How to Clean Leather Furniture

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: January 12, 2022

Leather furniture may look intimidating to clean, but it’s surprisingly easy to care for! With some regular upkeep, like vacuuming and wiping it down with a microfiber cloth once a month, you can keep your furniture looking in tiptop shape. Treating stains on your leather furniture is fairly straightforward, too—ink, grease, and drink stains can all be cleaned up with a little care and attention.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Maintaining Your Leather Furniture

1
Vacuum the entire piece of furniture once per month. Use the attachments on your vacuum to sweep the cracks and crevices of the furniture. Remove any cushions and vacuum away all visible dirt. Use the soft brush attachment to clean the surface of the furniture, too.^{[1]
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- Always use the vacuum attachments rather than picking up the entire vacuum and putting it on the furniture. The weight of the vacuum and its sharp edges could easily scratch the leather.
2
Wipe the furniture down with a microfiber cloth from the top to bottom. Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to give the entire piece of furniture a thorough wipe down. Start at the top of the furniture and work your way down so that any dislodged dust or dirt will fall to areas that haven’t been wiped clean yet.^{[2]
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- While you’re wiping the furniture down, take note of any areas that are stained or particularly dirty so you can treat them later.
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3
Mix together equal parts vinegar and water to create a cleaning solution. In a small bowl, combine ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of water with ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of white vinegar. To prevent spilling the mixture, place the bowl on the ground near the furniture that you’re cleaning.^{[3]
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- Test out new cleaning products on an inconspicuous area first just in case it doesn’t react well with the leather.^{[4]
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4
Use the water and vinegar to wipe away any dirty areas you noticed. Dip a clean microfiber cloth into the solution and squeeze it out so that it’s damp, but not dripping. Use a gentle, circular motion to clean away dirt and grime. It’s not necessary to clean the entire piece of furniture, though it won’t hurt the leather to wipe the whole thing down.^{[5]
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- Be very gentle if you’re cleaning unprotected leather, as it is much easier to scratch and damage.^{[6]
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5
Dry off the water and vinegar with a clean microfiber towel. After you wipe down the piece of furniture, take a clean, dry microfiber towel and wipe away any excess moisture that remains. Avoid letting wet spots air dry.^{[7]
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- If the microfiber cloth gets too wet while you’re drying off the furniture, use a fresh, dry towel.
6
Apply a conditioner to your furniture every 6 to 12 months. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before you apply the conditioner. Generally, you’ll apply the conditioner to a clean washcloth and rub it into the leather using gentle, circular motions. Make sure to check how long the conditioner needs to be left alone before you use the furniture again.^{[8]
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- Test the conditioner out on an inconspicuous area of the furniture before applying it to the entire piece.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Treating Stains

1
Blot away spills as quickly as possible after they occur. As soon as a spill happens, grab some clean paper towels to wipe away the bulk of it. Once that is done, take a clean, dry washcloth and blot the stained area by pressing down on it repeatedly.^{[9]
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- Blotting the spill should help draw up any liquid or matter that has already started to set into the leather.
2
Wipe away grease with a dry cloth and baking soda. If your leather is stained with butter, body lotion, oil, or any other kind of grease or fat, use a dry washcloth to wipe off as much of it as you can. Once the grease has mostly been removed, sprinkle enough baking soda over the stain so it’s completely covered. Leave the baking soda on the stain for 2 to 3 hours, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.^{[10]
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- Don’t use water to wipe away grease stains. Water could actually cause the grease to set into the leather, rather than clearing it away.
- The baking soda helps draw the grease out of the leather, making it easier to wipe away.
3
Use rubbing alcohol to address ink stains on your leather furniture. Dip a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol and gently squeeze it out so it’s not dripping wet. Then dab the cotton ball against the ink stain to remove it from the leather. Dab in an up-and-down motion, rather than rubbing the area. Stop once the stain has been lifted.^{[11]
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- Depending on how big the stain is, you may need to use more than 1 cotton ball. The stain should transfer from the leather to the cotton ball, so when you notice the cotton looks stained, trade it out for a fresh one.
4
Dab away juice and soda stains with a clean cloth and distilled water. Dampen a clean cloth in distilled water, and blot any areas on your leather furniture that have been stained by water-based liquids. After the stain has been blotted, leave the spot to air-dry.^{[12]
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- The water and cloth will clean away any stickiness left from the liquid.
5
Mix together lemon juice and cream of tartar to clean beige leather. Mix together 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of lemon juice and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of cream of tartar in a small bowl. Spread the mixture over the stained area. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe it clean with a damp washcloth.^{[13]
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- Don’t use this method on darker pieces, as the lemon juice could lighten the leather.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I prep leather before conditioning?

Rubnrestore

Community Answer

Clean the surface. Rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol are always a good first choice. These solvents are gentle enough for leather and vinyl and will effectively strip residue from oil, grease, many types of adhesives, and slimy residue from ArmorAll and detailer dressings. Water-based cleaner-degreaser-dewaxers are also an excellent choice. Do not use caustic or antibacterial cleaners. If in doubt, work in tandem with both water-based cleaners and solvents to remove an array of dirt, grease, and chemical residues. A soft nail brush will aid in removing dirt from the fine lines of the material's "grain." For suede and nubuck, use white vinegar.
Question

Clean suet off leather sofa?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

Wipe away as much of the suet as you can with a dry towel, then sprinkle baking soda over the stained area. Let the baking soda sit for 2 to 3 hours, then wipe it away with a clean microfiber cloth. The baking soda should hopefully draw the fat out of the leather.
Question

How do I clean a very old leather chair with old wall paint on it?

Sarah Battilana

Community Answer

You might be best off contacting a professional, as it is really hard to get paint off of leather without ruining the material. You could always try applying rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to the stained areas, but that might dry out the material even more.