Gentle is the operative word
There are no guarantees that these remedies will remove your particular stain, or that they will not further damage your leather sofa. Make sure you refer first to the manufacturer's suggestions and cleaning codes and test in an inconspicuous place, like the back of your leather sofa, to test for colorfastness. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer or a professional cleaning service!
General sofa cleaning
For general leather sofa cleaning, use a moisturizing soap, such as Dove. Lather the soap on a soft cloth and wash the sofa to remove dirt and grime. Be careful not to over-wet the leather, and do not rinse after washing. Buffing with a soft cloth allows the moisturizing soap to condition the leather. Polish as usual.
Nourish your leather
To nourish your leather sofa, feed it hide food or use an over the counter leather conditioner. To make hide food, mix one part white vinegar with two parts linseed oil, shake well and apply to leather using a soft cloth. Work in a circular motion, covering the entire surface. Rub in thoroughly and let it sit for about ten minutes, then buff with a soft cloth to bring a shine to the sofa's surface.
Water based liquids
Often, water-based liquids won't stain a leather sofa-particularly not with the quality of dyes in use today. Simply blot up as much of the liquid as possible, but don't rub it. Keep blotting your sofa until the paper towel or cloth comes back completely dry and then let the leather air dry.
Butter or grease stains
If you have a butter or grease stain on your leather sofa, do not use water to clean it! Blot at the spill until the towel comes back dry. Then allow the stain to "cure" over a day or so before re-evaluating it. Often the oil will re-settle in the leather and not be noticeable. If the stain is still visible, try using a leather sofa cleaner.
Ink stains
To remove ink stains from your leather sofa, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and then rub it over the spot. Dry the area with a blow dryer. If the stain remains after drying, you may want to try using acetone-free nail polish remover. Rub a small amount over the stain with a soft cloth. The stain should disappear almost instantly. Once the stain is gone, clean any traces of the nail polish remover with a leather sofa cleaner. A combined leather cleaner and conditioner (such as Urad or Leather Mate) will also help return any moisture to the leather lost in the cleaning process.
Dark stains
Remove dark stains from a light colored leather sofa by mixing a paste of one part lemon juice with one part cream of tartar. Rub the paste on the stain and leave in place for about ten minutes. Apply another layer of the paste and work it into your sofa. Remove with either a damp sponge or a damp sponge and a moisturizing soap.
Finishing up
To keep your leather sofa in top condition, any leather cleaning should generally be followed by a quick application of hide food or a quality leather conditioning cream.
There are no guarantees that these remedies will remove your particular stain, or that they will not further damage your leather sofa. Make sure you refer first to the manufacturer's suggestions and cleaning codes and test in an inconspicuous place, like the back of your leather sofa, to test for colorfastness. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer or a professional cleaning service!
General sofa cleaning
For general leather sofa cleaning, use a moisturizing soap, such as Dove. Lather the soap on a soft cloth and wash the sofa to remove dirt and grime. Be careful not to over-wet the leather, and do not rinse after washing. Buffing with a soft cloth allows the moisturizing soap to condition the leather. Polish as usual.
Nourish your leather
To nourish your leather sofa, feed it hide food or use an over the counter leather conditioner. To make hide food, mix one part white vinegar with two parts linseed oil, shake well and apply to leather using a soft cloth. Work in a circular motion, covering the entire surface. Rub in thoroughly and let it sit for about ten minutes, then buff with a soft cloth to bring a shine to the sofa's surface.
Water based liquids
Often, water-based liquids won't stain a leather sofa-particularly not with the quality of dyes in use today. Simply blot up as much of the liquid as possible, but don't rub it. Keep blotting your sofa until the paper towel or cloth comes back completely dry and then let the leather air dry.
Butter or grease stains
If you have a butter or grease stain on your leather sofa, do not use water to clean it! Blot at the spill until the towel comes back dry. Then allow the stain to "cure" over a day or so before re-evaluating it. Often the oil will re-settle in the leather and not be noticeable. If the stain is still visible, try using a leather sofa cleaner.
Ink stains
To remove ink stains from your leather sofa, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and then rub it over the spot. Dry the area with a blow dryer. If the stain remains after drying, you may want to try using acetone-free nail polish remover. Rub a small amount over the stain with a soft cloth. The stain should disappear almost instantly. Once the stain is gone, clean any traces of the nail polish remover with a leather sofa cleaner. A combined leather cleaner and conditioner (such as Urad or Leather Mate) will also help return any moisture to the leather lost in the cleaning process.
Dark stains
Remove dark stains from a light colored leather sofa by mixing a paste of one part lemon juice with one part cream of tartar. Rub the paste on the stain and leave in place for about ten minutes. Apply another layer of the paste and work it into your sofa. Remove with either a damp sponge or a damp sponge and a moisturizing soap.
Finishing up
To keep your leather sofa in top condition, any leather cleaning should generally be followed by a quick application of hide food or a quality leather conditioning cream.
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