Cracks and wears will appear on leather furnishings after prolonged use. Proper maintenance is important to keep your leather furnishings in optimal condition. In this post, we are going to introduce a few inexpensive homemade leather cleaner recipes by using ingredients you already have in your kitchen to help effectively clean and refresh your leather furnishings.
In addition to leather furnishings, these homemade leather cleaners can also be applied on leather auto upholstery, leather saddlery, leather boots, leather luggage, leather shoes, leather bags, and leather clothing. Always test these cleaners on an inconspicuous area of the leather item, and let it dry for 20 minutes. Then check for discoloration before applying it to the entire leather item. Do not use these cleaners on unfinished leather or suede.
How to Make Homemade Leather Cleaner
If you own leather clothing, shoes, accessories, and furniture, you should be taking proper care of it. If you don’t you might experience some very unpleasant issues. And no one needs their leather to dry out, get mold or just look… old!
So, let’s start with some things we all need to know about cleaning leather with natural products.
1. No Common Household Cleaners on Leather! EVER!
To be honest with you, I had no idea that you couldn’t use common household cleaners on leather. Let’s say I learned it the hard way. I messed up my favorite leather sandals when I was a teen.
The reason? Things like alcohol and harsh chemicals dry up the leather, making it look awful while reducing its lifespan. I know it seems pretty obvious, but I had no idea!
So, I bought a few products and I didn’t like them. I also messed up one of my purses so bad, that I had to throw it away! Needless to say, I was FRUSTRATED! How could they make leather cleaner, that damages leather? Who needs that?
So, I had no other choice but to make my own leather cleaner. With kiddos in the house, natural ingredients are every mom’s go-to. That’s the reason I started my research there.
2. Why Using Natural Ingredients to Make Leather Cleaner is the Best Thing to Do?
Combating grime, dirt and bad odor with leather products is crucial to keep them looking good and last for years.
What natural ingredients can you use to clean and condition leather?
Olive oil
Essential oils
Grapefruit seed extract
Coconut oil
Rubbing alcohol
White vinegar
Beeswax
and you can try also:
Castile soap
Saddle soap
Magic sponge
So, after a ton of research and even more testing, I came up with a leather cleaner that works like a charm. It’s oil-based, so it hydrates your leather well like no other product but at the same time, it gets rid of the spots and dirt fairly well.
I picked 3 specific ingredients to make my own leather cleaner because of their multiple benefits:
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Orange / Lemon essential oil
I also like to keep it simple. The simpler, the better. So, I decided that if I am going to make a leather cleaner, it has to be very quick and easy to make.
3. Steps to Make Your Own Natural Leather Cleaner
Supplies Needed
3 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 Tbsp. olive oil
3 drops orange or lemon essential oil
Bowl
Fork / Whisk
DIY leather cleaner recipe stages – collage – a white bowl with oils, a white bowl with oils and coconut oil, a white bowl with oils and a fork mixing them, a white bowl with all the ingredients well blended
Directions
Combine the oils in a small bowl
Whisk it with a fork until the ingredients are blended together well
And you are done making your own leather cleaner! Yay!
4. Prepare Leather for Cleaning
Now, we have to take action. But before we proceed to apply the DIY cleaner, we have to prepare the leather. Making sure your leather is well cleaned before applying any product, will improve its performance and will result in a better-looking leather.
If you’re cleaning leather clothes or accessories, use a piece of soft cloth to clean them from dust or anything else that might be stuck on them. If you’re working on your couch, start with thoroughly vacuuming it with the proper attachment and vacuuming power.
If you haven’t done it before (I confess – I never had…), you will immediately notice the improvement in their look. But to truly rejuvenate your leather, you need to apply the cleaner you just made.
5. Perform a Test to Avoid A Mess!
ALWAYS proceed with caution to homemade cleaners! Some well-known leather experts even advise against using DIY cleaners on leather. If it’s your first time cleaning your leather with a cleaner you made yourself, be sure to follow all the recommendations to avoid any possibilities of making it worse than it is. Have in mind that product warranties can be voided if you are using different than the recommended cleaning products.
That’s why, if you want to give the DIY leather cleaner a try, we recommend spot-testing a piece on the leather before applying it all over. Using a cotton swab is recommended, as you can dip it in the cleaner and limit the amount of leather that is treated. Pick an inside edge or other hidden places to perform the test. If, after 24-48 hours the leather looks good, proceed to clean the entire piece.
6. Roll up your sleeves and clean your leather!
It works! It’s been two days and the leather cleaner you made has conditioned your test spot beautifully. Now, it’s time to apply the cleaner to your leather. Use a soft cloth to clean and condition the piece of leather that needs treatment. If it’s a belt or a purse – it’ll happen quickly. But if you’re going to rejuvenate your leather couch, arm yourself with patience and be ready to put some work in the process.
But I promise, if you really make a leather cleaner with this recipe, you will be amazed at how clean and conditioned your leather will look! That 4 years-old leather purse you adore? Bam! Almost brand new! The belt with a fun buckle you love? Bam! Looks like brand-spanking-new!
You will never need a store-bought cleaner because you can make your own leather cleaner that is SO good!
