How to Moisturize a Leather Couch Naturally

Give new life to your old leather sofa with natural moisturizers.

Leather furniture adds a cozy, rich and timeless look to homes. Keeping this look requires special care and maintenance. Like human skin, leather dries out with time, so use conditioner and moisturizer to keep it supple and soft. Instead of using commercial cleaners and polishes, some of which can be harsh on leather couches, make your own moisturizer with simple ingredients likely found around your house.

Things You'll Need

• Distilled white vinegar
• Food-grade linseed oil
• Lint-free cloth
• Olive oil

Instructions

1. Clean your leather sofa before moisturizing to provide a clean, primed surface that's ready for moisture. Mix 1 part distilled white vinegar with 2 parts food-grade linseed oil. Apply this mixture to the sofa with a lint-free cloth and let it soak in overnight. Buff into the sofa the following day to complete the cleaning.

2. Apply a simple moisturizer such as olive oil or linseed oil to the entire surface of the clean sofa. Rub in the oil with a clean, lint-free cloth.

3. Apply an extra coat of oil on dry spots, allowing the oil to soak in for several hours or overnight. Afterward, buff the oil into the surface of the sofa with a cloth.

4. Repeat step 3 until all spots appear sufficiently moisturized and the sofa has a rich, shiny finish.

Tips & Warnings

• Petroleum jelly is another moisturizer option for leather sofas. Olive oil works best for natural leather finishes while petroleum jelly is best for all other finishes, according to the website Cleaning Leather Furniture.

• Never allow your leather sofa to dry out completely or it could crack and permanently damage the sofa. Treat your sofa regularly with moisturizer to prevent this from happening.

References

• House Cleaning Central: Leather Cleaning
• Cleaning Leather Furniture: Make Your Own Leather Polish & Cleaner