How to Clean Leatherette

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 29, 2019

Leatherette is a vinyl faux-leather material that is used in a number of products, including car interiors, couches, purses, wallets, and chairs. Leatherette is relatively inexpensive and is much easier to maintain than real leather. In order to clean leatherette, you should maintain the fabric by vacuuming regularly and wiping spills as they happen. You can also clean the leatherette by washing with soap and removing tough stains using a cotton swab.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Doing General Cleaning

1
Vacuum loose debris from the surface. Use a soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner and vacuum the entire surface. Pay particular attention to seams and hard to reach areas. Dust, dirt, and crumbs can collect in these crevices and scratch the material if they are not removed.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Dust leatherette surfaces. If you are cleaning a leatherette wallet, shoes, or purse it may be difficult to vacuum it to remove dust or crumbs. Instead, you can dust the surface using a dry cloth. Wipe the entire leatherette surface so that there is no dust or dirt remaining.

Advertisement
3
Wipe with a damp cloth regularly. It is a good idea to routinely clean leatherette using a damp cloth. This will help remove any spills that may have occurred and can help to keep the surface clean after general use.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Stains

1
Wipe up spills immediately. If you spill on a leatherette surface, the best thing to do is wipe up the spill immediately using a damp cotton or wool cloth. This will help to prevent the development of stains.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- For example, if your child spills juice on your leatherette car interior, you can dip a cotton cloth in water, wring out the water so the cloth is damp, and then wipe down the surface with the cloth.
- Once the spill has been wiped up, dry the leatherette using a clean dry cloth.
2
Combine mild soap with warm water. In some cases you may not be able to remove a stain by simply wiping the leatherette with warm water. In these cases you will need to use a soap and water mixture. In a small bowl, combine warm water with a tablespoon of mild dish soap or hand soap.^{[3]
X
Research source}
3
Wipe down the surface with a cloth. Then, dip a soft cloth into the water and soap mixture and wring it out so that the cloth is damp, but not dripping wet. Using the damp cloth, wipe the entire leatherette surface with soapy water.^{[4]
X
Research source}
4
Rinse the surface with warm water. After you have wiped the entire surface with soapy water, take a new cloth and dip it in a bowl of plain water. Wring out the towel so that it is damp, but not dripping wet. Once the cloth is wet, wipe the entire leatherette surface. This will help to rinse away any soap that remains on the leatherette.^{[5]
X
Research source}
5
Dry with a cloth. Once the leatherette has been rinsed, use a clean dry cloth to dry the surface. Rub the cloth over the entire surface until it is completely dry.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Tough Areas

1
Dip a cotton swab into the soap. Use a cotton swab to clean hard-to-reach areas. For example, some couches may have buttons or grooves that are difficult to clean with a regular cloth. Dip a cotton swab into the soap and water solution or directly into the soap.^{[7]
X
Research source}
2
Clean around buttons, zippers, and seams. Use the cotton swab to clean around buttons, zippers, and seams. Cotton swabs have small ends that can reach into tiny crevices. As a result, this is a great way to access those hard to reach places. Avoid cleaning with water directly along a seam. You don’t want the water to get under the fabric because it could damage the material.^{[8]
X
Research source}
3
Dry with a cloth. Once you have fully cleaned the leatherette, dry it using a clean dry cloth. Rub the cloth in a circular motion around the entire surface.