Home Remedies for Cleaning Leather
Leather is a material commonly used in clothing, furniture and vehicle interiors. It is made through the process of tanning, whereby animal skins or hides, particularly those belonging to bovine, are treated with special chemicals. This gives leather its flexible yet durable consistency. Cleaning leather has always been a challenging task, but luckily there are some home remedies you can use for removing a wide array of stains and other discolorations. Does this Spark an idea?
Homemade Cleaning Solution
As a general, multipurpose homemade leather cleaning solution, mrscleanusa.com recommends mixing one part white vinegar with two parts linseed oil (food grade) or neatsfoot oil (which is made from the feet of cattle). Apply the solution to your leather with a lint-free cloth, leave it to set overnight and then buff it away the next day.
Removing Mold and Mildew
Mrscleanusa.com also recommends a homemade solution that is designed specifically for removing mold and mildew stains from your leather. Mix one part rubbing alcohol with one part water, and then spray the solution-or spread it with a damp cloth-onto the affected areas. You can point a fan at your leather to help the solution dry. According to the above source, you should avoid exposing your leather to direct sunlight.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a home remedy that is specifically useful for removing oil stains from leather (so long as they are caught early enough). According to leathersolutions.com you need to rub the starch into the stained area rapidly, until you begin to feel heat on your hands and/or fingers. This heat will help loosen the oil, so the starch can absorb it before the leather can. If you don't have cornstarch, talcum powder is an adequate substitute.
Toothpaste
According to mrscleanusa.com, toothpaste can also be an effective home remedy for leather stains. For best results, apply the toothpaste directly onto the stain, rub gently and then wipe it off.
Water
The expression goes that you "can't fight fire with fire," however, according to leathersolutions.com, you can fight water with water. Next time an unsightly drinking-glass ring appears on a leather surface, soak a sponge in water and then ring it out thoroughly. Gently rub around the stain with the slightly dampened sponge, and you should be able to blend the colors of the leather so the ring disappears. Another possible remedy for removing these types of stains is rubbing in mayonnaise and letting it sit for a few hours.
Beauty Products
For removing ink stains on leather, mrscleanusa.com recommends using nail polish remover (the nonacetone variety). For all types of hardy stains, repeatedly spraying an aerosol hairspray onto the affected area and then wiping may also be effective.
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