Best Leather Couch Cleaner

Owning a leather sofa is a blessing that few of us truly take time to appreciate. Not only is it low maintenance, leather furniture tends to last a considerable time. It also looks great during its lifespan.

The problem is that over time, most of us notice that leather starts to lose its shine. Luckily, all is not lost, as leather just needs a little tender loving care.

A natural material, leather needs to be cleaned just as our skin needs to be bathed and washed. Cleaning out the dirt and grime from our leather allows us to restore it to its original color, boost its shine, and replenish its softness.

Follow this guide to find out how to restore your leather furniture with the best leather couch cleaner for your type of upholstery.

Best Leather Couch Cleaner Comparison Table

A Brief History/Background

Leather used to be the material used by peasants in comparison to the silks and cottons used by rich people. While those with money frolicked in the colors of fine materials, the poor of society wore the leathers and hides of animals they had slaughtered or bartered for.

Later leather became a staple for high-quality furniture. Dark leather furniture stood in corners and became a symbol of wealth and grandeur.

However, at the turn of the century, and thanks to industrial growth and mass production, leather could be crafted into more fashionable clothes. However, the 50s saw leather jackets associated with bad boys and bikers and tended to be reserved for the fringes of society. Leather furniture took a back seat in favor of more modern, throwaway designs.

The sexual revolution in the 60s brought leather to the forefront of the fashion world, and leather started to become a more luxurious, sensual item used to accentuate class, beauty, and elegance once again.

In the 80s leather really came into its stride, converting the masses to leather trousers, jackets, coats, vests, hats, bags, and later, furniture. Leather furniture has made a resurgence as people realize the quality in its lifespan, ease of maintenance, and elegant comfort.

DIY Maintaining Your Furniture

Maintaining your leather furniture yourself is no hassle – it’s a simple DIY job that takes very little time. There are only a few steps:

• Lots and Lots of Dirt? –  If your leather is really, really dirty (like it’s been in the garden), you may want to use light soap and warm water with a soft cloth in the first place. You need to make sure it dries properly before moving on to the next steps.
• Grab a Good Leather Cleaner – You need a good leather cleaner to make sure that there is no dirt or grime on the leather. Make sure to choose the right leather cleaner for your leather, and apply gently to ensure you don’t damage the leather.
• Let it Dry – Your furniture needs to be completely dry before you apply any other product, otherwise, it may lock in mold or bacteria.
• Apply Leather Conditioner – Be liberal, but thorough, getting into all the creases and cracks to soften the leather and restore its coloring.
• Apply Polish – Polish will bring up the shine on heavier leathers. Do not use polish on very soft leather as it won’t make it shiny, and will instead leave a big stain.

Selecting a Cleaner

When you’re choosing a cleaner, you can’t just pick any old cleaner as it may not be suitable for your leather. First, understand the grade of your leather and look for a cleaner specifically made for that leather grade. Next, take these extra things into consideration to find the best product for your needs.

1. Based on Professional Recommendations– Professional recommendations are a great lifeline to help you decipher the reliability of products. Blogs like The Art of Cleanliness and Wise Bread give great reviews from experts in the industry, to help you choose between the wide range. Also, check out the pros and cons of a few products in our analysis below.
2. People’s Choice – Why not ask the audience? You’ll find that reviews are a great tool to steer you toward understanding what could go right and what could go wrong with the product This will help you narrow down the product range while also diverting you from any major disasters.
3. Why do people buy the product? – Comparing why other people buy a product to your own reasons will help you to categorize your needs more effectively. Reviews are a great place to start, as often previous customers will bring up factors you may not have considered.
4. Price points – Budgeting is essential to ensure your overall satisfaction. Price points can also be a great indicator of quality. Very cheap products tend not to have as good quality components as more expensive products. That said, beware of products with more marketing that value. Again, check the reviews to see if the product is good value for money.
5. Pros and Cons – Try to look at the pros and cons of a product with an open mind. Consider what you can and can’t live with. A bad smell may affect you more than another person, while you may need to be more strict with pricing than another customer. Understanding the feedback and writing your own pros and cons list can be a good way to get your head around the choice. We’ve started you off with the pros and cons of what we consider the best leather couch cleaner products.

