Do leather suites need conditioning?

[Gwynston]

Just bought a new leather suite (around £1500 for a 3+2). The salesman convinced us it was good quality leather and should wear well.

Our old suite was 14 years old and the leather still looked very good. But a cheap, small sofa we bought for another room had worn really badly, despite being half the age. When we mentioned this to the salesman, he explained that different qualities of leather will wear better or worse.

And he then tried to sell us an aftermarket cleaner and conditioner like this:
FurnitureClinic Leather Care Kit

Was that just to ease our minds? Or make a few extra quid off us?
Is such conditioning really needed?

We didn't do treat our old one with anything, and it never dried, cracked or peeled.

 

[foxhole]

Leather lasts when treated and looked after, though the kits he tried to sell you was probably 4 times the cost of buying elsewhere.

 

[just pumps]

Auto glem (or is it gleam) do leather treatments for car interiors, if it`s good enough for an Aston Martin then it`s good enough for me! Test on a small area around the back or underneath first.

 

[JohnD]

Auto Glym, I think. Often cheaper on ebay, or in a Halfords half-price offer after Fathers day, Christmas, etc.

But motor hide is different from furniture hide.

Clean it with baby wipes, which contain a little oil to keep it supple. You can also use superfatted white "toilet soap" or "beauty soap" having foamed up a lather on a sponge, and polish it off with an old vest or other soft, clean, cotton cloth.

The back and side panels are sometimes made in "matching" vinyl.