Free care guide
Make your leather last 20+ years.
The Canberra-specific maintenance schedule we wish every customer had been given when they bought the couch. Based on the actual failure patterns we see in ACT homes and cars — not generic advice from overseas leather brands.
Why Canberra is harder on leather
Generic leather advice is written for humid climates.
Most leather care guides come from European or American brands — places with mild summers and humid winters. Canberra is the opposite: bone-dry winters that drop indoor humidity below 30%, hot summers with intense UV, and ducted heating that pulls moisture out faster than the leather can rehydrate.
The result: leather in Canberra cracks, fades and dries out roughly 3–5 years earlier than the same piece would in Sydney or Brisbane. The good news — the right routine largely cancels that out, and the routine is simpler than most people think.
The checklist
Six tasks. That's the whole list.
Weekly
Dust and vacuum
Every week, vacuum the leather with a soft brush attachment — including under cushions and around seams. Dust is abrasive and accelerates wear on the topcoat.
Monthly
Wipe with a barely-damp microfibre
Once a month, wipe the leather down with a microfibre cloth dampened with water only — never solvents. This lifts skin oils and dust before they bond into the surface.
Every 3 months
Apply a leather conditioner
Quarterly, apply a small amount of pH-neutral leather conditioner with a clean cloth in circular motions. Leave it 10 minutes, then buff. This is the single biggest factor in stopping cracks before they start.
Seasonally
Reposition to even out UV exposure
At the start of each season, swap cushions or rotate where people sit. Canberra UV is intense — rotating spreads the fade evenly so no single panel ages faster than the rest.
Yearly
Deep clean before winter
Once a year (ideally before winter heating starts) deep-clean the leather with a Geist-grade leather cleaner, condition heavily, and apply a protective topcoat. This pre-empts the dry-air damage Canberra is famous for.
As needed
Address spills within 60 seconds
Blot spills with a dry cloth immediately — never rub. The protective topcoat will hold most spills back for around 60 seconds, but anything left longer can soak into the leather and stain.
Print this page (Ctrl/Cmd+P) and stick it on the inside of your hall cupboard — most of our long-term customers do exactly that.
Common mistakes
What we'd ask you to stop doing.
Don't use baby wipes
They contain alcohols and detergents that strip the leather's protective topcoat. The leather underneath dries out and cracks within months.
Don't use multipurpose sprays
Anything labelled "all-surface" is wrong for leather. The chemistry is incompatible with pigmented finishes.
Don't apply oils or saddle soap
Mink oil, neatsfoot oil and saddle soap are for tack and unfinished leather, not modern furniture or car leather. They darken and stain finished hides.
Don't park your couch under a window
Direct sun fades pigmented leather visibly within 18 months. Even sheer curtains help dramatically.
Don't dry pet hair off with the couch
Vacuum it. Wiping pet hair off with a damp cloth grinds dander into the grain.
Don't ignore small cracks
A single small crack you fix this year saves a panel-wide repair next year. Cracks always get bigger — never smaller.
When to call us
If you're past the point where a checklist helps,
we'll quote yours by photo.
Send a couple of phone photos and we'll come back in writing within 2 business hours — most quotes are within a few hundred dollars of the final price, and the photos save you from a wasted home visit.
Send a photo, get a quoteFree photo quote
Send a photo.
Get a real price today.
Quotes from photos are accurate, fast and obligation-free. Mon–Fri, 8:30 – 5:30. We reply within 2 business hours — your message goes directly to the technician.
100% satisfaction guarantee
If you're not satisfied with the result, we return and fix it — no charge, no argument. 15+ years of combined leather experience backs every job we take on.
What happens next
After you send your photo —
here's exactly what to expect.
- Step 01
Within 2 hours
You'll receive a detailed reply from your technician — not a call centre — with an honest assessment and written quote.
- Step 02
You confirm the booking
If the quote works for you, we lock in a time that suits. Mobile visit to your home or workplace.
- Step 03
Job done, same visit
Most repairs are completed in a single 3–5 hour visit. No second trips, no parts on order.