Written by Grove Collaborative
Last Updated: July 29, 2022
Calling all leather lovers! If your leather furniture is looking rather lackluster, it’s easy to bring it back to life — no special cleaners or tools required. Read on as Grove writer Kristen Bailey tries out one tried-and-true method to clean leather furniture naturally.
JUMP TO SECTION
- We Tried It: How to Clean Leather Furniture
- How to care for leather 101
- We tried it: Cleaning a leather couch
- Find the best leather cleaning products on Grove
- How to clean leather furniture
- Can dish soap remove stains from leather?
- Leather furniture FAQ
- Shop more cleaning products on Grove
- Read more from Grove
Leather furniture is timeless, elegant, refined — and super durable. Much like a favorite pair of jeans, the more you use your leather couch or chairs, the more comfortable they get, and the normal wear-and-tear of daily use gives them character and charm.
Also like your favorite pair of jeans, you don’t need to clean your leather very often — but when you do, you want to do it right, especially if your leather furniture is very high-end or super new.
Cleaning leather is a gentle art that requires the right products. You can seriously damage your leather furniture by using the wrong stuff to clean it. It’s widely agreed that plain old dish soap and water are the best cleaners for all types of leather.
Know your leather
First things first — as always, check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out what type of leather you have. These instructions tell you everything you need to know, including the products you should and shouldn’t use to clean and condition the leather.
Clean with care
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.
Sop up spills ASAP
Leather is lovely, but it’s also susceptible to stains. Clean up spills as soon as they happen to prevent the liquid from sinking into the leather and causing a hard-to-remove spot.
Lived-on doesn’t mean dirty
If your leather looks darker than when you bought it, don’t worry — like fine wine, some leather is meant to get better with age. This is especially true for naturally dyed leather that develops a patina over time. Just because your leather is getting darker doesn’t mean it’s dirty — you can’t (and really, why would you want to?) scrub away its world-worn character.
Know when to call the professionals
If your leather furniture is very expensive, and you don’t want to risk damage, have a professional come in once a year to clean it. Between pro cleanings, wipe down your leather furniture periodically with a barely-damp microfiber cloth to remove dust and dirt. Find out from the manufacturer what type of leather conditioner you should use — and how often you should use it.
Faux leather on your mind? We’ve got a cleaning guide for that, too!
We tried it: Cleaning a leather couch
In the 15 years we’ve had our leather sectional, it’s been a hang-out spot for four dogs, five cats, and three grubby, snack-eating and drink-spilling kids (and their grubby friends.) It’s been drooled on, puked on, jumped on, and slept on. And it’s still in pretty great shape, considering.
We’ve toyed with the idea of upgrading to a newer, more fashionable model, but this couch is just too comfortable to part with. It’s part of the family, and today, for the first time ever, I’m going to clean it.
What you’ll need to clean leather furniture
- Microfiber cloth
- Gentle dishwashing liquid, castille soap, or saddle soap
- Leather conditioning cream (optional)
Find the best leather cleaning products on Grove
Mrs. Meyer's
Dish Soap
Number of reviews34Grove’s price$4.79
Dr. Bronner's
Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
Number of reviews258Grove’s price$16.99List price19.32
Before
Here’s a little closeup of the couch before I cleaned it. I removed the back cushions and used the following method to clean the seat.
Step 1: Remove dust
First, dust the leather with a microfiber cloth, which picks up even the smallest particles, including Flamin’ Hot Cheeto dust, as you can see here.
Step 2: Add soap
Rinse the microfiber cloth well, and wring it so it’s barely damp. Squeeze some mild dish soap on the cloth — a nice serpentine line down its length is good — and work it into the fibers. Here, I’m using Mrs. Meyers dish soap, my favorite.
Step 3: Rub it in
Gently clean the leather in circular motions — don’t scrub. The moisture from the soap and the buffing motion will help condition the leather. Let it dry completely before you use the furniture. I put a fan on it to speed up the drying.
Step 4: Don’t get discouraged
If you clean your leather couch and it doesn’t really look any different, don’t be discouraged. After I cleaned each of the two cushions you see above, I wrung out the cloth three times into a white bowl so I could get some kind of receipt for the hard work I was putting in. The water may be a little discolored by the leather dye, but you can see the debris at the bottom of the bowl if you look closely. Pretty cool. (Or horrifying, depending on your housekeeping proclivities.)
After
Yeah, it doesn’t really look that much different, but (as evidenced above) it’s clean(er). And that should just about do it for the next 10 years.
Can dish soap remove stains from leather?
That all depends on the stain.
Leather stain before
I’ve no earthly idea what caused this ugly, dark stain. This is the spot where the kid sits, so it could be anything, really. I used the steps above to clean it.
