Jansen Leather Piano Bench Care & Cleaning Guide
Jansen Leather Artist Benches use the highest quality leather found on piano benches today. Imported from the UK, it is the same leather used in some high end foreign sports cars (leather from the United Kingdom is often considered the highest quality, because they do not use barbed-wire fences, which cut the cows over the years and damage the leather hide).
Do not be fooled by the cheap Chinese imports that offer leather, as quality leather is an expensive upgrade (just as when getting the leather option with a car). The leather used on the Chinese benches is stretched extra-thin, which scratches easily, and will crack quickly with use and exposure to the elements (such as the sun). Secondly, part of leather's appeal is its natural beauty and design. The Chinese heavily stain their leather to cover up the blemishes in it. Jansen only uses the highest quality leather--blemished leather (thorn scratches, abscess marks, branding marks, scars, etc). is not used.
Leather offers the ultimate in luxury and comfort. Proper care of your Jansen upholstered leather piano bench will lead to a long product life. Below is a guide to caring for your leather upholstery, as well as cleaning instructions for various scenarios.
Leather needs no special are under normal usage conditions. The occasional application of a special-purpose leather conditioner is adequate to keep upholstery leather soft and flexible.
Basic Rules for Caring for your Jansen Leather Artist Bench:
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Never expose upholstered leather furniture to direct sunlight for extended periods of time (it will eventually cause the color to fade, and may lead to damaging the leather itself).
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Keep the humidity level consistent; do not lace furniture directly in front of a radiator or near a heater or fireplace.
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Never treat the leather surface with ordinary cleansers (dish-washing liquid, all-purpose cleanser, etc.), as this will cause the leather surface (waterproofing, finish) to be permanently damaged.
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Do not use solvents, lighter fluid, spot remover, turpentine, alcohol, buffing compound, shoe cleaner or similar substances on the leather.
Cleaning Instructions for your Jansen Leather Artist Bench
Dust: Furniture made of smooth leather can be dusted occasionally with a dry or moistened cloth.
Liquid Spots: If you spill liquid on your leather piano bench, the spots should immediately be blotted carefully with a dry, absorbent paper towel or blotter paper. Do not rub the spot vigorously as it will then be pushed through the finish into the leather. Many spots disappear all by themselves in time, as they are literally absorbed by the leather.
Dried Soiled Areas: Prepare a weak solution of neutral soap (household soap) with distilled water and wash away the spot with a soft cotton cloth. Then remove the soap solution carefully with a clean cloth moistened, again, with distilled water. Never rub too hard, or the leather surface may be damaged. After cleansing, treat the leather with a conditioning emulsion so that it will not stiffen and dry out.
Greasy and oily spots: Blot large greasy spots with a paper towel. Do not treat remainder of spot for the time being, as the spot will likely be absorbed by the leather in time and become invisible.
Choosing Between a Leather and Vinyl Piano Bench:
Leather is a popular choice, as it’s the most comfortable and luxurious material. Leather “breathes” more than vinyl, which will make it more comfortable to play on for long periods of time, especially if you live in a warm/humid climate. Jansen uses a very high-quality leather—it’s imported from the United Kingdom, as they do not use barbed wire fences, so there is not the defects in it that you will find from American leather. It is the same leather used in a number of high-end European sports cars, such as Ferrari.
Vinyl does have its benefits as well. Vinyl is a more durable material, and is easier to repair if damaged. Vinyl also does not absorb stains, making it a popular choice for those with children, or in situations where there is a lot of foot traffic (churches, schools, etc).
In general, the question we ask customers is if you were buying a new car or furniture, would you want the leather or vinyl upholstery? Some people are happy with vinyl, whereas others want the upgraded leather.