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.
You can clean your leather furniture using a simple cleaning solution of 50/50 vinegar and water. Use a microfiber cloth to apply the solution, rubbing the leather in a circular motion to lift the dirt out of the natural fibers.
Steer clear of DIY cleaning solutions.
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.
Vinegar has antibacterial properties and will not cause any damage to your seats. Simply spray on the part of the seat that you wish to clean, and wipe away with a clean, dry cloth.
Be sure to avoid these products when cleaning your leather: Baking soda, white vinegar, cream of tartar, and lemon juice. Some sources online cite these common household products as a DIY solution for cleaning leather. This is actually false as they can be extremely harsh on the material and make stains worse.
White vinegar and olive oil are the two ingredients that can be used to clean leather furniture. All you need to do is to dab the vinegar directly on the affected area. It works better to remove deep-soiled areas.
This may sound surprising, but vinegar can work wonders on leather. If the stain is older, tougher, and the leather is more durable, grab a cleaning cloth and dampen it thoroughly with white vinegar, then gently rub the stained area.
Scrub the seats with cold water and a microfiber towel. Vinegar: Mix a cup of vinegar, a gallon of hot water, and a small amount of dish soap together. You can lightly apply this solution to the fabric and scrub with a brush. Remove dirt and suds with a microfiber cloth and clean water.
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.
Olive oil, and every oily substance for that matter, will not “nourish” your leather, but actually accelerate its deterioration. Leather is extremely permeable, and will soak up any oils you put on it. When oil first saturates leather, it seeps to the back—to the part you can't see.
Water strips leather of its natural oils and when wet leather dries, you'll often find that it has become dry and brittle. While rain can ruin leather, the following steps can help you treat and fix water-damaged leatherto help preserve your valuable leather apparel.
Bruschetta with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and tomato gives us plenty to be grateful for, but did you know that olive oil has a stack of uses around the home? This yummy oil can be used to clean and protect everything from leather couches to cast iron pans.
A mixture of equal parts white vinegar and olive oil can be used to clean leather. You also can use a few drops of mild soap in warm water.
The drawback is that the acid in the vinegar can be drying to leather, which means that after using it, you'll want to give the hide a light coating with a leather conditioner like Cadillac.
Stubborn Stains
For leather work boots use WD-40® Multi-Use Product to restore your boots to good condition. Spray the formula directly onto areas with stains, grease, or other grime and let the product sit for several minutes.
Darkening can often occur when oils begin to congest leather's pores, such as body oils or leather conditioner (if too much has been used). You can best prevent darkened leather by protecting it with leather conditioner and performing regular spot cleanings before it has the chance to darken.
Step 3: Mix a cleaning solution.
For grease stains, let baking soda (just a pinch!) sit on top of the stain (doing so will help absorb the oils). If you are unsure of the origin of the stain, or for general messes, simply mix together vinegar and water (at a ratio of 1:1).
Mix a solution of warm water and dish soap. You can also make a cleaning solution of one part vinegar to one part water. Dip a soft cloth into the solution, wring it out and wipe the jacket. Use a second clean, damp cloth to wipe off the cleaning solution.
You should not use Windex on leather. It will ruin your leather product because it usually contains alcohol. Alcohol will dry out your leather, eventually making it unusable.
Treating leather with coconut oil does have a few upsides: it will soften the leather and provide a thin layer of waterproof protection. Because coconut oil is a natural oil (like neatsfoot oil, olive oil, and mink oil), it will darken leather boots when applied.
It's widely agreed that plain old dish soap and water are the best cleaners for all types of leather.
The best way how to clean a leather couch and the entire surface would be to mix 2 parts white vinegar with 1 part olive oil in a spray bottle and shake well. You can also add a few drops of fragrant essential oils to cut the vinegar scent.