How and with what to clean a leather sofa at home - 12 ways

Despite the apparent difficulty of maintenance, the snow-white surface can be preserved in its original form for a long time. So, you can clean a white sofa from most stains quite quickly if you immediately treat them with 72% washing soap. After removing the stains, the surface of the leather sofa should be treated with Vaseline and glycerin (many housewives successfully use baby oil). But a leatherette sofa needs to be wiped dry and never left to dry in direct sunlight.

What is leatherette?

In other words, this is artificial leather, vinyl artificial leather, a high-quality polymer material that imitates natural leather. It is durable and easy to handle, but despite this, the surface of leatherette can be damaged by anything: high temperature, direct sunlight, and especially household pollution.

Is your sofa light in color? Unfortunately, the problem that arises is that it is susceptible to staining from clothes, jeans, and bed linen. How to deal with this? In this article we will give you some effective tips to answer this and other questions about cleaning leatherette.

How to remove scuff marks?

A significant drawback of leather furniture is the appearance of scuffs and scratches. You can restore damaged upholstery using improvised means and special compounds. The chosen method depends only on what is available in the house.

Liquid skin

The most effective method of restoring leather products is the use of a composition with a texture reminiscent of gouache, the so-called liquid leather.

It is extremely difficult to find such a product for unusual upholstery colors, but to eliminate defects on a black, white or brown leather sofa, the composition can be purchased at a hardware store.

The paste should be evenly applied to the damaged area using a porous sponge , which will create a natural texture of the skin.

All you have to do is wait until it dries completely, which usually takes about 2 hours, after which the product will look like new.

Olive oil

To eliminate small abrasions, soak a cotton pad or a piece of soft cloth in sunflower oil so that it is sufficiently wet, then gently rub the damaged area and area around in a circular motion for 3-5 minutes.

Lightly blot the oil with a dry cloth and allow the residue to absorb into the skin. If necessary, repeat the procedure several times.

In the case where the defect is more significant, you should apply a thick layer of olive oil to the scratched area , cover it with a cotton cloth folded in half without any impurities in the composition.

Leave in this state until the material is saturated with oil. Using a warm iron, unplugged from the outlet, make continuous circular movements over the fabric for 10 seconds.

This will allow the oil to penetrate the skin and fill the defect from the inside. After removing the fabric, leave the oil for 1-2 hours , then use a damp cloth to remove any remaining oil.

Shoe polish

Thanks to the wide selection of shoe care products, choosing a cream that matches the color of the sofa upholstery will not be difficult.

Apply a small amount of cream to a cotton swab or cotton pad and apply light rubbing movements to the damaged area.

Allow the product to dry, then use a suede or velor cloth to walk over the restored surface several times.

Wax

Both special ones, available in any hardware store, and natural bees are suitable. It is enough to heat the wax to a low temperature and use a soft cloth to treat the abrasions with it ; it will restore the structure of the leather and return it to its original shine.

Which method and means to clean the sofa to choose is up to everyone to decide for themselves.

It should be remembered that the use of nail polish, food coloring, industrial paints and other aggressive liquids will not only not lead to the desired result, but will also completely ruin the appearance of the leather sofa.

What types of leatherette are there?

Before you start cleaning, be sure to clarify what type of leatherette you use - apatek, vinyl artificial leather, eco-leather. Each of them is suitable for certain detergents, and for each there are some restrictions regarding what should not be used when cleaning. So, for example:

• Apatek products can be cleaned with soapy water or products that do not contain chlorine or solvents.
• Vinyl leather - tolerates products that contain ammonia, but does not tolerate solvents.
• Eco leather – cleaned with a 40% water-alcohol solution and nail polish remover. But after cleaning, be sure to wipe the surface dry.

Important! Leatherette is used to make not only furniture upholstery, but also outerwear and accessories. At the same time, find out the best remedies to get rid of bag odor.

Drink Stains

At home, it is quite possible to wash traces of drinks from a white sofa. The main thing is to act quickly so that the liquids do not have time to be absorbed.

