How to Clean Leather
How to clean leather and not put your family at risk…
When it comes to leather, we’re conditioned to believe that you need specialist cleaning products to care for this natural material. Just think of shoe stores where they sell you a different expensive leather conditioner with every pair of shoes; leather furniture stores will often sell you their own special cleaning product too.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that no-one knows how to clean leather with simple natural ingredients any more. And we mean inexpensive ones we already have in our homes.
While it’s true that some leather products, such as suede and ones with unstable dyes, do need specialist cleaning, most finished leather can be cared for using simple home cleaning methods. Leather furniture, leather jackets, and leather gloves all respond well to gentle cleaning with natural ingredients. The important thing with leather is to avoid soaking it in water and to avoid drying it out.
Whatever leather cleaning method you decide to use, it is always a good idea to try it out on a small hidden area of the leather just in case you find that the color isn’t stable. After all, leather products are expensive items so it is worth being cautious.
How to clean leather with soap
You can use any mild hand soap to clean leather with. Collect a few soft cloths to use and have some olive oil ready to finish with.
Start by dampening one of the cloths. Wring all the excess water out. Dab a little soap onto the cloth and rub it into the cloth until it makes lather. Rub this light lather onto the leather until the dirt is loosened. Using another slightly damp cloth wipe over the leather to remove the soap and dirt. Always make sure that the cloth is only slightly damp not dripping. Allow the leather item to air dry or else dry it with another soft cloth before proceeding to the final step.
Put a tiny amount of olive oil onto a dry soft cloth and rub it into the leather. Be careful not to use too much as it will make the leather darken or leave a sticky residue. The oil will prevent the leather from drying out ad keep it soft and supple.
How to clean leather with vinegar and olive oil
This age-old leather cleaning recipe was apparently once used by cowboys to keep their leather in good shape. In a jam jar mix two parts of olive oil with one part vinegar. This should be white vinegar and plain olive oil.
Shake up the jar until the contents are well mixed. Have two clean soft cloths ready. With one cloth wipe a small amount of the oil and vinegar mixture over the leather to be cleaned, then immediately buff it up with the clean cloth. The vinegar lifts dirt and the oil nourishes the leather and prevents it from drying out. Just avoid applying too much in one go, as you don’t want your leather to end up with a sticky, oily surface that just attracts more dirt.
Lifting stains with cornstarch
For stains caused by greasy food, oils and oily lotions, cornstarch is a great remedy. Sprinkle corn starch over the stain and rub it in briskly with your fingers. The idea is to warm the surface with the friction so that the stain is loosened. The cornstarch will then absorb the oils. Wipe it away with a slightly damp cloth. Repeat if necessary until the stain is lifted.
The great thing about caring for your leather with these home-made remedies is that there are no toxic chemicals in them. When you are concerned about reducing the chemicals in your home and creating a cleaner, healthier environment for your family, it’s essential to find alternatives to the chemical based commercial cleaning products that are so damaging to our health. The methods outlined above are cheap as well as effective and completely non-toxic, so are safe for you and your kids to be around.
Thanks for visiting!
Happy cleaning!