If you have leather furniture you probably already know how difficult it can be to keep it clean and shining. While there are many leather cleaners and wipes on the market to help you, these can get pretty expensive, particularly if you have a lot of leather to clean.
There is a great homemade recipe for leather cleaner that not only cleans but also conditions your leather to keep it healthier. This is a great recipe for those of you who use wood heat or have forced heat air in your homes and it works really well on leather car seats and even those great leather jackets that you have hanging in the closet.
The recipe is simple. You just need:
- ¼ cup of olive oil
- ½ cup of regular vinegar
- A spray bottle
Just mix the two ingredients together in your spray bottle and shake it well. Now you just have to spray the leather down and wipe it clean with a cotton cloth. Note that you can add a few drops of eucalyptus oil or your favorite essential oil if you want to give it a better smell than vinegar although the vinegar smell really doesn’t last long.
Please note that this recipe is perfectly safe for regular leather but is it not designed to be used on suede.
Nicole says
August 31, 2015 at 12:20 ameorks very well. Added eucalyptus oil and made the house smell awesome. I also used this on my wood floors and it worked well for that too!
Richell Herman says
April 18, 2019 at 3:45 pmLet me guess, the overspray got on your floor. Yup me too!
Laurie says
September 20, 2015 at 5:00 pmDidn’t clean it but made it nice and soft.
Nora Ryan says
September 23, 2015 at 9:17 amI’m so happy I landed on your website! I like making my own cleaning products! But there is something I like more… I like my homemade products to be effective as well as commercial products are!!! And thanks to you I brought a life to my old leather coach! Thank you so much for sharing! Keep the great work!
Deb says
October 5, 2015 at 5:06 pmCan I substitute coconut oil for olive?
Frank says
October 29, 2015 at 5:25 pmI really appreciate knowinjackets of You have saved my Leather jackets of which I have spent a colossal amount with the dry clear outlets.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Frank says
October 29, 2015 at 5:36 pmI really appreciate knowing You for you have saved my Leather jackets of which I have spent a colossal amount with the dry clear outlets.
GOD BLESS YOU.
beverly says
November 21, 2015 at 12:46 pmA word of caution;
The self-proclaimed leather-restoration experts over at Fibrenew argue that you’re headed for disaster if you do. Sir Fibrenew, the Fibrenew mascot, explains:
Although leather does indeed become a little suppler after applying olive oil, this instant gratification comes with a price. Olive oil, and every oily substance for that matter, will not “nourish” your leather, but actually accelerate its deterioration. Leather is extremely permeable, and will soak up any oils you put on it. When oil first saturates leather, it seeps to the back-to the part you can’t see. Eventually, the oil ends up spreading throughout the leather and naturally resurfaces. Once this happens, your leather will have unsightly oil spots.
pEG says
January 15, 2016 at 11:05 pmSo what is the alternative to this?
Anonymous says
May 25, 2016 at 4:07 amBee wax is best for nourishing leather
Paula says
October 3, 2018 at 2:11 amHow do you make it?
I have the pellets?
Thanks!
Brandi says
February 5, 2016 at 3:21 amSo then what do they suggest that is all natural?
LASH says
December 2, 2015 at 2:36 pmHow about cooking oil? It will be able to use it?
ZEKA says
December 21, 2015 at 2:47 pmHow about mineral oil? Like using it on wood and will not turn ranside. (Smell and spoil)
Chris says
February 21, 2016 at 2:56 pmHow long can I keep the mix stored ?
boomdog02 says
June 23, 2016 at 2:39 pmIt’s a good base for a nice vinaigrette!
Shadykay says
April 22, 2017 at 7:10 pmMy new blue jeans bled onto my beige leather car seats. This worked a charm on the seats. It removed the blue better than I expected. I hope it’s not true about eventually ruining and staining the leather.
susan jassim says
May 17, 2017 at 9:52 pmi use petroleum jelly to condition my leather but i’ve got a purse made of crocodile skin which has become very dirty it’s ingrained. Does anyone know what i can use to clean ingrained dirt? thank you, Sue
Rudy says
June 8, 2017 at 2:41 pmI have tried your formula it does not work,should I increase the vinegar
Rudy says
June 8, 2017 at 2:44 pmIt doesn’t work for my leather car seats or my wife’s purse should I increase the vinaiger.
Sol Man says
January 7, 2018 at 5:23 pmIs balsamic or white wine vinegar from Modena better?
Anonymous says
November 6, 2018 at 1:59 pmFor household use I just keep a gallon jug of white distilled vinegar for laundry and cleaning. Cheap, non staining and environmentally friendly. Save the nice stuff for cooking and consumption.
Anonymous says
November 6, 2018 at 2:01 pmPlease don’t use vinegar on handbags. I ruined a gorgeous designer handbag when the vinegar etched the hardware finish right off.