1. Use a dry cloth or napkins to collect any remaining spills from the surface. If you don't have paper towels or a rag on hand, you can sprinkle salt, then collect it along with the absorbed drink.
2. Wipe the stained area with hydrogen peroxide, an aqueous solution of vinegar or citric acid, if the pigment remains. The proportions of 9% vinegar to water are the same as when using acid: one to one.
3. After treatment, wash the leatherette with soapy water or wipe with damp cloths, dry the surface with towels.

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How to properly clean a leatherette sofa?

• Before you start cleaning your sofa, stock up on the right cleaning supplies so you have them on hand.
• Cover the area where you will clean the sofa with film or remove carpeting from the floor.
• Make sure that the light falls evenly on the entire surface to be treated.
• For emergency drying of the product, do not use batteries or direct sunlight.
• Do not use chemicals, acetone, chlorine-containing products, 100% alcohol.
• To avoid damaging the fabric, do not use sharp objects or brushes with rough bristles.

General care recommendations

Following simple rules will allow you to preserve the original appearance of a leather sofa and extend its service life:

• Do not place furniture near heating devices or radiators. High temperatures cause the skin to dry out, causing it to crack;
• Avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight, as ultraviolet radiation causes paint to fade;
• maintain optimal indoor air humidity;
• do not drink wine, juice or coffee on the sofa, use the furniture exclusively for relaxation;
• if stains appear, start cleaning immediately before the dirt is absorbed into the fibers of the material;
• Do not wash your skin with aggressive substances (acetone, gasoline, etc.).

Proper care and timely cleaning will help preserve the presentable appearance and performance characteristics of a sofa upholstered in genuine leather for a long time.

Following the rules of operation and maintenance will help keep your leather sofa clean and presentable. Carry out preventative cleaning of upholstery to be able to enjoy the luxury and beauty of expensive furniture for as long as possible.

How to clean leatherette?

To choose the right cleaning product, consider not only the type of faux leather, but also its color.

A complete list of possible cleaning products for leatherette includes:

How to clean a white leatherette sofa?

Even light-colored furniture can be brought into proper shape quickly using several methods. Take this into account and choose the option with which you do not have to spend a lot of money and time.

Method 1

If stains appear on the surface of the sofa from contact with clothing or bedding:

Method 2

If there is a blood stain on the surface:

Method 3

Shaving foam will serve as a gentle skin cleanser:

Method 4

To clean an item or furniture from dirt and yellowness, use wet wipes for the care of leather and leatherette:

How to clean light-colored furniture?

A white leatherette sofa is more difficult to care for, and you need to work with it carefully so as not to damage the upholstery. If wet wipes do not save the situation, you can use the following methods:

• Soak a cotton pad in lemon juice and wipe the dirty areas. It will not only brighten the surface, but also give it shine. You can apply it to the surface and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse with clean water and wipe the surface dry.
• If the dirt is not very strong, you can wipe it with milk at room temperature. For greater effect, you can add a little lemon juice to the milk.
• Dilute half a teaspoon of citric acid in half a glass of water. We wipe stains with this solution to clean a white leatherette sofa at home.

Important! Citric acid can be replaced with 1 teaspoon of vinegar.

• For 2 parts of lukewarm water, take 1 part of ammonia and 0.5 teaspoon of glycerin. Mix the mixture well and apply to the dirt. When it dries, rinse with clean water and wipe with a cloth.

Important! Leatherette does not like water. Each time after cleaning, you need to dry the surface of the furniture using dry wipes or soft rags so that the material does not deteriorate.

How to clean leatherette from household dirt?

Remove traces of coffee and tea using diluted 10% ammonia:

Important!
Also, learn how to seal a leather jacket at home . This information will also be useful to you when restoring your sofa.

Wipe off marks from a ballpoint pen using hairspray or window cleaner:

To remove traces of oil paint, use purified turpentine as follows:

On a note! Stains on furniture can be of very different origins, so for each of them, use suitable substances that will give the desired result much faster:

• Chocolate stains can be easily and quickly wiped off with glycerin soap.
• Clean traces of bitumen and resin on leatherette with a sponge soaked in 90% ethyl alcohol or turpentine oil.
• Clean stains from drinks and red wine with a sponge dipped in diluted vinegar or soap suds.
• If there is an “artist” in the house, and marks from the marker have reached the furniture, use a melamine sponge - just rub the dirt with it until it comes off.
• You can remove grease stains and grass stains with natural lemon juice. It not only fights dirt, but also adds shine to the leatherette.

