Around the House Cleaner Series: Leather Cleaning and Conditioning

Leather furniture and accessories are more expensive, so is it worth it?! My daily-user purse is bright yellow leather, so you can imagine the dirt it shows!! It got to a point where it really needed to be cleaned, but I wasn't sure how to do so without ruining the leather, but I found an easy, non-toxic solution!

Non-Toxic Leather Cleaner

1. Depending on the size of the item you're cleaning, put some warm water in a bowl.
2. Add a drop or a few (depending on the amount of water in the bowl) of mild soap, like Dr. Bronner's liquid Castile soap. 
3. Using a small cloth or towel, dip it in the leather cleaner and gently rub the dirty area in circular motions.
4. Wipe dry immediately.

Now, doesn't that seem easier than trying to clean the outside of a cloth purse? Most purses probably can't be put in the washing machine, so they would probably have to soak in something and dry out, which would take all day. But I didn't even need to empty my purse to clean it! And it's proven to be completely unharmful to the leather.

My husband and I were given leather furniture for our living room when we got married, but they were all from different people, so they were three different colors and varied in wear. We quickly realized that it would be the easiest to clean spills off of, so we decided to keep the furniture until we could afford new leather furniture. When we moved last summer, there just wasn't enough room on the truck (ah shucks!) so we HAD to get new leather furniture. My son had an upset stomach for several days this past spring, and it was so easy to clean up the mess on the chair. It would have been a nightmare with a cloth couch!!

Non-Toxic Leather Conditioner
Since I'm now the proud owner of leather furniture, I know it needs to be well cared for to keep it from aging poorly. I also used this on my purse after cleaning it.

• White vinegar
• Olive oil or linseed oil

White vinegar is more abrasive than the oil, so you'll need less of it than the oil. Add the ingredients to a spray bottle or jar and shake well. Spray on or apply with a soft cloth (perhaps the same one you cleaned your leather with) and wipe away immediately. Buff out excess oil with a different dry cloth, such as a microfiber cloth.

If you don't have leather furniture or accessories, check out my Stain Removal for Carpets and Furniture post.

What's your favorite piece of leather furniture or leather accessory? Share with us by commenting below!! We'd love to hear from you!