How to Clean a Leather Couch and Protect It From Future Spills

The leather couch cleaning agent you will use for the general cleaning will depend on whether or not you have finished or unfinished leather. Finished (aka treated) leather has a protective coating and can be cleaned with saddle soap. 

Unfinished leather is much more delicate, and even a mild soap can be too harsh for it. You may know which type of leather your couch is made of, but if not, test a small, inconspicuous area with a dab of saddle soap and water.

If you find that your leather is untreated, hire a local upholstery cleaner instead.

Before you start wiping it down, go over the surface of the couch with a vacuum to take care of any dirt, debris, and crumbs. Hit the crack and crevices around the cushions while you’re at it.

For a treated leather couch, a cleaning with saddle soap—or mild dish soap—mixed with water should do the trick. 

But "leather is one of those materials you always want to use the old adage ‘less is more’ when it comes to cleaning," says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA. "Whether it’s treated or not, try a damp microfiber cloth first before adding any mild or saddle soap." 

For stubborn marks and stains, spray a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth and blot it. You can also use a cotton ball or swab to target ink stains—just make sure you only use it on the stained area so you don’t cause the ink to bleed. 

After blotting it with the cotton ball, dab the spot with a clean towel. You may have to do this a few times as the stain lifts away from the leather. As with soaps, you should test a small, unseen spot on your couch to make sure the alcohol is compatible with the leather.

You can remove sticky or chewy substances, like chewing gum or other candy, from your leather couch using something you probably already have lots of: ice. 

Put several ice cubes in a plastic baggie and let the bag sit on the problem spot for a few minutes. Next, remove the bag of ice and pick at the (now-hardened) stain with your finger or a spoon. Then, repeat the process as needed to get everything off your sofa.

Once all the dirty marks and sticky stuff are off, give the sofa a once-over with a damp, soap-free microfiber cloth.

To finish off, grab a dry microfiber cloth and go over the couch to absorb any excess moisture.

Let the sofa air dry for 24 to 48 hours before using it again or applying conditioners.

Cleaning products can have a drying effect on leather, so make sure to condition your couch with a leather cream conditioner after it has dried. Keep in mind that if your couch has faded in color, you’ll want to make sure the conditioner has a stain that closely matches the original color of your couch.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, though most will recommend you apply it with a clean cloth, let it sink in, then buff out using circular motions. You’ll want to let your couch dry one more time after completing this step. Then, you’re free to resume movie nights.