Leather furniture is one material that can look amazing in your home, and they're also a good investment. Leather as a material can actually last a long time with proper care, so it helps to know how to properly clean leather furniture to help them last longer, especially leather sofas.
Leather chairs are probably the most common leather furniture in your home, so it helps to know a thing or two about leather cleaning so that you can face any mess that comes your way. Here's how to clean a leather sofa with household products and ingredients.
How to Clean a Leather Sofa with Dish Soap and Baking Soda
It shouldn't be that hard to clean leather furniture like your sofas and couches. For this method, all you'll need is a vacuum cleaner, some leather conditioner or leather cleaner, some dish soap, baking soda and a microfiber cloth.
Step 1: Prepare the Leather Sofa
When cleaning any kind of leather furniture, it's always important to start with a good vacuuming to help remove dust, loose dirt, and debris. If the leather couch cushions can be removed, make sure to do so and really get in all the crevices of your leather furniture.
Step 2: Make Your Cleaning Solution
To do this, simply pour in some warm water into a bowl and add in some dish soap.
Step 3: Clean the Leather Sofa
Once you have your bowl of soapy water, get your microfiber cloth and dip this into the solution. Then, wring out any excess water until it's damp before dabbing or rubbing around any stains in small circles.
When cleaning leather furniture, you should never rub a stain as this could damage and wear out the leather surface.
Should there be any grease stains on your sofa, gently dab at the area with a dry cloth and sprinkle baking soda onto the stain to absorb the grease.
Step 4: Dry the Leather Sofa
Once you've removed all the stains, get a dry cloth and begin wiping the leather couch completely dry. This is a very important step as any moisture left on the leather could weaken the material over time, especially if the leather couch is left to dry on its own.
Step 5: Get Your Leather Cleaners
Leather cleaning solutions are great at breaking down any remaining dirt. All you need to do is spray some leather cleaner onto a dry cloth and briefly wipe this over the entire leather couch, including the nooks and crannies.
Make sure that you don't directly spray the leather cleaner onto the leather furniture to prevent any spray marks.
Step 6: Get Your Leather Conditioner
After wiping everything dry, get your leather conditioner and apply this once again to a dry cloth before swiping this all over your sofa. Once finished, leave the leather couch to air dry completely for a few hours.
How to Clean Leather Sofa with White Vinegar
White vinegar is another common household ingredient that also doubles as a great cleaning agent. To clean leather furniture with white vinegar, you'll need a vacuum cleaner, a soft cloth, white vinegar and warm water.
Step 1: Prepare the Leather Sofa
Just as in the previous method, you should always start by running a vacuum cleaner over to remove any dirt and debris and make it easier to clean a leather sofa.
Step 2: Make Your Cleaning Solution
You can do this by combining equal parts vinegar and warm water into a bowl.
Step 3: Clean Leather Couch
With a clean cloth, dip this into your vinegar solution and wipe the damp cloth over your leather couch, working from top to bottom and rinsing out the cloth from time to time.
Step 4: Wipe with a Soft Cloth
Once you've wiped the entire couch with the vinegar solution, get a dry and soft cloth and use this to dry your leather couch completely. You should never leave your leather furniture damp as this could weaken the leather surface over time.
Step 5: Get Your Leather Cleaners
While an optional step, leather cleaners will help ensure that there are no more remnants of any loose dirt or debris left on your sofa. Simply pour some cleaner onto a cloth and wipe this all over your leather chairs, paying close attention to any corners.
When finished, get a new cloth and wipe your sofa dry. Once again, make sure that you don't directly spray the cleaner onto your couch to avoid any spray stains.
Step 6: Get Your Leather Conditioner
After wiping your couch completely dry, pour some leather conditioner onto a cloth and run this over the entire leather surface of your couch. Then, simply leave your leather furniture to dry completely.
Things to Remember
Use Mild Dish Soap
When handling a delicate material like leather, always make sure that you're using mild dish soap to prevent any damage.
Keep Away From the Sun
It might seem easier to dry your leather furniture outside, but sun exposure can do more harm than good.
Regular Cleaning
With regular maintenance, your leather couch can last for years. It's recommended that you clean leather furniture at least once a year.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Harsh chemicals are usually too hard on leather, so it's best to keep these away. This means that you can't apply rubbing alcohol, leather shoe polish, or other aggressive cleaning products to clean leather chairs.
Test on an Inconspicuous Spot
While the household products and ingredients mentioned above are gentle enough for leather, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Before applying anything, make sure to test the product or solution out on an inconspicuous area.
Those were some ways of how you can clean a leather couch on your own, but not all of us have the time or energy, especially after a long and exhausting day. When cleaning your sofa simply can't fit into your schedule, you can call Luce to make household chores seem effortless and easy.
Our well-experienced cleaners can tackle any stain and mess so that you don't have to. All you have to do is come home and enjoy your freshly cleaned sofa.
Send us a message and schedule a cleaning appointment today!