Household chemicals - fast, effective and streak-free!

Particularly difficult stains cannot always be removed using folk remedies. Chemical liquids are more reliable, versatile and easy to use.

Vanish

Vanish is one of the most famous chemical products designed to remove stains from fabrics and various surfaces. It is also suitable for cleaning sofas. The price of the product is from 120 to 300 rubles, depending on the volume.

You can learn more about this tool from this article.

Bugs Stikhonit

This Israeli product copes well with all problems related to the cleanliness and hygiene of upholstered furniture.

It removes any dirt and odors, disinfects upholstery , and even restores its original color. Sold as a spray.

Before applying the product, the surface must be moistened with water. Then spray Bugi and wipe away dirt with a cloth, sponge or brush (depending on the degree of dirt and type of upholstery).

Nordland

Foam for cleaning soft surfaces. Ideally copes with all types of pollution. It can be used for washing any surfaces, so in many homes it becomes a universal housewife's assistant.

The foam is applied to the surface and then washed off with a damp sponge . Treated areas can be dried with a hairdryer.

To treat sofas, you should use products in the form of a liquid composition or foam. It is not recommended to use powders, as they may leave stains and streaks.

What else and how to properly clean leatherette?

For all types of leatherette to remove stains of various origins, use universal household chemicals - liquid LOC (bleach from Amway). This environmentally friendly product does not destroy the color and material; it does not even need to be washed off.

For stubborn stains, use a dry cleaner. Read the instructions for use carefully.

Folk remedies for a dark leather sofa

Stains should be removed immediately after they appear. You can clean a leather sofa using folk remedies that will cope with stains and scratches just as well as special gels and polishes. In addition, they are safe for health and consist of natural ingredients.

Method 1: soap solution

1. Dissolve a small amount of grated laundry soap, baby soap in warm water, or use liquid soap.
2. Apply the resulting solution to a soft sponge, squeeze lightly and wipe off the dirt. If you haven't cleaned for a long time, leave the cleaner on for 5-10 minutes.
3. Remove any remaining product with a dry soft cloth.

It is important to remove the stain correctly. Do not rub, otherwise the area will become shiny, and do not rub it with sudden movements. You need to carefully wipe it, without pressing, from the edge to the center of the dirt.

Method 2: onions

1. Take an ordinary onion, peel and cut in half.
2. Use a cut of one of the halves to rub the stain or stain.
3. The contaminated part of the bulb must be removed and the procedure continued.
4. Wipe the cleaned sofa with a clean damp cloth and remove excess moisture with a dry cloth.

Method 3: ice

If, due to carelessness, chewing gum or drops of wax appear on the furniture, put ice or frozen food in a bag and apply it to the contaminated surface. After a few seconds of exposure to low temperatures, carefully separate the now dense mass from the surface using a non-sharp object.

Method 4: cow's milk

Milk is an effective cleaning agent for both dark and white furniture. To carry out the procedure, milk is heated slightly (for example, in the microwave), a cotton cloth is moistened in it and the surface of the sofa is cleaned. Next, remove any remaining liquid.

Useful tips

• Fresh stains are always easier to remove than old ones.
• Avoid excess friction on the surface of the faux leather.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners.
• Clean leatherette furniture regularly.
• To effortlessly add shine to your product, use silicone-impregnated sponges - they create a protective film.
• Always test your chosen products on an inconspicuous area of ​​the skin before treating the entire surface.
• If you have the opportunity to use the services of specialists, do not risk it again.

As you have already seen, all methods of cleaning leatherette are not complicated, and the variety of products allows you to be sure that exactly one of them will be at hand at the right time. As soon as you have to test their effectiveness in practice, be sure to follow the recommendations of our specialists - otherwise, you may get the opposite effect!

