Reader comments from Houzz article How to Clean Leather Furniture

View the article.

Comments (41)

S Bailey

This was a very timely, useful article (as I’d just inked the parchment leather seat in my husband’s car). Thanks very much.

4 Likes    

 

Reid Alderson

I have leather dining room chairs, which I work at keeping them clean and new looking. In the rest of the house are 2 leather recliners and a leather sofa….and quite frankly, the more scratched, worn, beat up they are the better I like them. Some furniture is just meant to enjoy and live on! The days of plastic furniture covers are long gone.
9 Likes    

 

horsedogbun

Why should saddle soap be avoided?

11 Likes    

 

Mary

Sjb2814 this stuff works great for getting ink out of leather. It’s made by Ekornes. Bought it many years ago, not sure if they still make it but its worth a try
2 Likes    

 

lfschelin

We own a Mission Style recliner and over the years it seems the back has developed a dark stain where a person’s head would rest. What do you suggest be used to bring it back its original color?

8 Likes    

 

scottishflower

Meguiar’s Rich Leather cleaner and conditioner is great. I got it when we bought a black leather king sized bed from Ikea. It had been wrapped up in plastic and the smell of the leather chemicals drove me crazy. A couple of cleanings and letting the bed air worked like a charm. I’ve also used the cleaner on my 70+ year old leather seats on dining room chairs. The product gets the seats clean and conditions the leather. None of the leather items are in sunlight.

5 Likes    

 

PRO

OasisDesign&Remodeling

Leather Master is all I approve of. They have a nice website & can order directly from them. I usually clean & condition before the AC comes on in summer, & then again before heat comes on in winter. Be careful of Windows & heating vents being too close to leather. Also, someone going through chemo should never sit on leather. Keep blue jeans off as well as inks from magazines & newspapers.
1 Like    

 

PRO

OasisDesign&Remodeling

Mequiars is a great product as well. Never saddle soap, wood care products, windex, Lysol wipes, Mr Clean, etc.
1 Like    

 

gandarac

Any ideas and what type of cleaner I should use on my couch and love seat, the leather is a yellow color.

1 Like    

 

shanfed

We have white leather recliners (and 2 young kids). I don’t know what grade of leather they are but they are higher end. I use my Norwex Micropads (NOT the chemical laden Mr. Clean magic erasers) to clean the dirt off them. I wet the pad as necessary and dry right after with a clean/dry microfiber cloth. It’s been 2 years already and they still look great and I have not had any damage as a result of this method.

4 Likes    

 

briggsba

How can you remove a circle on a leather-top table that was caused by a hot cup of coffee.

3 Likes    

 

diyer59

Love the photos of the leather furniture, especially the blue dining room chairs–stunning!

2 Likes    

 

donnamanery

Suggestions for removing tiny spots of paint from dark brown leather furniture, please

2 Likes    

 

hidesertkath

gandarac, I would like to suggest this company. I bought an aniline leather loveseat (as it appears your couch is) from a friend that was a light tan color, stained from someone’s hair and it

also had cat claw marks. I followed their directions, watched their videos and used their products. It has been two years and it still looks great! By the way, it was really inexpensive and I have absolutely no connection with the company. https://www.rubnrestore.com/

2 Likes    

 

Gayle Minard

Why distilled water?
    

 

PRO

Prescott Window and Door

I use Leather CPR from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I use it on purses, shoes, anything leather. Easy and what a finish!

2 Likes    

 

Callie Henrichs

gminard- they recommend distilled water because it does not contain minerals that will eventually coat your leather and dull the finish. You can buy it by the gallon at the grocery store.
1 Like    

 

lakrn

On a slightly different leather topic . . . What is the best way to get rid of folds in my cowhide rug?

    

 

campbell_grant411

what about buffalo? any products to clean it

1 Like    

 

iowavette

We have a massive leather sectional waiting at our designer’s warehouse. I’ve been dragging my feet on delivery out of pet fear after seeing what the cats have done with our beautiful leather pit group in the walkout. Honest-to-dog, clawing and urine…URINE!! Happily for me (not my husband) there’s been significant thinning of the herd due to age and illness. Still, there’s four of the little bxstards running rampant. The living room furniture has been covered with plastic tarps since 2007 to keep it presentable. Didn’t want to have to continue the practice in the great room.

3 Likes    

 

1737

When I had my sectional designed at a local Southern California shop (Leather Factory), they helped me select a very heavy leather. Apparently, this was unattractive to kitty toenails, because one attempt was all they would make with a few small punctures – but no rips, then they ignored it. I used Scat Mats (buzzy mats) and Ssssst sensors that spray to deter them from marking with urine until they got the idea. Since my “herd” has diminished to two – no more peeing on anything!

1 Like    

 

spyarchive

Lovely! I used to have a lot of premium quality unprotected leather requiring cleaning (saddles and bridles) and would use standard glycerin bars to clean followed by Lexol conditioner, and it worked like a charm. Just enough to keep the leather supple; not enough to make them sticky or to cause leather under tension (stirrup leathers, reins, girth straps, etc) from stretching.

