Secret Recipe: Cleaning Leather With Household Ingredients
Clean and condition your leather sofa, chairs, handbags and more with ingredients already in the cupboard
Shelly Miller Leer
24 January 2018
Houzz Contributor. I've been upholstering furniture and building small furnishings for over twenty years. I've been a DIY contributor to ApartmentTherapy Chicago, Huff Post Home, Curbly.com, as well as having penned a DIY column for The Indianapolis Star for five years. Home is Where the Heart Is is an understatement.
Houzz Contributor. I've been upholstering furniture and building small furnishings... More
You don’t have to buy fancy, expensive and smelly leather cleansers and conditioners to keep your leather upholstery looking top-notch – just try one of these recipes that can be mixed up at home using common household ingredients. Most leather upholstery is made with a finished leather that has been dyed and sealed, so it has a bit of a sheen. But even if it has a sealer, an active family and pets can wreak havoc on your beautiful leather furniture. From ballpoint pen marks to protein-based stains like blood and food, there are substances that can work their way into the most beautiful hide, leaving it looking messed up, dried out and ratty. These natural cleansers, when used correctly, can bring back the natural beauty of leather.
Caution: Always be sure to do a sample test on an inconspicuous area of the leather. And do not use these cleansers on unfinished leather or suede.
Caution: Always be sure to do a sample test on an inconspicuous area of the leather. And do not use these cleansers on unfinished leather or suede.
Basic cleanser and conditioner
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 10 drops lemon or eucalyptus essential oil (optional)
The leather sofa at my brother’s house gets lots of wear and tear. This basic all-over cleanser left it polished and rich-looking again.
Mix the olive oil and white vinegar in a clean jar and shake, add scented oil for a fresh smell if you like. Dampen a clean cloth in the mixture and clean the entire piece of furniture. Use another clean cloth to dry off the remaining oil and cleanser. Don't saturate the leather; you're just cleaning the surface and reconditioning the leather.
Protein-based spot or stain
A paste of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar will remove protein stains such as blood, mud, food and more. Make a paste, rub it on the stain, let it sit 10 minutes, then wash it off with dampened cloth (I use olive oil-based castile soap and water for this step) and dry the piece with a clean cloth. Be sure to test a spot to make sure the lemon will not bleach the leather.
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup cream of tartar
A paste of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar will remove protein stains such as blood, mud, food and more. Make a paste, rub it on the stain, let it sit 10 minutes, then wash it off with dampened cloth (I use olive oil-based castile soap and water for this step) and dry the piece with a clean cloth. Be sure to test a spot to make sure the lemon will not bleach the leather.
Ballpoint pen
- Rubbing alcohol
- hairspray
- non-acetone nail polish remover or cuticle remover
Mould and mildew
- ½ cup rubbing alcohol
- ½ cup water
I used this solution when I noticed some suspicious-looking black grime inside my car.
The black mess came off with a bit of robust rubbing. It looks better, and I feel better knowing there's no lurking gunk in a hard-to-see area.
Once I got started, I decided to give my leather car upholstery a good once-over with the basic recipe of olive oil, vinegar and lemon oil. Now it looks good and smells fresh.
Tell us
What are your tricks for keeping your home’s leather products looking shiny and new? Share them with us in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
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Read more stories chock full of cleaning tips
Tell us
What are your tricks for keeping your home’s leather products looking shiny and new? Share them with us in the Comments below. And if you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Read more stories chock full of cleaning tips
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The British Museum uses lard on its leather objects. So, after many years of using lots of exy leather dressing on saddlery I tried it. Its GREAT and so now I use it on my jackets, shoes and handbags.
I have read your article and I think it is good for the readers. I have some more leather Furniture cleaning tips which you can add to your list and they are:
Clean Leather Furniture Using A Conditioner
1. Clearing Debris
Clearing Debris – the first thing is to clear all remaining debris. Check the crevices and crease thoroughly and with caution as you can scratch the leather surface. Use a vacuum’s hand tool, and brush to clear out the debris. Use the brush attachment to run it over the surface gently. The brush bristles are less likely to scratch the surface as they are soft.
2. Clean It With Solution
Clean it with the solution – you can make a home-made solution by mixing equal amount of water and white vinegar. Use distilled water as tap water can be harmful. If soap is applied, use mild, neutral-pH non-detergent soap. Alternatively, you may use commercial leather cleaner. But please read the instructions before using. Stay away from products containing ammonia or alkalis.
3. Dip A Rag
Dip a rag – but thoroughly wring out the rag. The rag (better a microfiber cloth) should only be damp, and not drenched. Excess liquid can damage the leather.
Click to read a full article: How To Clean Leather Furniture
Please consider the type of leather that you are cleaning and the monetary investment that you put into it prior to going in to clean it. Contact us at SofaCleaning.com.au and we will help you SAFELY clean your leather.