Consider the type of upholstery

There are different ways to clean a sofa. You need to choose a cleaning method taking into account the material with which the sofa is covered.

Flock

This is a very practical type of upholstery. It can be cleaned by any means . But old stains can be difficult to remove.

Therefore, the main rule for caring for a flock sofa is regular dry and sometimes wet cleaning.

Large stains can be washed with shampoo for upholstered furniture or car interiors.

Faux suede

Artificial materials are not as difficult to care for as natural ones. Suede material can be processed using all known methods.

The main precautions are to use hot steam only when absolutely necessary and not to scrub the upholstery too much.

Natural suede

To preserve the presentability of a suede sofa for as long as possible, you need to treat it with a special protective agent . This will avoid frequent aggressive cleaning.

You can wash such a sofa with folk or chemical means, using brushes and rags designed for caring for suede. You can buy them at a shoe store.

Velor

In order not to spoil the velor when cleaning the sofa, you need to remember the safety rules.

This fabric cannot be vacuumed . It is not recommended to use fluffy rags and napkins.

You can clean the sofa only in the direction of the pile. The ideal option in this case is wet cleaning using a mild soap solution and microfiber.

Genuine Leather

The skin easily tolerates various types of exposure , and it is not difficult to clean it. Difficulties can only be caused by stains from ink or, for example, brilliant green.

You can find out exactly how to clean a genuine leather sofa from this article.

Eco leather, leatherette

Faux leather is very practical. Almost no dirt remains on it and it can be cleaned by any means. You can't just use:

• rough brushes,
• sponges,
• scrapers.

Plain fabric

To choose the right way to clean a fabric sofa, you need to consider:

1. compound,
2. color,
3. texture of the material.

The thinner and lighter the fabric, the more careful it should be treated . You can read more about this in this article.

Folk remedies for cleaning leather furniture

If it is not possible to purchase a commercially produced stain remover, you can clean the sofa with simple mixtures prepared by yourself. Inexpensive powders and liquids used in them can always be found in the household. In terms of effectiveness, they are often inferior to real cleaners, but their action is time-tested.

Table vinegar

Vinegar effectively cleans white leather upholstery

This product can remove most stains on white leather furniture, but even 9% vinegar must be diluted before use. The exact proportions depend on the properties of the sofa leather, so it is recommended to test the effect of the prepared solution on a small, inconspicuous area of ​​the surface. The ratio in the mixture with warm water should be at least 1 to 1.

Vinegar is effective in removing bright colored stains on a white background - from wine, ketchup, felt-tip pens. In addition to dirt, it eliminates the persistent smell of cat urine.

Milk with egg white

Proportions before cooking – 1 egg per 100 g of slightly warmed milk. Add only the protein and beat with a stirrer or mixer. Apply the finished composition with a cotton swab and then wipe the stain with light circular movements. Finally, be sure to wash off the residue.

Milk with protein is most effective on fresh contaminants. It does not leave streaks on colored leather surfaces, but it is better to use it on light-colored sofas.

Baking soda

Mix in the proportion of 30 g of powder per 200 ml of water. Use this solution to wash the area of ​​contamination using a cotton swab or soft sponge. After cleaning is complete, wipe dry.

Baking soda is suitable for any leather furniture.

Ammonia

Ammonia diluted with water cleanses the skin well

This is an effective but not safe remedy. It is dissolved in water in a ratio of 1:10 or 1:15. But even a diluted ammonia mixture with prolonged treatment can dry out the leather of furniture. Therefore, you need to act quickly, without delaying wiping. Immediately after removing the contamination, wipe the entire coating with a damp cloth to remove any ammonia residue and dry with a soft cloth.

For old stains, a strong solution is recommended: 25 ml of ammonia, 50 ml of vinegar per 200 ml of water.

As a last resort, when other means are powerless to clean serious contamination, you can try a mixture of ammonia with acetone or white spirit. This composition can remove even old blood or iodine stains. But they can easily damage the leather covering itself.

To remove difficult stains, it is safest to order dry cleaning of leather furniture from professionals with a home call.

