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How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux It can be difficult to determine if you are buying genuine leather sofas due to inaccurate product descriptions and price tags. You need to get up close and personal with the couch – smell, feel and turn over a cushion to examine the fabric. For example, a 'leather couch' CHOICE tested had upholstered contact areas (such as the seats and armrests) in genuine leather while non-contact areas were a mix of cotton and coated polyester. 1. Smell A genuine leather sofa will smell rich, natural and luxurious. The faux leather, however, typically smells chemically processed and artificial. If your sofa smells unpleasant it could be due to urine from pets. In the majority of cases, a thorough cleaning can eliminate the smell. If you are not satisfied with the results of your cleaning, apply a leather conditioner. This will help restore the leather's moisture, making it softer and less brittle, as well as more resistant against odors. Baking soda is an excellent natural odor-removing agent that can be used to eliminate unpleasant odors from your couch. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, and then use a cloth (preferably microfibre) to clean the leather sofa. If the cloth begins to gather dirt, you can wring it or replace it with a new one. You can also put the solution in the spray bottle and spray it onto your couch. Let the solution dry before wiping it over again. Another method to eliminate odors from your leather is to air it out. Set the couch in a sun-lit area to let it air. This will eliminate any unwanted odors and give it an aroma that is fresh and natural. If you'd like to avoid unpleasant smells altogether You can buy an oil-based leather conditioner that contains healthy oils. This will prevent your leather from soaking up unpleasant odors and keep it looking good for a longer time. The scent of leather can be appealing, but it is difficult to maintain. As time passes, leather will absorb odors like smoke, cooking and even body odor. These odors can be difficult to get rid of, especially when you have children or pets. Fortunately, real leather couches aren't able to trap these odors in the same way that fabric upholstery can and are a good choice for households with active families. If your couch smells akin to an odor of a dog that has peed on it It is important to address the issue immediately. You can try some of the suggestions above or you can try a specific product like Leather Honey to treat the problem. The best way to treat the issue is to avoid the issue therefore, make sure to train your dog to not pee on your couch. 2. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. When you're looking for a brand new leather sofa there are a few things to look out for. However, the best way to tell whether it's genuine is to smell and feel it. Real leather has an unmistakable, distinct natural scent. The scent can fade with age but there should be no mistaking it when the sofa is brand new. A genuine leather sofa should be warm and comfortable to the touch. Leathers made of faux and bonded tend to be colder and have a a plasticky feel. To test it, gently press your fingers against the couch's surface and look for bumps. If there aren't any bumps on the couch, it is likely faux-leather or bonded. Another indicator is if you notice stitched vertical seams on the back of the sofa. This means the leather isn't one continuous piece, which is a characteristic of genuine leather couches. The quality of the frame on a leather couch can have a major effect on its longevity, but it's not always obvious. Find out what kind of wood was used in the making of the frame. This will help you select an item that has a long lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, but also the most expensive. Engineered or particle board frames will be less sturdy. To improve durability, hardwood frames should be dried kiln to prevent warping or mildew. If you're on a budget it is possible to find a genuine leather sofa that you will love. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa, for example, is a stylish and versatile option that's often available for sale and can be adapted to your home. Another option that is budget-friendly is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa It has a classic design and is available in a wide range of fade-resistant fabrics. The sofa requires at-home assembly and the back cushions are prone to slide down. 3. Backing Real leather couches have a certain aesthetic that other forms of upholstery can't match. Leather sofas are extremely robust and withstand wear and tear more than fabric, making them last for years to be. They also resist staining and spills, and are less likely to attract allergens and dust, so they don't need more frequent maintenance and cleaning. However, as with anything else in life, there are pitfalls when it comes to buying a leather sofa – and it pays to know what to look out for prior to making your final choice. If you're not sure whether your new couch is made of leather or fabric, you should first check the materials tag attached to the frame. This will tell you exactly what kind of fabric it is. But, you should utilize your own senses to make an informed decision if you are unable to find any information about the material composition of the sofa. The couch's surface is worth a close examination, paying attention to the patterns, shading and texture. Genuine leather couches will have natural imperfections, and the structure, pattern, or shading will not be uniform. If the surface of a couch appears to be smooth and uniform, or shows a mesh-like backing in place of coarse suede, it's a dead giveaway that it's fake or synthetic leather. Another way to test this is to check the back of the cushion casing. If you see a stitched vertical seam on the back of the cushion, it's an indication that it's not genuine leather. The reason is that animal hides are limited in their size, and they can only be cut so large. To ensure the highest quality of their products, the top manufacturers will sew and stitch across the entire back of the couch to ensure it's genuinely leather and not fake or bonded leather. If you can attempt to lift a corner of the sofa or a cushion and examine the back of the cushion. If the back of the padding is covered with a woven material or polyurethane then this is a sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather is supposed to have a coarse and rough surface that feels solid when you touch it. 4. Patterns A leather couch is a timeless classic with reasons. The material's warm, natural look and feel can elevate any living room. Plus the modern tanning process gives it the added durability to withstand sagging or cracking. Because each hide has its own unique markings and blemishes, grain, and marks, every leather couch is truly one-of-a-kind. The best way to know whether the leather you're buying is authentic is to look at it in person. Check the texture, structure, and pattern for an in-depth glimpse of its genuine. If the structure appears to be uniform and there aren't visible flaws, it's most likely faux or bond leather. A back made of polyurethane on the sofa is a further indicator. This is a common characteristic of bonded leather. Genuine leather will appear more natural and be supported by materials that closely match the fabric used in making the furniture. Lastly, look at the back of the couch to see one or two stitched vertical seams. This is a sign the leather was constructed with attention to last. On the other side, if there are no seams and the couch's back appears like a continuous piece of cloth, it's most likely a lower-quality faux or bonded leather sofa. Once you've confirmed that your sofa is made of genuine leather, it's now time to pair it with your other furniture for your living space. To create a clean, coordinated look, match your couch with other wooden furniture and line it with pillows that match the color scheme of your living space. You can also opt for a more comfortable, lively arrangement by placing your sofa in a row with other furniture pieces, and the addition of a coffee table. Be sure to keep your leather sofa in a well-lit area so that it doesn't fade or leave scratches due to direct sunlight. If leather sofa set looking to prolong the life of your leather sofa and protect your investment apply a leather protector agent once or twice per year.