How to Clean Leather-Covered Chairs

Leather chairs require special cleaning methods.

Leather-covered chairs are both comfortable seating options and provide a more formal look to a room's decor. Over time, the leather chairs will become dirty or stained, just like all other home furnishings. Cleaning leather-covered chairs is quicker than cleaning fabric-covered chairs, but you should keep a few tips in mind. Heavily stained leather chairs require more effort to clean than those that are cleaned on a regular basis.

Things You'll Need

• Soft, white cloths
• Baby shampoo or delicate laundry detergent
• Towel
• Leather conditioner

Instructions

1. Hold a soft, white cloth under a running lukewarm faucet until it is saturated. Wring out the cloth as tightly as possible to remove almost all of the moisture. The cloth should just barely be damp.

2. Wipe all surfaces of the leather chair to remove light stains and any dust and crumbs.

3. Rinse the cloth in clean water and apply 1/2 tsp. of a gentle liquid soap to it, such as laundry detergent for delicates or baby shampoo.

4. Place the cloth over any stained areas on the leather and move it in circular motions to dislodge the dirt and stains.

5. Rinse the cloth in clean water until no more soap bubbles are formed. Wring it out tightly to remove most of the water.

6. Wipe the surface of the leather chairs to remove the soap residue.

7. Place a dry towel onto the chair and press down on it to absorb any excess moisture. Allow the leather-covered chair to dry completely, which can take up to 24 hours.

8. Open a bottle of leather conditioner and apply 1/2 tsp. to a clean, dry cloth. Wipe the conditioner onto the leather-covered chair using circular motions until the solution is completely invisible. Reapply additional conditioner as needed until you have covered all of the leather.

References

• Professor's House: How Do You Clean a Leather Sofa
• Guide 4 Homes: Leather Couches -- Dealing With Spills and Stains