Leather couches are visually appealing and durable, a bit of maintenance is required to keep leather looking good and sitting comfortably for a longer period. Natural cleaning products are often better for cleaning your leather couch as commercial cleaners prove to be too harsh. Using homemade cleaning solutions is the way to go, and this article will explain just how to clean a leather couch naturally. For couch cleaning of different materials, check out our article on how to clean a couch at home.
Clean A Leather Couch Naturally In 5 Steps:
1. Vacuum With Upholstery Attachment
Always begin by vacuuming your entire couch to remove dirt and debris from the surface, and pay attention to the corners and crevices. You should vacuum gently to ensure the leather doesn’t get scratched.
2. Wipe The Couch
Gently wipe your couch down with a damp, clean microfibre cloth. Don’t spend too much time on one spot as water may discolour the leather. This will help remove and loosen grime.
3. Spot Clean
Spot cleaning for ink-based stains:
For ink stains like pen or marker ink, you can try using rubbing alcohol. Dip a cotton bud into some rubbing alcohol and gently rub on the stain until you can’t see it anymore. To ensure there is no bleeding of the stain, make sure to change cotton buds often. As soon as the stain is gone, wipe over the area with a damp, clean cloth to remove excess rubbing alcohol.
Cleaning protein-based stains:
For protein-based stains like bodily excrements or food, make a mixture of 2 parts of corn starch and 1 part lemon juice. Use the same cleaning technique as noted above, but make use of a cloth for larger areas.
Surfaces scratches:
You can try to get rid of any surface scratches with a gentle oil, like olive oil or baby oil. Dip a cotton bud into oil and gently rub the scratch, then leave it to sit for about 5 minutes before wiping the excess oil away with a clean, dry, soft cloth.
4. Make Your Solution
The most suitable way to clean a leather couch surface is to mix 2 parts of white vinegar with 1 part olive oil, then pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle and shake well. For a more pleasant smell to mask the vinegar, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Spray the leather couch liberally with the cleaning solution and use a clean cloth to rub the solution all over the couch in circular motions until it is clean. A soft brush can also be effective for cleaning a leather couch. Finish by wiping excess oil with dry paper towels.
5. Finishing Touches
To restore the lustre of your leather, there are several oils that you can use. With a clean dry cloth, rub coconut oil into your leather couch in circular motions. You can also use shoe polish depending on the colour of the couch. Leave the oil to soak on the couch for 5 minutes, then using another clean cloth, dry up the leftover oil. Other suitable substitutes are beeswax, almond oil, or a mixture of 1 part beeswax, 1 part cocoa butter, and 2 parts almond oil.
If you’re about to clean your leather couch, give these 5 steps a try, and remember, using a natural cleaner will extend the life of a leather couch without damaging the material. Now you are equipped with the tools to revive your leather couch and make yours look as good as new. If you don’t understand the cleaning tag on your couch, the signs and their meanings can be found in our post on how to clean a couch.
