How to Clean Leather

Get rid of stains on leather

The best method for cleaning leather is determined by the type of the stain and the type of the leather. Read How to Treat Stains in Leather for advice on removing specific stains.

The following are instructions for general leather cleaning: Before cleaning leather, determine whether the leather is finished - like luggage, furniture and garments - or unfinished - like baseball gloves, work boots and saddles. Then follow the instructions below to keep your leather looking fabulous.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Leather Conditioners
• Saddle Soaps
• Damp cloths
• Dry Towels
• Sponges
• Leather Protection Sprays
• Leather Cleaning Kits

Finished Leather

1. Place a small amount of a gentle, moisturizing soap such as Dove on a damp cloth and bring it to a light lather.

2. Rub the damp cloth on the leather without putting too much water on the leather.

3. Wipe away lather with a fresh damp cloth. Don't rinse the leather in water.

4. Polish leather with a dry towel.

5. Treat leather with a leather conditioner after it has dried completely.

Unfinished Leather

1. Use a damp cloth or sponge to rub saddle soap into the leather; work soap into a light lather.

2. Wipe away lather and allow to air dry.

3. Oil leather with a leather preservative such as mink oil.

Tips & Warnings

• Cleaning leather is a dangerous game. Cleaning can change the color or appearance of the leather. Always test the cleaning on a small invisible patch of leather before proceeding on the whole item.

• Avoid products like mink oil, shoe polish and waxes when cleaning leather furniture or garments.

• Consider seeking professional assistance as improper cleaning might damage the leather.