Many of us who want to buy furniture, especially sofas, are inclined to get items made from leather because they are elegant and durable. However, when it comes to the price tag, leather furniture is a bit expensive. Not to worry, you can still buy leather furniture without spending too much. Ask your dealer about furniture made from bonded leather.
Bonded leather furniture is an inexpensive alternative to genuine leather. This is a type of material made from scraps of genuine leather combined with adhesive and covered with polyurethane. The polyurethane is then being stamped so it will have a texture like genuine leather.
The Pros and Cons of Bonded Leather Furniture
There are several advantages to using bonded leather on your furniture. As these are made from recycled leather fiber, you are assured that your furniture pieces are environmentally friendly. Most bonded leather also have product consistency, with only minimal variations and defects. When it comes to durability, bonded leathers are said to have excellent flame retardancy. Lastly, it’s also very easy to clean – you just wipe the surface of your furniture with a cloth and you’re done.
However, there are also some disadvantages to using this type of material on furniture. According to some, there may be harmful chemicals on the materials. Cadmium and lead are said to be used to give the bonded leather the shiny finish that it has.
Another disadvantage is that there are sellers who will try to sell bonded leather furniture to you as made of high-grade and genuine leather. It would be better to conduct your own research to know how you’d be able to distinguish bonded leather from genuine.
How to Take Care of Bonded Leather Furniture
As mentioned above, one of the benefits of bonded leather furniture is that it is very easy to clean them. Now, when cleaning, make sure not to use cleaners with harsh chemicals. Alcohol-based cleaners should also be avoided. You’ll also be better not to use colored cloth when cleaning as you can stain the bonded leather.
Though it is said that you just wipe the surface when cleaning bonded leather furniture, it is still advisable to vacuum the furniture to remove dust, crumbs and fibers in areas that you cannot reach. Just make sure to use soft brush on the vacuum.
You can also use a small amount of leather conditioner. Apply about 1 tablespoon of solution to a clean cloth and then massage it evenly on the surface. Allow the furniture to dry.
