The Best Homemade and Store-Bought Solutions for Cleaning Leather Furniture
Leather is one of the hardest-working furniture materials. It’s ideal for households with pets and kids since spills and accidents can be wiped away before they have a chance to soak in.
However, that doesn’t mean leather requires no care at all. Cleaning and conditioning it a few times a year will keep your leather furniture looking new. Store-bought cleaners and conditioners are the easiest products to use, but you can also use gentle homemade leather cleaners.
The Best Cleaners for Leather Furniture
The best homemade cleaner for leather furniture is a mixture of half-white distilled vinegar and half water. The solution is tough enough to remove build-up but gentle enough not to cause damage.
You can use a combination of natural baby soap, water, and vinegar for a homemade leather conditioner.
If you prefer store-bought cleaners, consider a product like Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. It comes in a spray or wipe and removes dirt and moisturizes your furniture in one step.
How to Clean Leather Furniture Naturally: Step-by-Step
Leather is a durable material that’s easy to clean. Here’s how to clean leather furniture so that it looks vibrant again.
Step 1: Vacuum Debris
To remove dirt, dust, and crumbs from your furniture, begin by vacuuming it with a hose attachment. Remember to clean under removable cushions and in crevices.
Step 2: Wipe with Vinegar and Water
Dip a microfiber cloth in your solution of half vinegar and water and wring out excess moisture. Your cloth should be damp but never dripping wet.
Working in small sections, wipe the leather in circular motions. Then, go back over the area you cleaned with a soft, dry cloth to wick away excess moisture. Rinse and rewet your cleaning cloth as needed.
Repeat until you’ve cleaned the entire piece, focusing more on areas with noticeable dirt.
Step 3: Condition your Leather Furniture with a Homemade Solution
To make a natural leather conditioner, fill a bowl with 2 cups water, 2-3 drops of white distilled vinegar, and a tablespoon of natural baby soap. The baby soap contains oils that moisturize leather without leaving it oily.
Moisten a soft microfiber cloth with the solution and buff it all over your furniture.
How to Clean Leather Furniture with Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
If you want to save yourself the hassle of separate cleaning and conditioning steps, use a 2-in-1 product.
Start by vacuuming the furniture to remove any loose debris. Then, run a dry microfiber cloth over the piece to pick up dust. With your furniture dusted, you’re ready to clean and condition.
Working in small sections, spray an area and then wipe clean with a cloth. Next, use a fresh microfiber cloth to buff the area you cleaned into a shine. (To buff, run your cloth in circular motions.) Repeat until you’ve tackled the entire piece of furniture.
How to Remove Stains from Leather Furniture
Even though leather is one of the easiest fabric types to keep clean, staining still happens. So, if you’ve cleaned your furniture and there are still stains, here’s what to try.
Note: It’s always a good idea to look for recommendations from your manufacturer for the best stain-removing products. Spot-test these methods in an inconspicuous place before using them.
Remove dark stains from leather – You can remove dark stains from your light leather furniture with a combination of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar. Rub the mixture into the stain, allow it to sit for ten minutes, and then wipe clean using a damp cloth or sponge.
Remove water stains – When leather shows a water stain, it’s often mineral build-up from hard water. You can remove the water stain by dampening a microfiber cloth with water and rubbing it in circular motions until it disappears. Wipe dry afterward.
Eliminate mold stains on leather – Rubbing alcohol is a go-to for removing mold on leather. Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol with water and dampen a cloth with the solution. Rub in circular motions until the mold is gone. Next, rinse the area with a fresh cloth moistened with water and then dry.
Get rid of ink stains – Rubbing alcohol is effective at removing ink from leather. Mix a solution of 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% water and wipe the ink until it disappears. Rinse and dry afterward.
Get an oil stain off of leather furniture – The best way to remove oil from leather is to soak it up with baking soda. Sprinkle an ample amount of baking soda on the area, allow it to sit for at least 12 hours, and then wipe it off.
How to Get Bad Smells Out of Leather Furniture
If you’ve cleaned your leather furniture and it still has a bad smell, whether from pet odors, smoke, or mildew, it is possible to get it out.
Start by sprinkling a layer of baking soda all over the furniture and letting it sit overnight. Baking soda can absorb and neutralize foul odors, which may work in some circumstances. After 12 hours, vacuum the baking soda off the furniture.
If baking soda doesn’t work, look for an enzymatic cleaner safe for leather. These cleaners contain potent enzymes that feast off bacteria, which is the cause of most bad smells. Rather than masking the odors, the enzymes eliminate them.
While most enzymatic cleaners are marketed as pet odor eliminators, they are effective at tackling numerous types of smells.