Reviews of the Best Products

KevianClean Leather Cleaner and Conditioner

This lotion is an eco-friendly, all-in-one solution that cleans, conditions, and polishes the leather. It can be used on all varieties of leather and synthetic leather. It cleans dirt and oil while removing stains. It is safe to use around animals and is certified organic.

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Bottom Line

This needs to be rubbed in well and it will result in a clean, soft sofa. The color will not brighten as much as it says, but the material will feel more flexible and shine more.

Meguiar’s Gold Class Rich Leather Wipes

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Used for cleaning, conditioning, and polishing, these leather care wipes can be used on sofas, car surfaces, jackets, and accessories. The wipes contain aloe for nourishing, while the wipe technology does not leave a residue.

Bottom Line

While wipes are not great for the environment, these all-in-one cleaner and conditioning wipes really are a convenient way to keep your couch looking shiny and feeling soft. The wipes dry quickly, so keep the lid on tightly.

Lexol E301125700 pH-balanced Leather Cleaner

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This is strictly a cleaning product and contains no wax or oil to contaminate the cleaning process. The pH-balanced formula is designed to lift dirt away from the leather and clean deep into the pores, exfoliating the material.

Bottom Line

A very heavy-duty cleaner, this is a great product to restore very dirty leather, Using pH cleaning, it penetrates deeply into the pores and cleanses the material to restore its natural shine. Be careful when applying as it can lighten some leathers, so always test first.

Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner

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Designed for all finished leather surfaces, this cleaner has advanced protection technology that cleans and restores while protecting from future wear and tear. This no-residue formula protects from UV and moisturizes against cracks and wrinkles.

Bottom Line

This is a little tough to apply as it needs a long time to soak in, otherwise, it leaves a residue. With reserved application, this makes your sofa shiny, clean, and conditioned.

Leather Cleaner by Leather Honey

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This family-run business makes leather products using honey. This product pairs well with the conditioner and uses honey to cleanse the pores of the leather and leave it clear of residue.

Bottom Line

Though it is a little pungent, this is a great natural product that helps cleanse leather without using toxins and chemical products. This is a concentrated formula that thins out for better value, while the heavy-duty cleaner works best with its honey conditioning partner product.

303 Leather Cleaner and Conditioner

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With spray bottle application, this 3-in-1 cleaner cleanses, conditions, and polishes the leather. This can also be used on vinyl as well as car upholstery, accessories, clothing, footwear, and furniture.

Bottom Line

Though this has quite a fragrant smell, the product is easy to apply and has 3-in-1 technology to clean, condition, and polish, while also protecting the leather from future UV damage. Store this in the upright position out of reach of children.

Blue Magic 800 16Oz Lthr/Vinyl Cleaner

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This leather cleaner comes in an easy to apply spray bottle and is safe for leather and vinyl surfaces. It lifts dirt from the pores and cleans the leather, leaving a shiny finish.

Bottom Line

This product needs to be used quite generously but leaves the leather looking clean and shiny. Don’t use on light colored leather, but it is fine for all vinyl surfaces.

Conclusion

Choosing the right leather cleaner for your sofa can really give it a boost of life. When we want to revitalize our leather couches, we’re looking to select a leather couch cleaner that exfoliates deep in the pores of the material, while conditioning the leather to its original softness. By choosing a cleaner that suits your leather type and your lifestyle, you’ll find the maintenance process far easier. Whether you need something heavy-duty for cleaning a real grimy leather sofa, or looking for a shine-booster for a delicate, white couch, always test it out first to avoid any mistakes! When you find the best leather couch cleaner for you, you’ll find that maintenance suddenly becomes far easier!