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One of the greatest things about bar stools is how many different styles, shapes, colors and designs there are to choose from. Despite this wide variety, the most popular fabric used for seat upholstery is leather. A well made leather seat gives any piece of furniture a timeless quality, and unlike some fabrics, you never have to worry about ripping, tearing or some of the traditional problems you would have with lesser coverings. Caring for your leather seat is important, however. Here are a few tips you can use to extend the life of your bar stool even further.
Cleaning
In most cases, leather products will either come with a small bottle of cleaner or the manufacturer will specifically request that a particular cleaning agent be used. In lieu of that, your local supermarket or hardware store will have a wide range of leather cleaners you can choose from. It is important that you use a designated leather cleaner and not something like soap and water or Windex because leather needs to be conditioned while it is being cleaned. Other cleaners can dry out leather and cause it to crack and degrade. If you need help finding the right leather cleaner for your bar stool, simply find out what kind of leather you have and speak to someone at your local hardware store for more information.
Conditioning
While you are at your friendly neighbourhood hardware store, you may want to ask about conditioning your leather. When you condition leather, you reintroduce moisture, and often times oils, back into the fabric. Think of a fine, old saddle that needs to be cleaned and spruced up on a regular basis or the leather will crack and lose its lustre. You want to avoid cleaners that contain petroleum products, so make sure you read the label before you make your purchase.
Polishing
If you are having a dinner party or some other kind of special event, you may want to go the extra mile and polish your leather furniture. Be careful, however, some leather polishes will actually come off on clothing, so unless you want to cause a scene, make sure the polish you choose doesn't have any color in it. In most cases, a simple conditioning will add enough shine to your leather to suffice. If you do choose to polish, pick one that uses natural ingredients to add that extra bright lustre.
Cleaning
Just like with any other surface, the sooner you can get to a stain in your leather, the better. First, attack each stain with damp cloth. Be sure not to use soap or any kind of cleaner that is not specifically made for leather. If a simple damp cloth doesn't seem to work, use a store bought leather cleaner to get out the stain. You may want to read the instructions, however, as some leather cleaners are only for a particular colour (black, brown, etc). Always follow the instructions on the bottle and never leave a cleaning product on your leather for extended periods of time unless specifically told to do so.
Ruining your bar stools is the last thing you want to do. You bought them so you can enjoy barbeques outside and entertain people outdoors. However, thousands of people everyday are ruining their bar stools. If you love your leather bar stools, then it's important to take proper care of them. With just a little maintenance, they'll last for years. Follow these tips to maintain your stools.
Annual Maintenance for Leather Bar Stools
Just as you should perform annual maintenance of a leather jacket, you should put a little work into your bar stools every year.
Treat with leather conditioner. Each year, work leather conditioner into the seats of your stools to keep them soft and supple.
Apply leather waterproofing every year. Waterproofing your stools will help ensure that any spills or stains are less likely to set in and damage the stools. Waterproofing chemicals should be reapplied every year.
Repair scratches and nicks. Although you may notice scratches or nicks in the seat throughout the year, you should place each bar stool under a bright light at least once a year and inspect it. Repair any scratches with a leather touch-up kit.
Day-to-Day Bar Stool Maintenance
In addition to the major maintenance you perform annually, you should take a few precautions when cleaning and caring for your stools on a daily basis.
Clean up spills immediately. Even though the stools are waterproofed, you should wipe up spills immediately. Use a damp cloth when necessary, but don't get the leather completely wet.
Remove stains with leather cleaner. For stains that won't wipe up, use leather cleaner to remove the stain as soon as possible.
Dust and vacuum crevices. When you dust or vacuum the area, also be sure to clean the legs of the bar stool and vacuum the rim where the leather meets the wood to prevent dust from degrading the material.
Repair scratches when they occur. If you notice a scratch between major repairs, use a little touch-up to take care of them right then.
As is the case with all things, the older your bar stools get, the more dilapidated they can get. However, you can fight the aging process by simply oiling rotating bar stools and even repainting them. Simple maintenance and upkeep on your outside bar stools will help them last as long as possible. It will take some elbow grease, but in the end, you'll have bar stools that last a lot longer.
Getting the Best Bar Stools
Unless you're ordering from a company that caters specifically to restaurants and bars, most bar stools are designed for home use. Therefore, it's important to look for quality and durability now matter who's in your household. Be sure to check the warranty and manufacturer when you order online or buy from a furniture store. Whether you pick the perfect delicate wrought iron swivel barstool or a rough and tumble sports-themed barstool for the den, your sure to have a long lasting barstool when you shop with your lifestyle in mind.