Hong Kong is hard on leather. Spring brings weeks of wet, foggy "back to south" weather. Summer humidity stays above 80% while the air conditioning runs day and night. Winter turns dry and cool. Each season needs slightly different care. This guide gives a season-by-season routine, what to do when mould appears, and which leathers cope best.
The basics, all year round
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Keep indoor humidity at about 50–60%. A hygrometer costs little and tells you when to switch on the dehumidifier.
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Leave a gap of 5–10 cm between the sofa and the wall. Mould usually starts on the back panel, where a cool wall traps moisture.
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Keep the sofa out of direct sun and away from AC outlets. Sun fades leather; constant cold, dry air makes it crack.
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Dust weekly with a soft, dry cloth and vacuum the seams with a brush head.
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Wipe spills at once with a cloth barely damp with clean water, then dry the area.
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Never use household cleaners, alcohol, baby wipes or furniture polish. They strip the leather's finish.
Season by season
February to April: "back to south" weather
When warm, wet air meets cool walls and floors, every surface sweats. This is the riskiest time for mould.
- Close the windows on humid days and run a dehumidifier or the AC's dry mode.
- Wipe any condensation off the leather with a dry cloth. Don't let it sit.
- Check the back and underside of the sofa every week or two.
May to September: heat, humidity and air conditioning
- Use the AC's dry mode or a dehumidifier when the room isn't air-conditioned, especially while you're out.
- Turn AC louvres so cold air doesn't blow straight onto the sofa.
- Before a long trip, leave a dehumidifier running with a drain hose if you can. Never wrap the sofa in plastic. Use a breathable cotton cover.
- During typhoons and rainstorms, keep the windows shut and the dehumidifier on.
October to January: dry and cool
- This is the best time to clean and condition: use a pH-neutral leather cleaner, then a conditioner made for your leather's finish.
- Heaters dry leather the same way the AC does. Keep the sofa a metre or more from them.
Conditioning: how often?
For most Hong Kong homes, every 3–6 months. Do it more often if the sofa sits near an AC outlet or a sunny window. Pigmented, protected leathers need it less often. Always test a cleaner or conditioner on a hidden spot first, and never use oil or conditioner on nubuck. Nubuck needs a nubuck brush and a nubuck protector instead.
If mould appears
- Take the cushion covers off, or move the sofa away from the wall, somewhere well ventilated.
- Brush off loose mould outdoors or by an open window, so the spores don't spread through the flat.
- Clean the area with a leather cleaner on a soft cloth, working from the outside of the patch inwards.
- Dry the area thoroughly with a fan, not a heater or hair dryer, and then condition it.
- Find the cause. Mould that comes back means the room is too damp, so run the dehumidifier more and leave a bigger gap at the wall.
On nubuck and other light, aniline-dyed leathers, mould can leave a mark. Ask us before you try to treat it.
Which leathers cope best with Hong Kong?
Pigmented, protected leathers are the easiest to live with here: they resist moisture and stains and wipe clean. Among Nicoline's leathers, Royal and Nobile are the most forgiving, and Nevada adds an anti-stain treatment to a softer semi-aniline hide. Nubuck (Nicoline Nabuk) and nubuck-effect leathers (Colorado) need the most care in humid months. See Nicoline leather grades and prices explained for the full comparison.
Quick reference
| How often |
What to do |
| Weekly |
Dust with a dry cloth; vacuum seams with a brush head |
| Monthly |
Wipe with a barely damp cloth, then dry; check the back for mould in wet months |
| Every 3–6 months |
Clean with a pH-neutral leather cleaner, then condition |
| February–April |
Windows shut on humid days; dehumidifier on; wipe off condensation |
| Before a long trip |
Dehumidifier on, breathable cover, never plastic |
Choosing a new sofa? Browse our Italian leather sofas, read how to choose a leather sofa in Hong Kong, or visit our showrooms at Lee Garden Three and Elements to compare leathers in person. You can also WhatsApp us with care questions about a sofa you bought from us.