Bought a protected leather couch this summer, and I still use Lexol leather cleaner and non-darkening conditioner. Works like a charm, though obviously it doesn’t absorb as nicely as unprotected leather which is probably why it stays tacky for a day or two. Also, my cats have scarred up the couch quite a lot since I brought it home. Live and learn!

2 Likes    

 

horsedogbun

Spyarchive, I use saddle soap on leather furniture, too. That is why I commented earlier, asking why the article said don’t use it. Isn’t gentle leather cleaning what it’s made for? I have a green leather couch that is sixteen years old. It is positioned near doors to our deck and no matter how I wipe the dog off after he comes in from the mud, it inevitably gets some mud/dirt on it. Over the years, I have used saddle soap and occasionally various leather conditioners that I use on my riding equipment and the couch still looks like it’s new. (The only mark on it was left from the kids!) I recently bought a CWD saddle and their conditioner is wonderful. I am thinking of trying it on furniture. 🙂

3 Likes    

 

briggsba

Thank you.

1 Like    

 

PRO

Furnishr

This article is helpful. Leather furniture is hard to keep the condition so you have to pay more attention on it.

1 Like    

 

jandjhill

thanks for practical advice
    

 

qofmiwok

Huh. All I’ve done is dust my leather furniture for the past 12 years, and it looks like the day I bought it.

1 Like    

 

charliesinspain

How to clean leather furniture
1 Like    

 

PRO

WW Design Studio

Thank you, Houzz for the great tips and sharing one of my photos!

    

 

lizzieb11

I have a Chesterfield leather headboard that when new looked distressed, worn and cracked. I was wondering if Coconut oil would make a nice conditioner? Leaves no sticky residue….any thoughts?

    

 

Martha

Lizzieb11 I used coconut oil on my bonded leather sofas and there’s no sticky residue. However, while I was rubbing the oil on the leather, the sofas looked shiny, but afterwards, since it’s been cold in SoCal, the couches looked ashy due to the coconut oil hardening.

    

 

lizzieb11

Oh that’s right! Coconut oil is a little cloudy! Thank you for the response and ashy can look good…a little rustic 😉

1 Like    

 

Vanessa

LizzieB11

I use Chamberlain’s Leather Milk Formula No. 1. It’s easy to use. I have a white leather sofa and a brown leather chair. I use this every few months and it works beautifully. I really love the stuff. It works better than the products that came with the furniture. Plus, it doesn’t have an artificial chemical smell to it. It actually smells a bit like almond oil. My father sometimes uses Leather Honey Leather Conditioner for his leather. He dilutes it and it works very very nicely. He’s also used the leather cleaner he buys at the auto shop for his vehicles. The leather stuff for automobiles tend to have sun protection built into them. Those are all some options.

1 Like    

 

briggsba

Excellent! Thank you.

1 Like    

 

lizzieb11

Thank you so much! I will be applying it to my bed (Leather Chesterfield) which is in front of a window, so it does get some sunlight. The bed itself came as “distressed”, but I just don’t want it to get too dry and flakey. So I will order and let you know how it works!

1 Like    

 

briggsba

Great! Sounds good.

1 Like    

 

PRO

Designe Gallerie

Superb article.

1 Like    

 

PRO

Toms Leather Cleaning Melbourne

Here are some more tips for clean your Leather Furniture:

1. Using the soft brush

Using the soft brush attachment vacuum clean the sofa. Dirt from all
the crevices needs to be sucked out or else dirt and grime could be
rubbed into the sofa. These particles can damage the leather when it
comes in contact with moisture. Remove any debris from the sofa focusing
on the creases and folds of the couch. Debris can scratch the leather
so be careful while clearing.

2. Use a feather or microfiber duster

Use a feather or microfiber duster and lightly dust the surface. You
can also use the vacuum’s brush tool as the bristles are soft and less
likely to scratch.

3. Mix water and white vinegar

Mix water and white vinegar at equal measure. Or else, you can mix a drop of commercial leather cleaner in water. Dip a smooth cloth in it, squeeze out the excess liquid so that the cloth is damp and not wet completely.

Read Complete Article

    

Amelia Wilson

Squeaky Sofa Cleaning Melbourne – Call 1800 134 886 for the best couch & leather upholstery cleaning in Melbourne.We are a team of experienced and accomplished sofa cleaners in Melbourne. We provide specialized sofa cleaning services across the suburbs of Melbourne, customized and tailor-made as per the specific need and requirements of our clients. Prolong life of your upholstery today by hiring most trusted sofa cleaning company in Melbourne.

Read more about :- Leather/Fabric Couch Steam Cleaning

1 Like    

emma watson

Upholstery cleaning becomes the hardest job if you did it by yourself. We are here to help you. We make your work easier. You can now get help in cleaning of your upholstery furniture. Read More: Steam Upholstery Cleaning Melbourne

1 Like    

HU-40513373

I have a new LaZboy sofa and recliners. The guardian product that they treated it with is giving off an odor that I am sensitive too. How can I clean the sofa to remove the product? No help on the website. Thank you.