Along with cleaning and organizing your home, keeping your leather furniture in great shape is a good idea year-round, but especially important once the weather starts getting warmer. Fresh spring air and hot summer sun can cause cracks and dryness in your favorite leather furnishings, which look amazing in your space but require slightly more upkeep than many of your other home furnishings.
Instead of spending money on store-bought versions — and adding yet another plastic bottle to the cabinet under your sink — it’s just as easy to make your own DIY leather cleaner with ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Free of any chemicals, this eco-friendly cleaning elixir does an awesome job at refreshing all your leather furnishings. And did we mention that it costs basically nothing to make?
We know what you’re thinking: I just cleaned my stainless steel sink, garbage disposal, and dishwasher — now I have to do more chores? But if you want to enjoy your leather furniture for years to come, having a good homemade leather cleaner on hand is a must. After all, the best way to be truly sustainable is to take better care of the stuff you already have, so you’re not tempted to buy replacements. So go ahead and give that couch some TLC — it’ll pay you back with many years of looking stylish and cozy.
What You’ll Need
- Reusable towel or sponge
- Small bowl
- 10 drops lemon or orange essential oil (optional)
- Glass Jar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup vinegar
Directions
- Start by vacuuming your leather furniture, removing any bits of food and dust lurking about. Then gently wipe the leather item with a damp paper towel.
- Mix together the vinegar and olive oil in a small container, whisking to incorporate. The oil and vinegar won’t completely come together because the liquids have different densities. The vinegar gently cleans the leather, and the olive oil breaks up dirt and stains while conditioning the furniture. Adding essential oil gives the cleaner a nice scent, which leaves your furnishings smelling fresh.
- Dip a clean paper towel into the homemade cleaner and then gently rub on a small test area of the leather item. Let dry for 20 minutes and check for discoloration before coating furniture. Working in a circular motion, coat the entire piece, rubbing the cleaner into the leather. Use a clean and dry paper towel to gently wipe down the furniture, removing any remaining oil. Now sit back and enjoy your freshly cleaned leather!
— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes
Sarah Lipoff is a former digital asset manager at PS.
Haley Lyndes was an assistant editor for PS Shopping where she found and tested the best home, beauty, and fashion products. She is a graduate of Northern Vermont University and has nearly five years of experience in both written and broadcast journalism.