The Best Way to Clean Leather Furniture

Leather furniture is a beautiful addition to any home, but it's important to take care of it properly in order to keep it looking its best. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to clean leather furniture safely and effectively. We'll also recommend some products that you can use to help protect your leather couch from peeling and fading. Follow these tips, and your leather furniture will stay looking beautiful for years!

How Often Should You Clean a Leather Couch?

Leather furniture doesn't require a lot of care, but it's important to clean it every now and then. Whenever you do your weekly cleaning, make sure to lightly dust your leather couch with a microfiber cloth. You should deep clean your leather couch at least once a month, or anytime it becomes visibly dirty.

What Can I Use to Clean My Leather Couch?

There are different methods to clean leather couches depending on the stain. Some require stronger products and a little more elbow grease.

How to Remove Regular Stains on Leather Couches

Step 1:

Dish soap comes to the rescue! If you spilled some juice or ice cream on your leather couch, a bit of dish soap can do the trick. Just dampen a cloth with water and wipe down the couch surface. However, it's important not to get the leather too wet, as this could cause it to peel or fade.

Step 2:

Be gentle with your leather couch. Scrub in small circles, and not aggressively back and forth. Wipe down with a clean, dry towel.

Getting Rid of Ink Stains on a Leather Couch

Ink stains are ugly on leather couches since they show up much easier compared to fabric couches. No need to freak out, ink stains can also be removed with household cleaning supplies.

An ink stain would show right up on this Ladybird Leather Ottoman.

Step 1:

Rubbing alcohol is just the right amount of strength you'll need to get rid of ink stains. Use a cotton ball, and then lightly dab the stain. It is called "rubbing" alcohol but resist the urge. You don't want the ink to spread.

Step 2:

Use the ol' clean, dry washcloth to pat it dry. If the ink stain remains, just repeat the steps.

Removing Tough Grease Stains on Your Leather Couch

Your pizza has somehow fully slid off your paper plate onto the leather couch. Unfortunately, grease and oil stains show clearly on the surface of leather couches, but there are ways to clean it.

Step 1:

The curer of most household messes: baking soda! Go grab some baking soda and sprinkle it on the stain (keyword sprinkle). Let it sit on the stain for a few hours before checking back on the grease stain.

Step 2:

It's cloth time! Wipe first with a clean, dry cloth. You'll want to follow up with a damp cloth to remove any baking soda. Make sure the cloth isn't sopping wet, as you are still dealing with leather.

Deep Cleaning Your Leather Couches

If you want to give your leather furniture a deeper clean, you can use a leather conditioner. Leather conditioners help to remove any built-up dirt or oils, and they also help to protect the leather from fading and peeling. Just be sure to follow the instructions on the conditioner bottle, as each one is different.

Click here for a list by Forbes on the best leather cleaners and conditioners. It's straightforward and to the point.

Conditioner on a Leather Couch?

I know it's weird, right? Why do you have to condition your couch? I'll tell you why. It's because leather is a natural material and, like our skin or hair, it needs some TLC every once in a while to stay healthy and look good. Applying a leather conditioner will help keep your couch from drying out and cracking, which can cause unsightly peeling down the road. You can purchase leather conditioners at most home improvement stores.

There are many different types of leather conditioners available, so be sure to choose one that best suits your needs. Some leather conditioners come with a built-in UV protection layer, which helps protect your leather furniture from fading in direct sunlight. Others contain moisturizers that help keep your leather couch looking soft and supple. 

Check out this video on cleaning and conditioning your leather sofas:

Please, Don't Use Olive Oil!

You may have heard the tall tale of using olive oil on your couches to restore color and repair small scratches. We would advise against this. It may work for an old baseball glove, but leather is extremely permeable and will soak it up and spit it back out. Meaning, the oil will resurface and create one of those unsightly oil stains.

Check out these images of oil damaged leather from a blog post by Fibrenew.com:

Leather sofa damaged by oil

Leather chair damaged by oil

What Can I Do to Prevent My Leather Couch from Peeling?

One of the main causes of leather couch peeling is exposure to excessive sunlight. To prevent this, try to keep your leather furniture out of direct sunlight whenever possible. You can also purchase a leather protector spray, which will help shield your couch from UV rays and other environmental factors that can cause damage.

Leather furniture can also peel due to moisture build-up. In order to prevent this, make sure you wipe down your leather couch after spills have dried and leather cleaners have been applied. Additionally, leather conditioner can help protect against water damage by adding an extra layer of protection to the leather surface.

What Can I Do to Prevent My Leather Couch from Fading?

Leather furniture is prone to fading over time. This process happens slowly but steadily, so it's important not to wait until your couch starts looking dull before taking action! To prevent fading from occurring on a leather couch, try applying leather conditioner once every few months or as needed in order for it to stay healthy and vibrant looking throughout its lifespan.

It's also important that you avoid placing any heavy objects directly atop your leather furniture if possible; doing this could cause permanent indentations which will make your leather couch look faded and tired.

Leather Couch Repair

If your leather couch has already started to peel or fade, don't worry! There is still hope. You can have the leather couch repaired by a professional at most upholstery shops. They will be able to match the color of your leather and restore it back to its original condition.

Take Care of Your Leather Couch

Leather furniture is a big investment, and it's important to take care of it so that it lasts for many years. By using the proper methods and products, you can keep your leather couch looking good as new. In addition, taking a few preventative measures will help to ensure that your leather furniture stays in excellent condition for many years to come.

If you are in the market for a leather sofa, check out Couch Potatoes. This Austin furniture store has its leather tanned in Italy and then sent to Moore and Giles. We have several options to look through in terms of customization, to find the perfect match for your home.

Written by Emily Holleran