How to clean leather furniture (and protect it from future spills!)

Moisture and leather don’t mix. That’s why learning how to clean leather furniture now can save the home accessories from unsightly spots and water marks later. Here’s how!

Remove moisture

As soon as any type of pooling moisture -a spilled cup of tea, a leaking diaper, or even snow-covered boots- lands on your leather furniture, it needs to be removed. Use a dry, soft cotton cloth to absorb the moisture. Use a dabbing motion. Never rub the liquid. This can push the moisture deeper into the leather and cause water spots. These will appear as fade marks on the leather surface.

After removing the standing liquid, use a cleanser if needed. Never spray the cleanser directly on the leather surface. Instead, moisten a cleaning rag and wipe away the stain. Only use cleansers marked as safe for your type of leather couch; for example, suede or nubuck.

Seal and protect

Once the furniture is dry, it’s time to add a layer of protection to the surface. If you’ve already done this in the past, you only need to worry about sealing the area that was recently cleaned.

Use a creamy leather conditioner to hydrate the leather and create a moisture-resistant barrier against stains. Simply wipe the lotion-like product on the leather, let it soak for a few minutes, and then wipe it away with a dry, soft cloth. This conditioning process should be done once every six months to the entire couch to keep the leather looking fresh.

Drying leather

After wiping up a spill or using the leather conditioner, there’s no need to dry the leather. Let the furniture naturally air-dry. Placing a space heater next to the furniture to speed up the drying process can cause the fabric to shrink or become discolored. If you need to dry the area quickly, use a box fan to increase airflow to the damp fabric.

Furniture arrangement

After you’ve learned how to clean leather furniture and protect it from future stains, keep the accessories looking great. Avoid positioning the furniture so it blocks a heat vent or radiator. This prolonged exposure to a heat source will dry the leather and may cause premature cracking and aging.

If you live in a humid climate, make sure to use a dehumidifier in the same room as the leather furniture. This appliance will remove excess moisture from the air. A 40 percent humidity is ideal; it keeps leather supple while not allowing condensation to form on the surface of the furniture.

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