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How to Tell If a Leather Couch is Real Or Faux Due to the misinformation on price tags and product descriptions it's sometimes difficult to determine whether you're buying a genuine leather couch. It is important to get close and personal – take a whiff, feel and flip over a couch to look at the fabric. For instance, one 'leather' couch CHOICE tested had 'contact' areas (such as arm rests) upholstered in genuine leather but the 'non-contact' areas were a mixture of cotton and polyester. 1. Smell A genuine leather sofa should be a natural, rich and luxurious. The faux leather, on the other hand often smells chemically-processed and artificial. If your couch is smelling bad it could be due to stains or pet urine. In the majority of instances, a thorough cleaning will eliminate any smell. If you're not satisfied with the results, try applying a leather conditioner. This will restore moisture to the leather and make it more soft and less brittle. It also makes it more resistant to smells. You can also use an organic odor eliminator like baking soda to eliminate unpleasant odors from your sofa. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then employ a cloth (preferably microfibre) to clean the leather couch. If the cloth begins to pick up dirt, squeeze it out or switch to an alternative. Alternately, you can pour the solution in the spray bottle and spray it onto your couch. Let the solution dry before wiping it again. The process of airing out your leather is another method to remove the smell. Set the couch in a sunny area to let it air. This will remove any unwanted odors, and give the sofa a natural, fresh scent. If you want to stay clear of unpleasant odors, you can buy a leather conditioner containing healthy oils. This keeps your leather looking fresher longer by preventing it from taking in smells. The scent of leather may be appealing, but it can be difficult to maintain. Over time, it can absorb the odors of smoking, cooking, and even body odor. These odors can be difficult to eliminate, particularly when your home is occupied by children or pets. Leather couches don't absorb odors like fabrics can. This makes them a great choice for families with active children. It's important to take action immediately if your couch smells like it was soaked in puppy urine. You can try some of the suggestions above or you can try a specific product such as Leather Honey to treat the problem. Prevention is the best solution however, so make sure to teach your dog not to pee on the couch! 2. Feel There are some clues to look out for when shopping for a leather sofa, however the most reliable method to determine whether it's genuine is to feel it and smell it. Real leather has an unmistakable, distinct natural scent. The smell can fade with age however, it should be clear when the couch is brand new. A genuine leather couch should be warm and comfortable to the touch. Faux and bonded leathers tend to be colder and have a a plasticky feel. To test this, gently press your fingertips to the sofa's surface and check for bumps. If you can't feel any bumps, the leather is likely to be fake or bonded leather. If you notice vertical seams that are stitched on the back of the sofa, it's another dead giveaway. This means that the leather is not one continuous piece. Genuine leather couches are distinguished by this. The quality of the frame on the leather sofa can have a significant impact on its longevity however, it's often not obvious. Find out what kind of wood was used to construct the frame. This will help you choose a sofa with a long lifespan. Solid oak frames are the most durable, however they are also the most expensive. Engineered or particle board frames will be less sturdy. For added durability, a wooden frame should also be kiln-dried to prevent warping and mildew. If you are on a budget, you can still find a genuine leather sofa that you will love. The Room & Board Stevens Leather Sofa, for example, is a stylish and flexible option that is often on sale and can easily be customized to fit your home. Another option that is budget-friendly is the La-Z-Boy Gather Manual Reclining Sofa, which is a classic style and is available in hundreds of durable and fade-resistant fabrics. The sofa is modular and quite difficult to set up at home and the back cushions tend to slide down. 3. Backing Genuine leather couches offer a unique appeal that other types of upholstery cannot compete with. Leather sofas are incredibly robust and withstand wear and tear much better than fabrics, which makes them last for years to be. They also are resistant to staining and spills, and are less likely to attract allergens and dust which means they don't require more frequent maintenance and cleaning. Leather couches aren't any different. As with any other purchase, it's important to be aware of risks before making a final choice. If you're not sure whether your new sofa is genuine leather, the first thing to look over the material tag on the frame to find out what kind of leather or fabric it is made of. If you are unable to find any information regarding the sofa's material composition, you can use your senses to make an informed decision. A key indicator is to take a closer look at the couch's surface and look at the texture, shading, and patterns in depth. Real leather couches will have natural imperfections, and the structure, pattern, or shading won't be consistent. If the surface is uniform and smooth or if a mesh-like backing appears in place of coarse leather, it's a clear giveaway of fake or synthetic leather. Another test to take is to check the back of the cushion casing. If the cushion has a vertical stitching on its back, it's not genuine leather. This is due to the fact that animal hides are limited in size and can be cut only to a certain extent. To ensure the highest quality of their products, the top manufacturers will sew and stitch through the entire back of the couch to ensure it is genuine leather and not bonded or faux leather. If you are able to lift one corner and look at the padding on the back. If the back of padding is covered in a woven material or polyurethane then this is a sign that the couch isn't genuine leather. Genuine leather should feel firm and rough when it is touched. 4. Patterns A leather sofa is a timeless design for reasons. The warm, natural feel and look of the material can enhance any living space. Modern tanning techniques give it added durability, so that it doesn't suffer from cracks or sagging. Each hide is unique, with its own marks, grain and blemishes. While labels and prices are excellent indicators but the best way to know whether you're buying genuine leather is to get up close and personal with it. To get a better idea of the authenticity, look at the surface texture and the pattern as well as the structure. If the structure is completely uniform and there aren't obvious flaws, it's probably fake or bond leather. leather modular sofa is a backing of polyurethane on the sofa's back. This is a common characteristic of the bonded leather. Genuine leather will look more natural and be supported by materials that closely match the fabric used to create the furniture. Finally, check the back of the couch to see two or three stitched vertical seams. This is an indication of a top-quality piece of leather that has been constructed with care to last. If there are no seams, and the rear appears to be a continuous piece of cloth, then it's likely to be a fake or bonded-leather couch. If you've decided that a couch is genuine leather the next step is to match it with the rest of your furniture in your living room. Find a match for your sofa with wooden furniture, and then add pillows that match the color of your living space. Or go for a more fluid, acoustic layout by putting your couch across from other pieces with a coffee table in between. Make sure to keep your leather sofa in a bright area so that it doesn't deteriorate or show scuff marks due to direct sunlight. If you want to extend the life of your leather sofa and protect your investment use a leather protection agent once or twice per year.