How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux
It can be difficult to tell if you are buying genuine leather couches due to inaccurate product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal - take a whiff, feel and flip over a cushion to check the backing.
For instance, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered contact areas (such as the seats and armrests) with genuine leather. The 'non contact' areas were made up of cotton and coated polyester.
1. Smell
A real leather sofa should be a natural and rich scent. Faux leather, however, often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If leather sofas smells bad it could be due to stains or pet urine. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning will remove any smell. If you aren't satisfied with the results of your cleaning, you can apply a leather conditioner. This will bring back the leather's moisture which makes it softer and less brittle, as well as more resistant against odors.
You can also use a natural odor eliminator such as baking soda to get rid of unpleasant smells from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, and then employ a cloth (preferably microfibre) to clean the surface of your leather sofa. If the cloth begins to absorb dirt, squeeze it out or swap for another. You can also spray the solution on your couch. The mixture should dry before wiping it again.
The process of airing out your leather is another natural way to get rid of the smell. If you can, place the couch outside in a sunny spot to let it air dry. This will help eliminate any unwanted smells and give the sofa a fresh, natural scent.
If you want to avoid unpleasant smells altogether You can buy a leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will keep your leather fresh for longer by keeping it from absorption of odors.
The scent of leather may be appealing, but it can be difficult to maintain. As time passes, leather will absorb odors like smoke, cooking and even body odor. These odors can be difficult to remove, especially in homes with children or pets. Fortunately, leather couches don't hold these odors like fabric upholstery, making them an ideal choice for families with active families.
If your couch smells akin to an odor of a dog that has peed on it It's crucial to take action immediately. You can use the tips given above or a product such as Leather Honey to fix the problem. Prevention is the best way to go however, so make sure to train your dog not to pee on the couch!
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When shopping for a new leather sofa, there are a few things you should be looking for. The best way to tell if it's real is to smell it and feel it. Real leather has a distinct natural scent that is not difficult to recognize. The smell fades with age, but it should be evident when the couch is brand new.
A genuine leather sofa is supposed to be warm and soft to touch. Leathers that are faux or bonded however tend to have a more plasticky feel and are colder to touch. To test this, gently press your fingertips onto the surface of the couch and feel for bumps. If you don't feel any bumps on the couch, it's likely bonded or faux-leather.
If you notice vertical seams stitched across the back of sofas, this is another sign of a fake. This means the leather isn't one continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches.
The quality of a frame of a sofa can have a significant effect on its longevity but this isn't always immediately apparent. Find out what kind of wood was used to make the frame. This will help you choose an item that has longevity for a long time. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but also the most expensive. Engineered or particle board frames are less durable. To increase durability, hardwood frames must be kiln dried to prevent warping or mildew.
If you are on a tight budget, you can still find an authentic leather sofa you will love. For instance the Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa is a fashionable and versatile choice that's often on sale and can be easily personalized to fit your home.
Another budget-friendly option is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is a classic style and comes in a variety of fade-resistant fabric. This sofa is quite difficult to set up at home and the back cushions tend to slide down.
3. Backing
Leather sofas are a class apart from other kinds of upholstery. Leather sofas are extremely durable and can withstand wear and tear far better than fabrics, which makes them last for a long time to come. They are also less likely to attract dust, allergens or spills. Leather couches aren't any different. Like every other purchase, it's essential to be aware of the dangers before making a final decision.
If you're unsure if your new couch is genuine leather, the first thing to look over the material tag on the frame to find out exactly what type of leather or fabric it's made of. If you are unable to find any information about the sofa's material composition then you can use your senses to make the decision.
The couch's surface should be examined closely and pay attention to the pattern, texture, and shading. Real leather couches will have natural imperfections, and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be uniform. If the couch's surface appears smooth and uniform, or if it has a mesh-like backing in place of rough suede, that's an indication that it's fake or synthetic leather.
Another way to test this is to look at the back of the cushion casing. If there is an unstitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, that's an indication that it's not true leather. This is due to the fact that hides from animals are limited in size and can only be cut to a certain extent. To ensure the best quality of their products, top-rated manufacturers will sew and stitch through the entire back of a couch to ensure that it's genuinely leather and not bonded or faux leather.
If you are able lift a corner and inspect the padding on the back. If the back of the cushion is covered with a woven fabric or is covered in polyurethane this is another sign that the sofa is not genuine leather. Genuine leather should have a rough and coarse coating that feels sturdy when you feel it.
4. Patterns
A leather sofa is a timeless classic for reasons. The material's warm, natural appearance and feel can enhance any living space. Additionally modern tanning techniques adds a bit of durability to withstand sagging or cracking. Since each hide comes with distinctive marks and blemishes, grain, and marks, every leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind.
While labels and prices are great pointers but the best way to know whether you're buying authentic leather is to go up close and close to it. Check the surface texture, structure, and pattern for an in-depth glimpse of its genuine. If the structure of the leather is consistent and there aren't any visible flaws on it, then it's likely to be fake or bonding.
Another dead giveaway is a backing made of polyurethane on the back of the sofa. This is a common characteristic of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be backed by materials that closely match the fabric used in making the furniture.
Check the back of your sofa to see whether there are any vertical seams. This is a sign the leather was constructed with care to last. If there are no seams, and the back appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it's likely to be a fake or bonded leather couch.
Once you've determined that a couch is genuine leather the next step is to match it with the rest of your living room furniture. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture and add pillows that match the colors of your living space. You can also opt for a more comfortable, lively layout by putting your couch against other furniture pieces and placing an occasional table.
Remember to keep your leather sofa in a bright space to ensure that it doesn't deteriorate or show scuff marks due to direct sunlight. If you're looking to protect your investment by prolonging its life, you should consider applying a leather protector once or twice a year.