Any home will look more upscale and sophisticated with leather furniture. However, to keep the beauty and smoothness of a leather sofa can take lots of work, which also comes with plenty of care and attention.
You can find many products to clean leather, yet many are made for things other than your leather sofa. These leave a tacky surface, and this soap on leather furniture isn’t appealing.
So, finding the best way to clean a leather couch leads us toward Dove soap. Dove soap is one of the most efficient and cost-efficient ways to clean a leather sofa. In our guide, you can find all you need about using Dove soap to clean your leather furniture, particularly your leather sofa.
By the end, you’ll have all the steps and all the gear you need to clean leather surfaces of marks, stains, and more. You’ll also find this simple technique using this mild soap and water is good for your skin as it is to clean a leather couch. (Learn How To Get Leaves Out Of Rocks)
Step-By-Step Guide How To Clean Leather Furniture
1. Preparation
Before you clean your leather couch with Dove soap, it is important to gather all the materials.
What you need:
- A soft cloth.
- A microfiber cloth.
- A damp cloth.
- Dove soap.
- A spray bottle.
If you have food stains or tough spots on your leather items, you can use a mild dish soap or a commercial leather cleaner made for leather products.
2. Mix Your Cleaning Solution
You’ll need to mix a cleaning solution to clean your leather couch using Dove soap. Add a few drops of Dove liquid soap in a spray bottle with warm water.
You can add a few drops of mild dish soap if you have any tough stains. Shake the bottle well to mix the soapy water solution.
3. Check Cleaning Solution Doesn’t Damage leather
Testing the cleaning solution on a small, discrete area before cleaning a leather couch is crucial. By doing this, you can ensure that the leather furniture is not harmed by the Dove soap or left with soap residue.
Spray a bit of the soap and water mixture on a concealed area of your leather couch, then wait a few minutes. You can carry on with the cleaning procedure if the leather seems unharmed.
4. Remove Dirt
Before adding soap and warm water, you must remove dust and loose dirt from your leather furniture. Wiping it down before vacuuming could leave you with more work when the creases are full of dust. (Read Remove Wax Ring From Toilet Guide)
5. Remove Stains
If you have any hard-to-remove stain such as permanent marker, or oil stain, you can use baking soda and warm water on most stains without damaging your leather furniture. Mix some baking soda with lukewarm water and rub it into the stained area in circular motions.
Note you will need to clean leather of any traces of baking soda using clean water. Dove soap is pH balanced, and this could be affected if it comes into contact with baking soda that is mildly alkaline as you wash your leather down.
6. Apply Cleaning Solution
To apply the mild soap cleaning solution to your leather couch, spray a small amount on a soft cloth. Gently rub the cloth in a circular motion on the surface of the leather. Be sure to cover the entire couch, including the corners and crevices.
If you have any tough stain remaining, you can spray a small amount of the cleaning solution directly on the stain and rub it with a microfiber cloth.
7. Wipe off the soap
After applying the cleaning solution to wash your leather couch, it is essential to wipe off the soap.
To do this, dampen a clean cloth with lukewarm water and gently wipe the surface of the leather. Be sure to remove all the soap suds and any excess water using a dry and clean cloth.
8. Dry Your Couch
Allow your leather couch to air dry after removing the soap and any excess moisture. The couch leather can crack or fade if you use a hairdryer or leave it in direct sunlight.
After a few hours, gently blot the surface using a clean cloth if there is still moisture in your couch leather.
9. Condition The Leather
Regular condition is essential to keeping your leather couch supple. To condition the leather, you can use a moisturizing soap or natural oils like coconut oil or aloe vera.
Just dab a little bit on a soft cloth and gently rub it into the leather’s surface. The wrong products can quickly ruin the leather, so avoid using harsh chemicals or commercial leather conditioners. (Learn How To Remove Granite Backsplash)
Additional Stain Removers
If you have any stains on your leather couch, removing them as soon as possible is crucial. One of the most effective ways to remove stains from leather is using a mixture of lemon juice and white vinegar.
Mix equal parts of both ingredients in a spray bottle and apply it to the stain. Gently rub the stain in a circular motion with a soft cloth until it disappears.
Common Couch Stains
Here are some common stain types you can come across as you clean your couch.
Food Stains
Baby wipes, white toothpaste, and non-acetone nail polish remover effectively remove food stains.
However, before using such products, test them in small, inconspicuous areas to ensure they don’t cause any damage to the surface. You can also use simple leather wipes and other mild leather cleaners for safety or if you have sensitive skin.
Grease Stains
Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the stain to remove oily stains. Then, after some time, dust it off. You should have a clean leather surface in no time because baking soda absorbs oil. Finally, wipe with a moist cloth to remove the unpleasant stains.
Stubborn Stain
It sounds like a nightmare: stubborn, black stains on a light-colored leather couch. Rub those spots with equal parts lemon juice and tartar cream if you cope with this horror.
After letting it sit for about 10 minutes, use a damp sponge to massage the spots away.
Permanent Marker Stains
Don’t freak out immediately if your youngster has scrawled anything on your leather couch with a permanent marker.
With certain aerosol hairspray, permanent marker stains are easily removed. Spray some on the spots, let it sit for a moment, and then wipe with a fresh cloth.
Ballpoint Pen Ink Stains
Take a cloth and soak a small part of it in eucalyptus oil if you discover a ballpoint pen stain on your leather couch. After that, run over the damaged areas. Use rubbing alcohol in its place if you don’t have access to eucalyptus oil. (Learn How To Clean Drywall)
Mold And Mildew
Mold and mildew might develop in concealed areas of your leather couch if your children or pets frequently spill things on it. Clean the afflicted area with a solution made by combining equal parts water and rubbing alcohol if you find white spots on your couch.
Conclusion
Depending on the atmosphere and use, leather furniture requires a conditioner every six months to a year.
For the best protection, leather furniture should be conditioned every six months in dry conditions, so take the opportunity to clean a leather couch at the same time.
