or stitching.
Crypton-leather cleaning process:
- Blot with a clean, dry or slightly damp cloth to soak up any remaining liquid, pressing lightly. Do not rub.
- Rinse the cloth thoroughly using clean water, wring dry.
- Gently wipe with a solution of mild soap (such as Ivory® or Woolite®). Use a gentle, circular motion. Do not use too much downward force.
- Thoroughly rinse ALL the mild soap from the surface using plain water and clean rags or paper towels by blotting and gently wiping the stain with clean portions of the towels.
- Blot with light pressure until as dry as possible using paper towel or dry, clean rag, and then allow the leather to completely air dry.
- If any soiling remains use one of the recommended household or commercial cleaners.
- Spray the cleaner directly onto the stain and then use a clean, soft, white cloth, to gently wipe the affected area with medium pressure to remove surface soil and debris. Use a gentle, circular motion. Do not use too much downward force.
- Thoroughly rinse ALL the cleanser from the surface using plain water and clean rags or paper towels by blotting and gently wiping the stain with clean portions of the towels.
- Blot with light pressure until as dry as possible using paper towel or dry, clean rag, and then allow the leather to completely air dry.
- Repeat steps 7 thru 9 should any soil remain. It may not be possible to remove all set-in stains including mustard, ink pen, permanent marker, etc.
Tested Cleaning Products:
- Woolite®
- Cortina Leathers Universal Cleaner High-Tech Wipes
- Leather Master® family of cleaners, not including the ink spot remover.
- Household cleaners such as Fantastik® all-purpose cleaner, Formula 409® and Clorox® Wipes
- Armor All® leather cleaner
- Kay® Instant Solutions glass cleaner
- Cleaners containing up to 5 % Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) solutions, such as Clorox® Clean-up + bleach, Fantastik® all-purpose cleaner with bleach, etc.
- Most commercial cleaners found on any janitorial cart, including: KAY® QSR Liquid Cleaner, KAY® Glass Cleaner, ClickSan® Disinfectant/Sanitizer, Esteem™ Sani-NC Use
Suede & Nubuck
All Cortina Leathers’ suedes and nubucks are treated in the drum for water repellency, and can be maintained with reasonable care.
Cleaning Code: 6
For general upkeep occasionally vacuum using an upholstery attachment and brush the nap using a soft-bristle suede upholstery brush. All Cortina Leathers’ suedes and nubucks are treated in the drum for water repellency, and can be maintained with reasonable care. However, we advise immediate attention in the event of spills or soiling. For spills, blot immediately using a clean, dry absorbent cloth and brush to restore the nap. If soiling remains, minimally dampen a clean cloth with water and gently dab—never rub the leather. Use a soft brush to restore the nap. Avoid over-wetting this leather to prevent discoloration.
Hair on Hide
Hair on Hide is naturally very resilient.
Cleaning Code: 7
Hair on Hide leathers should be vacuumed for regular upkeep, always moving the vacuum wand in the direction of the hair, never against. Should a spill occur, blot immediately using a clean absorbent cloth or paper towel. Should soiling remain, use a sponge dampened in plain cold water or a mild vinegar solution to gently rub the affected area - in the direction of the hair. A soft nylon brush may be used to help release any stubborn debris. Allow to air dry. Never place a hair on hide rug in a washing machine or submerge in liquid to clean.
Silicone Fabrics
Silicone fabrics are easy to clean.
Cleaning Code: W/S
Silicone fabrics can be cleaned with either water or solvent-based cleaners. Use dilutions of isopropyl alcohol (70%) or bleach (10-20%) for stubborn stains.
There is no need for waxing or cleaning solutions, nor additional sun-blocking agents. For common stains in daily life, water or water with detergent is sufficient to remove it all. Like many fabrics, we recommend that all spills be cleaned up as soon as possible.