Techniques to Maintain Leather, Vinyl & Headliner Fabrics
Whether it’s a new piece of leather furniture for the front room or dining room in your home or if you’ve recently purchased a new boat or car, you’ll be keen to keep it clean and clear of any odors, which above all will lead to these materials, looking great and lasting much longer.
Above all, if you want these types of materials to last longer, firstly you’ll need to know how to properly clean them and with what cleaning agents you should go about using.
Below, we’ve put together a list of some of the best ways you can do just that, for a number of materials that you’re generally likely to find as part of your furniture or vehicle.
Leather
A material which is generally found on new furniture such as sofas, dining chairs etc is leather, with leather being a common feature within many homes across America, it’s one which we are more than likely to spend more money on that any other, thus you’ll want to prevent wear and keep it looking great for as long as possible. 
So here’s a couple of ways you can do just that.
Keep leather furniture covered
When not in use, you should certainly consider keeping leather furniture covered with a thin, lightweight bed sheet for example, especially if you have any pets such as a dog or cat, which often make it their duty to turn your new leather sofa into their new scratching post.
Not only to protect it from household pets; covering your leather furniture can also protect it from sun damage, which can cause leather to dry out and eventually crack, which not only doesn’t look too pretty, but it can also lead to holes and tears appearing overtime
Clean and condition leather furniture
One obvious, but effective technique to keeping leather materials looking brand new for longer is to clean it every so often with specially suited leather cleaning products, some of which can be found on our online store, here.
It’s recommended that you use a less harsh, microfiber cloth rag when wiping down furniture, as their tiny fibers are built to grab and hold dirt to their surface.
Vinyl
Vinyl materials are often found again, on furniture. However, they are most commonly found on board boats, specifically for seating and covers, due to their durable, water-proof properties.
As you could imagine, these materials can produce a great amount of wear and tear very quickly, especially if it’s often that you’re on the open waters and replacing them often could mount up a particularly large bill.
Therefore, it’d be interesting to keep your boat interior looking sharp and lasting for as long as possible. SO we’ve put together a couple tips as to how you should go about the maintenance process.
Use mild soaps
When cleaning your boat vinyl fabrics, it’s recommended that you avoid harsh chemicals and detergents, such as bleach as a cleaning solution, as these can lead to vinyl breaking down, while also affecting the stitching too. Instead, use a mild soap and water to prevent any damage.
Avoid abrasive materials
When choosing to apply your mild cleaning material, think of the type of cloth you’re using, for instance, steer clear of anything too abrasive, instead consider a soft cloth or a large sponge, which will not only get the job done quicker, it will also prevent damage to the surface of the fabric.
Once the cleaning process is complete, it’s worthwhile to dry the fabric of any excess moisture, in order to prevent the accumulation of mold. Again, this should be done with a soft towel.
Cover your boat
If you store your boat in the open air on a harbor, be sure to invest in a cover, to protect your vinyl seats from the harsh weather conditions and mold appearing due to untreated residue.
Headliner
Although not an instantly recognizable material by name, Headliner is in fact used across the majority of car interiors throughout the world. Despite this, it is often an area we neglect most when taking the cleaning products to our cars on a sunny afternoon.
Identify no go area’s
When looking to clean your car’s headliner, the first thing you should look for are the sensitive areas which you should avoid with any moisture, for instance, any touchpads or small overhead lighting, often located next to your sun visor. These may become damaged if brought into contact with any sort of excess pressure or moisture.
The cleaning process
When cleaning the headliner it’s important that you do not use any extreme force or harsh utensils, such as brushes or vacuum’s, in order not to damage the headliner, due to it being constructed not to be sat or stepped on, it will likely be delicate.
Secondly, you should use a microfiber towel along with a suited detergent to delicately stroke in a side to side motion, followed by dabbing the surface, until the stain or dirt has gone.