Medical alcohol

The best product for removing paint stains, ballpoint pen and felt-tip pen marks on natural leather or leatherette. Undiluted alcohol will dry out the upholstery and make it brittle. You only need to use a solution of this substance.

The stain should be treated with moistened cotton pads without applying force, otherwise the stain will spread over the surface. Change cleaning swabs more often.

Starch

If greasy products come into contact with a leather sofa, it is recommended to immediately sprinkle it on the stained area. You only need to remove starch after 5-10 minutes so that it absorbs most of the fat.

To quickly eliminate such traces, you can pre-mix this powder in equal parts with soda and talc or baby powder. This composition should be kept close to the sofa so that it can be immediately poured onto the area where any food or liquid comes into contact. If it does not remove the stain completely, the residue will be easier to wipe off with other means.

Aspirin

One tablet dissolved in a glass of water will help deal with blood stains on light leather sofas. You just need to moisten a cotton pad or napkin with this solution, and then wipe without pressure, changing them often.

Toothpaste

Suitable for quick cleaning of small dirty areas. Apply to a soft-bristle brush, which is used to rub the detected stain. After 1–2 minutes, wash off with cold water.

For white and simply light sofa leather, a paste without color additives is selected. And it should not contain abrasive particles. This can be easily checked by rubbing the paste between your fingers.

Lemon juice

This safe cleaner should never be used on light leather furniture. It will certainly color the treated surface yellowish.

Cleaning white leather surfaces

Caring for dark-colored furniture is easier because many of the stains on it are invisible. Light material requires “super-delicate” treatment and care. But if you start taking action right away, you can avoid unnecessary hassle.

How to clean a white leather sofa:

• The safest option is to use a soap solution; the methods of cleansing with onions or milk, described just above, are also effective.
• Light skin can still be cleaned with a solution of soap, ammonia and water. After use, treat areas with glycerin or castor oil.
• Contaminated areas can be treated with a soft toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste.
• To moisturize and add shine, add 1 egg white to 100 ml of milk, beat the mixture and apply to the contaminated area.

The white surface of a leather sofa can be treated with ammonia, but you should not abuse this substance. The product copes well with greasy stains, but dries out the material, which leads to the formation of cracks and disruption of the integrity of the top layer.

The most common problem, especially when there are children in the house, is to wipe the handle off a leather sofa. For light-colored upholstery, a weak solution of alcohol or nail polish remover with acetone is suitable. It is necessary to rub the damaged surface with a cloth barely moistened with liquid, then treat the area with glycerin to prevent the material from drying out.

You can erase the pen using an eraser or tape. Place the sticky side of the tape on the stain and carefully peel it off; wipe the sofa with soapy water to remove any remaining sticky substance.

How to care for a leather sofa

If you decide to purchase a leather sofa, it is important to follow simple rules for caring for it.

If you are not sure of the positive results of the detergent, do a test cleaning in an area that is not visible to prying eyes.

Appearance, condition, service life depend on the following conditions:

1. Furniture with leather upholstery must be installed away from radiators, fireplaces and other appliances that emit increased heat. The skin will dry out and may become cracked.
2. Direct rays of the sun (ultraviolet) have a harmful effect on furniture. The upholstery fades and white stripes appear on it.
3. Use the sofa for relaxing, not for eating. The soft material can be accidentally torn by a dropped fork or knife, or various drinks can be spilled on it. You can wash it yourself, but to repair the damage you need the help of a specialist, which entails additional costs.
4. It is necessary to remove stains and dirt immediately before liquid or grease is absorbed into the material.
5. Periodic use of protective products will save you from scuffs and increase the elasticity of the upholstery material.

Entrust complex stains or abrasions to specialists.
Use flannel material, microfiber, foam sponges, and soft-bristled brushes to clean leather surfaces. The above information will help leather sofa lovers keep their furniture in perfect order without much effort.

Don't use a lot of water when cleaning your leather sofa.

If you find it difficult to deal with old stains or attempts have ended in failure, order a dry cleaning service at home, and specialists will solve the problem.