These typical household remedies make quick leather cleaning possible.
Practical home remedies: Whether smooth leather or suede – with these hacks, successful leather cleaning is quick and easy at home.
SMOOTH LEATHER COTTON WRAPS
If the stain on the smooth leather is still fresh and hasn't yet penetrated the surface, a dry, absorbent cotton cloth is often sufficient to remove it. Important: The cloth should be clean and dry and should not contain any dust particles that could scratch the leather surface. Caution: Do not use microfiber cloths! These can damage and degrease the leather surface.
WIPES
If it's too late to treat the stain with a dry cloth, moist wipes or simply a clean, damp cloth are a simple yet effective home remedy for cleaning smooth leather. Be sure to proceed gently when cleaning. Try to remove the stain by lightly dabbing it with as little friction as possible to avoid damaging the leather surface.
SHAMPOO OR pH-NEUTRAL SHOWER GEL
Leather is very similar to our skin. Therefore, when searching for a suitable home remedy for cleaning leather, we often find what we need in our bathroom. As with sensitive skin, when cleaning leather, you should ensure that the home remedy doesn't contain too many fragrances or harsh additives. Simply dissolve shampoo or shower gel in warm water and gently massage it into the smooth leather, making sure no watermarks remain. Afterwards, the leather must dry thoroughly before being used again.
Caution: Always use shower gel and shampoo sparingly, as they strip the leather of its natural oils. This can cause the leather to become harder and brittle. With vegetable-tanned leather, the surface of the leather product may become dull and matte.
KERNEL SOAP
Smooth leather can also be carefully cleaned with bar soap. To do this, lather the bar soap with a little warm water and sparingly treat the soiled area with a clean cloth dampened with the soap solution. Caution: The cloth should not be too wet! Allow the leather to dry afterwards. If the stain is still visible, you can repeat the process, using the solution just as sparingly.
Following the leather cleaning with this home remedy, your leather accessory will appreciate an extra dose of care with a suitable care product .
Caution: Always use shower gel and shampoo sparingly, as they strip the leather of its natural oils. This can cause the leather to become harder and brittle.
SUEDE (NUBUCK AND VELOUR LEATHER) DISHWASHING LIQUID
This home remedy is particularly suitable for light, widespread soiling. However, caution is advised when cleaning suede with dish soap. Never apply the cleaning agent directly to the leather. Instead, dissolve it in lukewarm water, pour it into a spray bottle, and spray the leather evenly with the solution. Then, brush the leather with a soft brush.
SANDPAPER
It may sound surprising at first, but sandpaper is actually an effective home remedy for removing dirt from suede over large areas. Simply dampen the leather slightly with a wet cloth and then gently roughen the leather surface with the sandpaper.
Caution: Always use sandpaper carefully, as it can otherwise damage the leather surface.
NAIL FILE
The process for treating suede with a nail file is similar. The only, but important, difference is that this home remedy is particularly suitable for treating small, greasy spots on the leather. Proceed with extra care to avoid any noticeable transitions.
Caution: Always use a nail file carefully, as it can otherwise damage the leather surface.
UPHOLSTERY FOAM
Upholstery foam is a tried-and-tested home remedy for stubborn stains on suede. Spray the foam evenly onto the leather from a sufficient distance. Then, ideally, massage the foam in using a suede brush or sponge. Once the leather has dried, you can brush off any remaining residue or carefully vacuum it up with a handheld vacuum cleaner.
ERASER
For cleaning suede, there are special suede erasers. If you don't have one handy, a regular eraser from your pencil case will also do the trick. Important! Only use colorless erasers to avoid staining the leather!
Extra tips
First, test each home remedy on a less visible area of your leather accessory to see how the leather reacts to the cleaning agent.
To clean leather, use only distilled or boiled water to avoid limescale stains.
Even stubborn grease stains can be removed from leather. Home remedies such as baby powder, cornstarch, baking soda, flour, or dry shampoo are suitable for this purpose. You can find more tips on treating grease stains on leather here .