How do I clean soft leather furniture?

Angela
by Angela

My cat got sick on my leather couch while I was out and it had dried before I got home. How do I clean the couch without ruining it? Someone suggested saddle soap, but I was not sure. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

  5 answers
  • Deb K Deb K on Jan 06, 2019

    Hi Angela,

    1. Vacuum clean the sofa with a soft brush attachment. Make sure it sucks the dirt out of all the crevices otherwise the dust and grime could be rubbed into the sofa when you wipe it with the cleaning solution.
    2. Dust particles are abrasive in nature. Hence, they can damage the material when they come in contact with moisture.
    3. Create a cleaning solution by mixing equal parts of water and white vinegar. Alternatively, you can mix a few drops of commercial leather cleaner in water.
    4. Dip a soft cloth (preferably a microfiber cloth) in this solution and wring it out so that the cloth is damp, not completely wet.
    5. Wipe the entire sofa with this cloth while rinsing the cloth in the cleaning solution when necessary. It is best to start cleaning from the top and work your way down.
    6. Dry the sofa with a clean towel. Do not use a blow dryer for this purpose as it is likely to dehydrate the leather.
    7. For conditioning, mix one part of white vinegar and two parts of linseed oil or flax seed oil. Using a soft, clean cloth, apply this mixture on the sofa in broad, circular motions. Leave on overnight.
    8. Next day, buff the sofa with a clean rag to restore its shine.

    Apart from the vinegar solution, you can clean your leather sofa with a moisturizing soap (such as Dove) and water (bring it to lather and then wipe). Test the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous spot before using it on the entire sofa.



    Some even suggest cleaning leather furniture with saddle soap. On the downside, it is believed that repeated use of saddle soap tends to dissolve leather over a period of time.

  • Mary Mary on Jan 06, 2019

    Murphy's Oil Soap. After cleaning use a good leather conditioner

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Jan 06, 2019

    Nature’s Miracle enzymes will actually eat the vomit, but I’m not sure about the sofa dye. It’s at full line pet stores.

    Have you taken a shop vac and a dry toothbrush & dry cleaned it first?

    • Angela Angela on Feb 04, 2019

      I am very familiar with Nature's Miracle as I do cat rescue and it did help along with a leather soap. I have never owned leather furniture before so this is a new adventure for me.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jan 06, 2019

    Hello this Hometalk link How to Clean Your Leather Couch may be helpful.



    https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/furniture/cleaning-your-leather-couch-39874158?expand_all_questions=1

  • Joanie Joanie on Jan 07, 2019

    First: Did it stain the leather???.....and All leather they lead you to Saddle Soap.