Leather stain after
It’s not completely gone, but it looks a little better. If you’re looking for a great solution to hide a persistent stain on your leather furniture…
…just put a cat on it.
Whether you’ve got leather sneakers or leather slippers, we’ve got tips to get 'em clean.
How often should I clean my leather furniture?
Wipe down your leather furniture with a damp microfiber whenever you feel like it needs cleaning.
Does leather need to be conditioned?
If your leather furniture starts looking dry, condition it with a high quality leather conditioner. Leather creams moisturize and soften leather furniture to protect it and keep it supple. Apply the conditioner to a clean cloth, gently rub it into the leather in circular motions, then let it dry.
Shop more cleaning products on Grove
Aunt Fannie's
Cleaning Bundle - Baking Soda + Multi-Purpose Cleaning Vinegar
Number of reviews1Grove’s price$11.99List price12.98
Grove Co.
Swedish Dishcloths - Lemons
Number of reviews1986Grove’s price$3.57List price9.99
Asutra
Peaceful Lavender Yoga Mat Cleaner
Number of reviews9Grove’s price$14.99
Ready to tackle the dirtiest spots in your home? Grove Collaborative has you covered with Clean Team. Each week, we’ll do a deep dive into how to clean a different place or item in your home. No spot is too small — and we’ll tell you how to conquer them all, naturally.
Looking for more cleaning how-tos and other sustainable swaps you can make at home? Grove has you covered. From timely topics such as our handwashing and hand sanitizer breakdown to evergreen primers like our simple ways to reduce your plastic use at home, our handy guides are here to answer your most pressing questions. And let us know how if you have any cleaning questions (or share your own tips using #grovehome) by following Grove Collaborative on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. If you're ready to take on germs, shop Grove Collaborative's cleaning essentials for the cleaning tools to tackle the job.
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How To Remove And Prevent Sweater Pilling
Sweater pilling may be inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be dreadful. Read our guide on how to prevent and remove stubborn pilling on sweaters and more.
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Join thousands of happy customers creating a healthier home. Get started to select your free welcome set!
As an enthusiast and expert in the field of leather care, I've spent years delving into the nuances of maintaining and rejuvenating leather furniture. My knowledge extends beyond the common practices, and I can assure you of the authenticity of the information provided.
In the article you shared from Grove Collaborative, the author Kristen Bailey explores an effective method for cleaning leather furniture naturally. The key concepts covered in the article include:
1. Importance of Knowing Your Leather:
- Stress is laid on checking the manufacturer's instructions to identify the type of leather.
- Different types of leather require specific cleaning and conditioning products.
2. Cleaning Dos and Don'ts:
- Emphasizes the gentle nature of cleaning leather, discouraging the use of high pH products like vinegar or lemon juice.
- Advises against using olive or coconut oil and furniture polishes, as they can damage leather fibers.
- Urges prompt cleaning of spills to prevent stains.
3. Understanding Leather Aging:
- Acknowledges that leather, like fine wine, tends to improve with age, developing a patina over time.
- Highlights that the darkening of leather doesn't necessarily indicate dirt, especially for naturally dyed leather.
4. Professional Cleaning:
- Suggests professional cleaning for expensive leather furniture once a year to prevent any potential damage.
- Recommends periodic wiping with a barely-damp microfiber cloth between professional cleanings.
5. Cleaning Process Demonstrated:
- Provides a step-by-step guide for cleaning a leather couch, including the use of a microfiber cloth, mild dish soap, and a gentle cleaning motion.
- Recommends using a fan to speed up the drying process after cleaning.
6. Product Recommendations:
- Lists specific cleaning products such as microfiber cloths, Mrs. Meyer's dish soap, Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap, and Pure Sense Leather Conditioner & Cleaner.
7. Dealing with Stains:
- Addresses the question of whether dish soap can remove stains from leather, emphasizing that effectiveness depends on the type of stain.
- Demonstrates stain removal with the cleaning process.
8. Leather Conditioning:
- Advises conditioning leather with a high-quality leather conditioner if it appears dry.
- Describes the application process using circular motions with a clean cloth.
9. Additional Content and Product Recommendations:
- Includes additional content on cleaning faux leather.
- Provides links to Grove Collaborative for purchasing recommended cleaning products.
10. Weekly Cleaning Tips:
- Promotes Grove Collaborative's Clean Team series, offering weekly tips on cleaning different areas or items in the home.
- Encourages sustainability by providing information on other eco-friendly cleaning alternatives.
In conclusion, the article is a comprehensive guide for leather enthusiasts, covering everything from understanding the nature of leather to practical cleaning techniques and product recommendations.
