Organize & Clean

How To Clean Leather Furniture

updated Jun 5, 2019
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(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

The thought of cleaning leather can be very intimidating. It is considered a high end textile and usually sold as such, so tackling stains yourself seems scary. Depending on the type and size of stain, try out our all-natural, two-ingredient cleaning paste before calling in the pros.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

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What You Need

Materials

  • Lemon juice
  • Cream of Tartar

Tools

  • Small mixing bowl
  • Spoon
  • Soft cloth or rag

Instructions

1. Start by mixing 1 part lemon juice with 1 part cream of tartar to make a paste.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

2. Find an inconspicuous area to test out the paste to be sure it won’t discolor your leather. I tried this on a few different colors of leather and didn’t have any issues, although it is always best to try it on your specific piece first.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

3. Apply the mixture to the stained area of your leather by working it around with small circular movements of the cloth. If the spot doesn’t come up immediately, leave the mixture on for up to two hours, reapplying as-needed.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

4. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

(Image credit: Ashley Poskin)

More great tips and tutorials: Cleaning Basics