Offering a touch of elegance and sophistication to any space, leather is a very popular choice for household furniture, but not all homeowners know how to properly take care of this premium material.

There’s a misconception that leather doesn’t need to be maintained or looked after, but there are actually a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that your leather looks and feels better for longer.

Clean Your Leather Regularly

Just like everything else in your home, leather needs to be regularly cleaned and incorporated into your household cleaning routine. Fortunately, leather is known for its durability and doesn’t require as much maintenance as its fabric counterparts. 

To give your leather furniture a general cleaning and a nice refresh, simply give it a light dusting or a wipe down once a week, though the frequency may increase depending on how much the leather is being used and whether or not it's exposed to large amounts of impurities and contaminants.

It’s also worth noting that leather furniture will need to be deep cleaned every six to twelve months.

Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals

Leather furniture is often more expensive because of the extensive manufacturing process that it entails, which means that the last thing you want to do is damage it in any way. There are a few cleaning ingredients that you should keep away from your leather furniture:

• Bleach: While a very popular and powerful cleaning agent, bleach can also weaken the leather material and permanently damage it.

• Alcohol: Alcohol or alcohol-based products are another thing that you should keep away from your leather, as they can dry the material out and remove the natural oils that it needs to stay soft and comfortable.

• Acetone: Acetone is an extremely harsh solvent that can dissolve or strip away the natural oils of your leather, which can lead to a dull, worn out, and cracked appearance.

• Ammonia: The overly alkaline nature of ammonia and ammonia cleaners can do a wide range of damage to your leather. This includes your leather becoming drier, discolored or faded, weaker, and more susceptible to stains and damage, among other things.

• Harsh Cleaning Tools: Cleaning tools like hard bristle brushes, abrasive sponges, steel wool and more can cause some severe physical damage like scratches, tears, and even structural damage.

Regularly Condition Your Leather

As a rule, you should always condition your leather every six months to a year, or whenever you clean it, and there are a few reasons why you should do this.

Conditioning your leather not only helps preserve the material’s moisture but also prevents it from cracking and splitting, allowing it to look its best for much longer.

Aside from that, it can also serve as an additional layer of protection against liquid spills and stains, as well as promote its longevity overall.

Address Stains as Soon as Possible

It’s never a good idea to let stains sit for much longer than necessary. Here’s how you can clean your leather:

• Step 1: Use a dry cloth to absorb as much of the moisture as possible, making sure to use blotting and dabbing motions.

• Step 2: Add a few drops of mild dish soap to a bowl of water and mix them together.

• Step 3: After spot-testing it on an inconspicuous area, use a clean cloth or sponge to gently work the cleaning solution into the stain. Remember to wring out as much of the moisture as possible and not rub too aggressively.

• Step 4: Use a damp cloth to remove any residue left behind by the cleaner before using a dry cloth to remove as much of the moisture as possible.

• Step 5: Let the area dry before applying some leather conditioner, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

An additional tip is to sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda over the spill. Regardless of whether the stain is water- or oil-based, the baking soda will help soak it up when left overnight. Then, simply vacuum the baking soda up, or use a dampened cloth to remove the residue.

Avoid Direct Sun Exposure

Direct sun exposure can be extremely harmful to your leather furniture. This is because the UV radiation from the sun can severely damage the structure of the leather over time, while also causing the leather to fade and discolor.

The heat from the sun can also dry out the leather by evaporating the natural oils, which can cause the leather to stiffen and crack.

Aside from maintaining its comfort and appearance, taking care of your leather furniture with these simple but effective tips can also prolong the longevity of the material and help you make the most of this investment.

If you simply don’t have the time to do any of this yourself, then it’s best to leave it to professional companies that offer a wide range of cleaning services.

A skilled team of well-trained and experienced professionals, will always be able to help your leather stay in the best shape possible so that you and your loved ones can continue enjoying it.

Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014 and the luxury interior design blog All The Pretty Homes in 2024.

When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.