Leather is a beautiful and durable material that only continues to get better with age—as long as it’s well taken care of. Regular cleaning prevents dust, dirt, and stains from accumulating and potentially causing irreversible damage to the leather’s surface. Proper conditioning also safeguards the leather’s natural oils, preventing it from drying out, cracking, or becoming brittle over time. In order for you to enjoy your leather furniture to the fullest for the longest amount of time, you will need to make sure to use the right products to maintain quality and appearance.
Our Recommendation
For the deepest conditioning clean we recommend using leather specific cleaners. These products come in a variety of mediums including creams, wipes, and sprays, and are typically safe for all kinds of leather—especially high-end and untreated types. Make sure to follow up with a leather conditioner when you are finished using a cleaner. Leather conditioner helps your furniture stay hydrated which will preserve the material’s flexibility and prevent cracks and creases.
How To Use Leather Cleaning Products:
- Clear any dust and crumbs off your furniture using a clean microfiber cloth or vacuum attachment.
- Grab your cleaning wipes or apply your cleaner to a microfiber cloth then gently wipe down your furniture using small, circular motions.
- Wait for your furniture to dry completely. This can take up to 24 hours.
- Wipe off any excess cleaner there may be.
- Apply an even layer of leather conditioner for added protection, again using small, circular motions.
- Wait for your furniture to dry completely once more.
- Enjoy your beautiful and well-maintained furniture.
Quick Fix Option
If you’re out of leather cleaning solution but need to do a quick spot clean, a few drops of mild dish soap in warm water is an acceptable home remedy on finished leather. We do encourage coming back in with a cleaner and conditioner when possible so your leather doesn’t dry out from the soap. Even though dish soap is not ideal for routine cleanings it can help in a pinch.
Not Recommended
While some sites may recommend using a vinegar and water solution to clean leather, we encourage you to stay away from this method. Vinegar is acidic and can dehydrate leather. It is possible it may even remove the color on certain types of leather. To avoid deterioration, we suggest you should skip the vinegar solution and stick to cleaning products made specifically for leather.
Before using anything on your leather it is important to do a spot test to see how your furniture will react to different cleaning solutions.
You can contact one of Gardner White’s experts at (248) 481-2208, chat with one online, or visit one of our local Michigan stores.
