How to Clean Leather Chairs

Leather chairs add a touch of elegance and luxury to a room. You will want to keep them looking their best with regular maintenance. It is easy to care for leather chairs, but you cannot treat them the same way you do other fabrics. Use proper cleaning supplies when dealing with stains or basic wear and tear on a leather chair.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Leather Chairs Regularly

  1. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 1
    1
    Determine the type of leather. Before you attempt to clean a leather sofa, determine the type of leather. Manufacturer's tags found on leather furniture generally provide cleaning tips and warnings.
    • Look to see if there are any tags attached to your furniture. If you don't find any, look at the written material that came with your furniture when you purchased it. If you know the specific type of chair you own, you may be able to find manufacturer's instructions online.[1]
    • The tag or instructions will provide tips on cleaning your furniture. It will also let you know what products could be potentially harmful to your leather.[2]
    • If you're unable to determine the specific type of leather, keep in mind most leather furniture is made from top-coat protected leather. It is generally safe to clean this leather using mild body soap and water.[3]
  2. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 2
    2
    Vacuum the chair. Before you begin cleaning your furniture, give it a good vacuuming. Regular vacuuming can prevent wear and tear on leather furniture.
    • For best results, use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment.[4]
    • Run the vacuum over the chair, making sure to get into dust between the cushions and in any cracks or crevices.[5]
    • Once you finish, wipe the chair down with a cloth. Use either a cotton or microfiber cloth.[6]
    • Keep an eye out for problem areas when vacuuming and dusting. Later on, you can treat any stains you find with soap or other cleaning products.[7]
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  3. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 3
    3
    Make a cleaner using water and soap. Once you've vacuumed and dusted, prepare your cleaner. You can clean leather with basic household supplies.[8]
    • Use a mild liquid soap. Soaps you would use in the shower work well as long as they're of a mild variety.[9]
    • If possible, use distilled water over tap water. Tap water may contain trace amounts of contaminants such as chlorine, which can cause damage to leather.[10]
    • Mix the water and soap together until suds form at the surface.[11]
  4. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 4
    4
    Wipe down the chair. Test a small area of the chair first. If you don't notice any damage, dip a clean rag in the liquid and wring it out thoroughly. From there, wipe the chair down with the wet rag.[12]
    • Once you finish applying the water and soap mixture, get another rag. Soak it with only distilled water and then ring it out. Repeat the process with this rag.[13]
    • Take a third rag and use it to dry off the chair.[14]
  5. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 5
    5
    Condition the leather. You should always condition leather after cleaning it to restore its natural oils. You can use olive oil to condition leather. Add a small amount of olive oil to a dry cloth. Then, rub it into the leather until it has a nice shine.
    • Be very careful not to use too much olive oil. This can make leather look greasy. If your chair looks darker after conditioning, you've used too much oil. Try to use less next time.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Treating Stains

  1. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 6
    1
    Wipe up grease stains with a dry cloth. If you get any grease stains on your leather chair, wipe them up right away with a clean, dry cloth. Do not add water. This could cause the grease to set in.[15]
    • If the stain remains after you attempt to wipe it away, sprinkle baking soda on the affected area. Baking soda can help draw out the grease. Leave on for a few hours and then gently brush it off with a rag.[16]
  2. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 7
    2
    Use rubbing alcohol for ink stains. Ink stains are common with leather furniture. If you notice an ink stain, rubbing alcohol is probably your best course of action.
    • Get a cotton swab. Dab some rubbing alcohol onto it.[17]
    • Wipe at the stain until it clears away.[18]
    • This method may also help in removing mold or mildew from a leather chair.[19]
  3. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 8
    3
    Try lemon juice and cream of tartar to fix discolorations. Discolorations are common on leather furniture, especially if your chair is a lighter color. A mixture of cream of tartar and lemon juice can be used to remove these types of stains.
    • Make a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and cream of tartar. How much you'll need depends on the size of the stains you're removing. Mix until you have a paste.[20]
    • Apply the paste to the stained areas. Leave on for 10 minutes. Then, take a damp cloth and wipe the mixture away.[21]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Trying Alternative Cleaners

  1. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 9
    1
    Try vinegar and olive oil. If your leather is not responding to conventional methods, vinegar and olive oil can be used instead. Mix one part vinegar and one part extra virgin olive oil. Then, dab onto the leather with a soft cleaning cloth, using circular motions to apply. Let sit for 10 minutes before buffing the chair with a dry cloth until it shines.
  2. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 10
    2
    Use baby wipes. Baby wipes can be used to remove any gunk or built-up residue stuck on a leather couch. If you're hesitant to use baby wipes on furniture, they make wipes specifically designed for removing gunk from leather as well. You can buy these wipes online or at a local furniture store.
  3. Image titled Clean Leather Chairs Step 11
    3
    Try hairspray. If you have young children, you may end up with marker stains on your leather chair. These can be removed with hairspray.
    • Use aerosol hairspray. Spray it over the stained areas. Then, rub it off gently and see if the stain comes out.
    • Eucalyptus oil can also be used to remove marker stains if hairspray does not work.
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Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    What can I use to clean leather chairs?
    Susan Stocker
    Susan Stocker
    House Cleaning Professional
    Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
    Susan Stocker
    Susan Stocker
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    The easiest way to clean leather is to just mix warm water with a few drops of dish soap. Rub the soap and water into the leather with a clean microfiber cloth to remove any dirt or stains. Then, wipe the leather clean with a dry cloth.
  • Question
    Will soap and water ruin leather?
    Susan Stocker
    Susan Stocker
    House Cleaning Professional
    Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.
    Susan Stocker
    Susan Stocker
    House Cleaning Professional
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Usually, no. However, always test the soap and water by wiping an inconspicuous spot on the leather to make sure it doesn't cause damage. If the spot looks good, go ahead and clean the rest of the leather. If you notice any damage, don't wipe down the leather.
  • Question
    How do I remove paint from leather?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Use nail polish remover. You must be very careful, same if you use isopropyl alcohol.
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Things You’ll Need

  • Soft dry cloth
  • Vacuum
  • Clean rags

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
  2. ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
  3. ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
  4. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  5. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  6. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  7. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  8. ↑ Susan Stocker. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
  9. ↑ Susan Stocker. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
  1. ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
  2. ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
  3. ↑ Susan Stocker. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.
  4. ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
  5. ↑ http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/
  6. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  7. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  8. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  9. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  10. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  11. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM
  12. ↑ http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-leather-furniture/#.VpQqDsArJPM

About This Article

Susan Stocker
Co-authored by:
Susan Stocker
House Cleaning Professional
This article was co-authored by Susan Stocker. Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices. This article has been viewed 93,979 times.
13 votes - 88%
Co-authors: 12
Updated: September 15, 2021
Views: 93,979
Categories: Chairs and Seating | Cleaning Furniture
Article SummaryX

To clean leather chairs, start by vacuuming the surface with a soft brush attachment, taking care to get into the cracks or crevices. Next, mix a few drops of mild soap with water to make a leather-safe cleaning solution. Then, dampen a rag with the solution and wipe the surface of the chair with the rag. Finally, dampen a fresh cloth with plain water, wipe away the soap on the surface, and let the leather dry before conditioning it with a small amount of olive oil. For tips on removing tough stains, read on!

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