Caring for Leather Furniture: Protected, Aniline and Nubuck

Leather rewards a little attention with decades of use and a patina that gets better with age. The catch is that the care one leather needs can harm another, so the routine starts with knowing which hide you have.

Which leather is it?

• Protected (pigmented) leather has a finish on top. It feels smooth and uniform, resists water and wears evenly, which makes it a common choice for busy households.
• Aniline leather is dyed through with no topcoat. It shows the natural grain and the small marks of the hide, and it develops the richest patina.
• Nubuck is buffed to a soft, suede-like nap. It is the most water-sensitive of the three.

The maker’s tag or paperwork usually names the leather. When in doubt, the maker’s own care guidance outranks any general rule, including this one.

How to clean each one

Protected leather: wipe with a soft damp cloth. For a spot, use a mild non-detergent soap with warm water on a cloth, then wipe and blot dry.

Aniline leather: dry methods only. Dust it, vacuum gently, and blot a spill the moment it happens, working from the outside in. Use only products made specifically for aniline leather.

Nubuck: treat it like suede. Brush it to restore the nap, protect it with a nubuck or suede protector, and keep water away from it.

What never belongs on leather

Skip wax, furniture polish and oil-based cleaners entirely, along with detergents, solvents and abrasive pads. Condition on the schedule the maker recommends, with a product made for that leather, and test anything new on a hidden spot first. Aftermarket treatments can conflict with a manufacturer’s warranty, so factory guidance comes first.

Sun and heat

Direct sun and steady heat dry a hide and fade its color. Keep leather pieces out of long hours of direct sunlight and away from vents, radiators and fireplaces, and revisit placement as the light changes with the seasons.

Who wrote this

Trade Receiving’s president, Gil Urenda, is a graduate of the American Leather Preferred Technician Program, and our crew handles fine leather pieces every week.