How To Clean Leather

By: Douglas Webb

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Leather is one of the most natural and durable materials, however, although leather is durable it is essential to learn how to properly clean leather to maintain its longevity. Learning how to clean leather only takes a few minutes, using a few household products.

What you will need to clean leather

  • One bucket of warm water
  • three clean lent free cloths
  • vinegar
  • saddle soap
  • one clean sponge
  • mineral oil (optional)
  1. Dampen your cloth. Completely submerge your cloth into a bucket of warm water. After your cloth is saturated with water, lightly ring out the cloth. Be sure to leave a little water onto the cloth.
  2. Give the leather a good wipe down. Take your dampened cloth and completely wipe down any areas that have accumulated residue.
  3. Next, dampen the cloth with vinegar. Take a small amount of vinegar and saturate the cloth, however, the cloth should not be dripping wet. Massage the leather with the cloth in a circular motion focusing on any remaining stains or marks. This step may seem harsh when learning how to clean leather, however, vinegar is a non abrasive cleaner that will not only remove stains, but it will also freshen the leather as it cleans.
  4. Utilize saddle soap on a clean sponge. With a clean, dampened sponge, add a small amount of saddle soap and apply it directly to the leather. Use small circular motions to completely cover the entire area of leather until the soap has dried.
  5. Polish leather with a damp cloth. Take another clean lint free cloth and submerge it in warm water. Remove excess water from the cloth as the cloth should not be dripping wet. Polish the leather in the same circular motion to remove any remaining saddle soap. This is one of the finishing steps in learning how to clean leather goods.
  6. Finish up with mineral oil. Mineral oil will restore leather’s resilience in addition to protecting leather goods from wear and tear. Take a small amount of mineral oil and apply directly to the leather. Take a clean lint free cloth and spread the mineral oil across all areas of the leather. Rub the mineral oil into the leather until any excess is no longer visible. This step is necessary for those with unfinished leather good. Although this step is completely optional, utilizing mineral oil is important in the how to clean leather step since mineral oil will restore leather’s resilience in addition to protecting leather goods from wear and tear.

Learning how to clean leather is not dependant upon costly items or leather cleaning services. Learning how to clean leather only involves utilizing a few household items and a few minutes of your time.

Posted on: Apr. 16, 2010