How to Clean Leather Furniture

One of the newest trends in furniture is leather because of its combined durability and style and it's easy to care for as well. With all stains, it is important to get them up immediately before they have a chance to set in or dry because leather is porous and the stains will set deeply into the fabric quickly.

Step 1: Determine the type of leather furniture that need's cleaning. This information could typically be found on the tags and will also have the manufacturers suggested tips for cleaning the items.

Step 2: Because leather scratches easily, use the vacuum cleaners soft brush attachments to thoroughly vacuum the entire piece of leather furniture, paying special attention to the corners.

Step 3: Drop a few droplets of a mild liquid facial soap or body wash, such as Dove or Neutrogena, into a quart of distilled water; mix until bubbly suds appear. (Do not use anything harsher than mild liquid soaps and do not use tap water. Tap water could contain chlorine and this would discolor the leather.)

Step 4: Begin by rubbing or cleaning a small spot in the back of the couch or somewhere where no one would see the area if it discolors the couch or furniture piece.

Step 5: Dip a soft rag, like an old white t-shirt without imprints on it or a cloth baby diaper – into the water with the soapy bubbles and then wring it out so there is no water left in the cloth.

Step 6: Beginning at one end of the piece of furniture, wipe in a circular motion with the damp cloth, only working one section at a time.

Step 7: Take another soft rag, another baby diaper or old t-shirt, and this time, dip it into a bucket of clear distilled water, one without soap, and wring it out as much as possible.

Step 8: Take the soft rag with the clear distilled water and wipe up any soap residue from the spot just cleaned with the soapy water. There should not be too much soapy residue because the first rag should not be that wet.

Step 9: Take another soft rag, this time keep it dry, no water, and thoroughly dry the area by blotting it dry.

Step 10: If needed, a fourth clean, soft rag could be used, again dry, to buff out the area to help bring back the original shine or luster of the leather.

Step 11: If need by, use a commercial leather conditioner or protector to help keep spills from penetrating deep into the material.

Special stains require special treatment: for ink stains, use rubbing alcohol; for grease stains, use a dry cloth, no water and for newsprint, which could leave an ink stain, spray with hairspray and wipe clean with a soft cloth.