Inexpensive and Effective Homemade Leather Cleaner Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best natural product to clean leather? ›

Use White Vinegar Cleaner to Remove soil from Leather

All you need to do is to dab the vinegar directly on the affected area. It works better to remove deep-soiled areas. Once it dries off, apply a dab of olive oil using a microfiber cloth and buff the leather to keep the material supple and soft.

General Cleaner for All Leather

Mix a 50/50 vinegar and water solution in a bowl (Image 1) and use a microfiber cloth to apply it to your furniture (Image 2). Rub the leather in a circular motion to lift the dirt out of the natural fibers. Return your cloth to the bowl often, wringing it out and rewetting it.

The fastest and one of the best ways to clean leather is also the cheapest, or free for many. Use a very nice cloth, ideally a high quality microfiber cloth and water with a little Dove soap.

The easiest homemade leather cleaner can be made from two natural ingredients: equal parts white vinegar and warm water. If you have a stubborn stain, blotting a mixture of water and mild dish soap can help. (Don't aggressively scrub a stain though—that could damage the leather.)

An excellent home remedy for cleaning leather car seats is a solution made of a quarter cup of olive oil and half a cup of distilled white vinegar. No water base is needed for this concoction; just pour the two ingredients into a spray bottle and mix them together by shaking the bottle thoroughly.

Now mix water and white vinegar in a bowl equal measure. Take a soft muslin cloth and dip it in the solution. Now squeeze out the excess liquid to make sure that the cloth is simply damp and not soaking wet. Rub the cloth across the surface of the leather in even motions.

If the stain persists, try blotting with a towel dipped in a mixture of water and a mild dish soap (like Palmolive or Dawn). Be sure to blot gently; scrubbing rigorously can cause permanent damage to the leather. When you're done, thoroughly dry the spot with a fresh cloth.

Mild soap and water.

If you can, use saddle soap to give your leather a deeper clean. But if you can't get your hands on it, dilute mild unscented hand soap or dish soap in water as a replacement. You can then dampen a washcloth with the soapy solution to gently remove stains.

Mix a few drops of mild, natural soap with some distilled water in a bowl, making sure the solution is not too soapy. Dampen a microfiber cloth with the natural cleaning solution. Gently wipe the leather surface using a light touch. Avoid scrubbing vigorously, as this may damage the leather.

What does Windex do to leather? ›

Do not use petroleum-based cleaning products to clean leather as they can erode the stitching on the leather piece. Harsh cleaners (such as Windex or bleach), furniture polish (such as Pledge), alkaline cleaners, baby wipes, waxes, and silicone may also damage leather, leaving it feeling sticky.

Use the oil soap like a leather conditioner on leather furniture or your vehicle's dashboard area or upholstery (not cloth). Use the product at full strength and apply it to a dry cloth. Work it over the area, then use a second cloth to buff it.

While olive oil softens leather and promotes supplety, its use engenders an array of problems. Firstly, olive oil is known to resurface and stain leather after it has been applied and left to dry. This leads to unsightly spots and blemishes that will ruin the appearance of any leather product.

Wipe unfinished leather with a soft cloth or dry soft- brush only. IF you must use a leather cleaner, clean the entire piece seam to seam and accept that it may darken a shade even after it's dry. One of the best things about unfinished leather furniture is the patina that it develops over time.

When it comes to leather, you're better off using either water or cleaning products specifically designed for leather. Popular home remedies like baking soda, white vinegar, cream of tartar, and lemon juice can be harsh on delicate leathers and make the problem even worse.

To clean leather products naturally, combine equal parts white vinegar and warm water into a cleaning solution. This solution is good for removing dirt without damaging the leather. However, avoid getting the leather too wet since this might cause harm.

One of the most common and most effective options is plain old white or apple cider vinegar. We recommend using white vinegar for light-colored leather, and apple cider vinegar for dark leather. You'll want to dilute the vinegar with water, using a 1 to 4 ratio of vinegar to water.

Clean with care

Any cleaning product with a high pH, like vinegar or lemon juice, damages leather fibers and results in excessive drying that creates unsightly cracks. Also avoid products like olive or coconut oil and furniture polishes.