Natural Way to Clean Leather

Cleaning leather restores its vitality and shine.

Cleaning leather with natural products and methods restores the material's shine and strength. While different leather materials require different cleaning methods and materials, all leather materials -- from clothes, to couches, to books, to old leather saddles -- can be cleaned naturally. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) Program chooses water-based cleaning systems, or wetcleaning, as an example of a natural and environmentally-friendlier technology for cleaning suede and leather garments. However, you must have a technologically advanced wetcleaning machine and be a trained operator to use the machine.

Things You'll Need

• Cleaning brush
• Cloth or rag
• Saddle soap
• Wetcleaning machine or washing center
• Dryer with steel basket

Instructions

Cleaning Leather by Hand

1. Brush off surface dirt and debris from the leather.

2. Wipe the leather object with a damp cloth.

3. Rub the leather with a cake of organic and natural saddle soap. Soap the leather evenly from one end to the other in a smooth stroke.

4. Dry the leather with shaping in mind. For reins or loose leather fabrics, hang the material carefully to dry. Hang the material over a chair or table at full length. Avoid drooping the material from a nail or hook, which will stretch out the leather and weaken it.

Cleaning Leather Using a Wetcleaning Machine

1. Place leather garments in a special wetcleaning washer. Add specially formulated natural and organic cleaning agents. (Note: You must be trained to operate a wetcleaning machine.)

2. Hang the garments to dry while they are still wet. Leave them to dry flat or put them on a clothes hanger overnight.

3. Load the materials into a tumble dryer with a stainless steel reversing basket and finishing programs.

4. Program the temperature control to the lowest heat setting. Tumble dry for a few minutes until the garments are light and fluffy.

5. Finish and press the garments with steam and air in the machine.

Tips & Warnings

• Saddle soap contains natural oils that preserve the natural oils of leather.

References

• Environmental Protection Agency: Water-Based Cleaning System for Suede and Leather
• LeatherGoodsConnection.com: Leather Care
• Library of Congress: Preservation: Leather