A quick, honest note before we start: leather cleaning isn't a service we offer — we clean fabric upholstery, carpets, rugs and mattresses. But leather is easy to look after yourself if you know the few rules that matter, so here's the safe way to do it, from 25 years of working around people's furniture.
- Less is more. Leather hates being soaked. A damp cloth beats a wet one every time.
- Gentle, not harsh. No bleach, no neat washing-up liquid, no baby wipes, no "all-purpose" sprays — they strip the finish and dry the hide out.
- Test first, always. A hidden patch — the back or under a cushion — tells you in a minute whether your method is safe.
First: is it actually leather?
This matters more than anything else, because the methods are completely different — and getting it wrong can ruin a sofa. Real leather has a natural grain that varies slightly across the surface, warms to your touch, and often has a faint hide smell. Many "leather-look" sofas are actually faux leather (bonded or PU) or fabric, which need different care. If yours is fabric, our sofa cleaning codes guide is the one you want instead.
Not sure which you've got? Send us a photo on WhatsApp — we're happy to tell you what you're dealing with, even though leather isn't something we clean.
The everyday clean
- Dust and vacuum first. Use the soft brush attachment and get into the seams and folds where grit collects — grit is what scratches leather over time.
- Wipe with a barely-damp microfibre cloth. Plain water on most days is enough. Wring it out until it's just damp, never dripping.
- For marks, add the mildest soap. A tiny drop of gentle soap (a pH-neutral or dedicated leather soap) in a bowl of water — dip, wring hard, wipe gently. Don't scrub.
- Wipe off any residue with a second clean damp cloth, then dry immediately with a soft towel. Never let leather air-dry wet.
- Buff with a dry cloth to bring the sheen back.
Conditioning
Every six to twelve months, a proper leather conditioner keeps the hide supple and stops it cracking — especially near radiators or in sunny rooms, which dry leather out fastest. Apply a thin layer with a soft cloth, leave it to soak in, then buff off the excess. A little goes a long way; too much leaves it greasy.
What to avoid
- Baby wipes — convenient but they contain agents that break down the finish over time.
- Bleach, ammonia and all-purpose cleaners — they strip colour and dry the leather.
- Soaking a spill — blot it, don't flood it. Water rings on leather are their own problem.
- Direct heat to dry it — no hairdryers, no putting it by the radiator.
- Furniture polish or olive oil — old internet tricks that leave leather sticky and attract dirt.
- Liquid: blot straight away with a dry cloth, then let it dry naturally. Don't rub it in.
- Grease or food: lift solids off gently, then a sprinkle of cornflour left for a few hours can draw out an oily mark — brush it off, don't wet it.
- Ink or dye transfer: tricky on leather and easy to make worse — leave stubborn cases to a specialist leather restorer rather than gambling.
Leather isn't our trade — but fabric sofas, carpets, rugs and mattresses are. If it turns out yours is a fabric sofa, or you've got carpets that need bringing back to life, that's exactly what we do — fixed prices, no VAT, and an honest word on what will and won't come out. We're a Watford family business — 25 years' experience, fully insured and DBS-checked.
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