Why Is my Leather Sofa Sticky? Causes and Solutions
A leather sofa is usually attractive and basically designed to give any living space timeless elegance that will have one looking up to returning home every day. However, leather sofas are also vulnerable to sticky substances that may ruin their aesthetic if not dealt with immediately.
Just like stained leather sofas, yours can also fall victim to stickiness that can be quite irritating. Plus, this can happen more often especially if you have kids and pets as they can get messy without being careful enough not to ruin the sofa.
If you are wondering, your leather sofa could be sticky due to spillage of greasy substances like soda or oily food on it, excessive use of leather conditioner, absorption of body oils when someone sits on it especially when it’s hot, and damage from excess moisture if you are living in a high humidity area.
Fortunately, you can easily get rid of the stickiness on your leather sofa by using a simple solution of water and dish soap to wipe it out. You might need to wipe at least twice to make sure all the sticky substances are gone.
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Reasons Why your Leather Sofa Could be Sticky
To prevent sticky substances from ruining your leather sofa, make sure you take care of spillages as soon as they happen, avoid exposing your leather to direct sunlight, and limit the use of conditioners. Here are the reasons why your leather sofa could be sticky.
1. Greasy Stains
This could be the main reason your leather sofa feels sticky. It could be because you spilled some soda or oily food on the couch and forgot to wipe it immediately.
If you happen to spill anything greasy on your couch the first and most important rule is to take care of the mess immediately otherwise it will stain further and be difficult to get rid of later.
There are so many other greasy substances that may get in contact with your leather couch and should be treated with an immediate response because if not, it may ruin the aesthetic of your couch.
If you have kids, I would recommend using couch covers as you wouldn’t be sure of when the next spillage is going to happen and you will probably not be around to deal with it immediately. Couch covers prevent spillages from soaking up on your couch and they are very easy to clean.
2. Your Leather Sofa Could be Absorbing Body Oils
Unless your leather sofa is covered with a slipcover, the chances of it absorbing body oils from everyone sitting on it are very high. Especially when it’s hot.
And because it’s inappropriate to tell anyone coming to your home not to sit on the couch because their body is oily, the best thing to do is make sure you wipe the couch at least twice a week to prevent the oil from accumulating and making your leather sofa sticky.
Another easier and simple thing to do would be to use couch covers which will prevent oil from getting in contact with your leather sofa.
3. Excessive Conditioning
Applying leather conditioner on your leather sofa is not bad, in fact, it’s very much recommended so as to restore its look especially after cleaning it. However, too much use of conditioner on your couch will make it sticky.
Leather basically has the natural oils that keep it looking attractive, but after cleaning it with water, it is likely to lose its attractive color if not conditioned.
The best thing to do is to apply the leather conditioner in thin coats so that there won’t be an excess of it lingering around to make the couch sticky.
4. Absorption of Excess Moisture Could Make your Leather Sofa Sticky
You cannot prevent your couch from absorbing moisture especially if you live in high humid areas but you can prevent it from accumulating.
When moisture accumulates on your sofa, it will make your sofa feel sticky and this can only be avoided by regularly wiping out the moisture.
Wiping leather surfaces is not tiring and would probably take you 2 minutes which is better than spending more than 10 minutes getting rid of the stickiness.
5. Exposing your Leather Sofa to Direct Sunlight
When leather is exposed to direct sunlight it will definitely lose its natural oils, fade and crack. The worst thing is that the natural oils will turn sticky hence making your couch sticky and unattractive.
Always make sure your leather couch doesn’t come in contact with direct sunlight.
How Can I Fix a Sticky Leather Sofa?
Messes like spilled drinks and food on your leather sofa can hardly be avoided especially if you have kids who are too young to understand that it’s not the right thing to do.
Any spillage on a leather sofa or exposure to sunlight would cause it to be sticky and so taking care of the mess immediately and not exposing it to direct sunlight would prevent it from becoming sticky.
To fix a sticky leather sofa, mix a solution of warm water and mild dish soap in a spray bottle then spray on the area of the couch that feels sticky. Use a soft microfiber cloth to rub gently and in a circular motion. You will need to repeat this at least two more times until the stickiness is gone.
Here are more solutions to fixing a sticky leather sofa
1. Regular Cleaning
A leather sofa is the easiest type of sofa to clean. All you need is a soft damp cloth to wipe out dust and any form of dirt that may be lingering around. This would also make cleaning easier in case of spillage.
Also, you don’t necessarily need expensive cleaners to clean your leather sofa. A simple solution of water and dish soap will leave it looking fresh and attractive.
2. Taking Care of Spillages Immediately
Liquids like soda or oily food can turn sticky if not wiped immediately. Therefore, in case of spillage, make sure you clean it immediately. You can easily do this by wiping with a damp cloth. If it persists, dip the damp cloth in a solution of warm water and mild dish soap then rub the stickiness off.
3. Limit the Use of Conditioner
If leather conditioner is applied on the sofa regularly, the chances of it making your sofa sticky are very high. What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to apply leather conditioner on your couch every time you wipe it after a spillage. If anything, your sofa should be conditioned at least after every 3 months and should be applied in thin coats.
4. Do Not Expose your Leather to Direct Sunlight
The natural oils in your leather sofa might turn sticky when exposed to direct sunlight. Leather is very sensitive to sunlight which can even result in cracking and fading.
5. Use Couch Covers
One of the reasons why your couch might be sticky is due to absorbing body oils. And because you can not ask people not to apply oil on their bodies because it will make the sofa sticky, you can choose to cover your sofa with the best and most practical slipcover.
Couch covers are designed to prevent spillages and any other form of dirt from penetrating into the couch. Plus, they are easy to deal with as you can easily wash them in the washer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do you Remove Sticky Residue from Leather?
You can remove sticky residue from your leather in two ways. Either by using a solution of vinegar and warm water, or isopropyl alcohol.
To use a solution of vinegar:
- Use a blunt knife to scrap off the sticky residue. Do it gently so you don’t scratch your couch
- put equal amounts of vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle
- spray the solution over the area and let it sit for about 3 minutes
- use a soft microfiber cloth to rub all the sticky residue
- let the couch dry on its own before using it
To use isopropyl alcohol:
- scrap off the sticky residue using a blunt knife gently without scratching the leather
- dampen a cotton swab with some isopropyl alcohol then rub it on the sticky area
- repeat the process for the second time until all the sticky residue lifts
- let the area dry on its own.
If you found this article helpful, here are other great tips for your couch
