Things You'll Need:
- Cotton cloths
- Hand soap
- Leather conditioner
- Vacuum cleaner
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Step 1
Remove as much of the surface dirt as possible with a dry rag. If you have mud stuck to your upholstery, make sure you let it dry first so you don't smear it in and make a larger mess. Food messes should be picked up as soon as possible to prevent the leather from absorbing the liquids.
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Step 2
Vacuum the upholstery with the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner. This will pull any loose dirt out of the leather and maybe even loosen up some of the dirt that has adhered to the surface. This is also a good practice if the upholstery is simply dusty.
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Step 3
Remove any surface grime with a soapy solution. Drip a few drops of shower gel or mild hand soap into a quart of water. Stir it up well so it gets bubbly. Dip a cotton rag into the solution and then wring it out well. Now rub the damp rag over the surface of the leather, similar to how you would clean your face.
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Step 4
Rinse the upholstery in the same manner, but this time use a rag dipped in clean water and then wrung out well. Just as you wouldn't leave soapy water on your face since it would dry it out, make sure you rinse it well.
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Step 5
Dry the area cleaned with a completely dry cotton cloth, using a circular motion. This will keep the moisture from seeping into the pores of the leather. If leather is allowed to air dry, it will get very stiff. Work the leather with the dry rag until no moisture can be felt.
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Step 6
Spray on a light layer of leather conditioner to give a protective layer on the leather against humidity. Make sure you use a product made specifically for conditioning leather, not for cleaning. Work it in gently, in alternating circular motions.
