Home » Misc » Faux leather furniture cleaner

Faux leather furniture cleaner


How to Clean Fake Leather Furniture

ByKatie Berry Updated on:

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure page.

Keep your artificial leather sofa and chairs clean and stain-free for years.

Artificial or faux leather furniture features the same elegant look and supple feel as real leather. Thanks to manufacturing improvements, “pleather” — as it’s sometimes called — is often indistinguishable from the real stuff. For those who avoid animal products, this cruelty-free “vegan leather” is an excellent substitute. It’s also far easier to clean and keep in like-new condition.

Before You Begin

It takes about ten to fifteen minutes a week to clean an artificial leather sofa and removing stains is almost as fast, which is why this material is ideal for those with kids or pets. You’ll want to set aside enough time to vacuum, wipe and dry every surface. If you need to disinfect it, add additional time.

Equipment and Materials

Step 1. Vacuum weekly

Dirt, dust, and other debris can scratch the finish of fake leather. Once a week, use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean it from top to bottom. Be sure to lift cushions and clean beneath them, too. Switch to the crevice attachment and go over any seams or tufted areas. If you want to deodorize your faux leather, sprinkle it all over with a layer of baking soda a half-hour before vacuuming.

Step 2. Wipe as Needed

Use mild soap and warm water to clean faux leather, then go over what you’ve cleaned with a microfiber cloth dampened only with water so you aren’t leaving a soapy film. Be sure you choose a soap that doesn’t contain anti-bacterial or degreasing agents, which can dry out fake leather. This is a great use for Castile soap. Although water won’t damage artificial leather surfaces, you should still dry it with a fresh cloth to avoid water spots.

Step 3. Remove Stains

A little rubbing alcohol on a lint-free cloth removes ink, crayon, and food stains from fake leather. But note, stains due to dye transfer (from sitting on your pleather sofa in new jeans, for instance) can become permanent. If rubbing alcohol doesn’t remove a stain, wipe the area clean with water then go over it with straight white vinegar on a cloth. You may need to repeat this several times to remove the stain completely. Once it’s gone, wipe the area with water and buff it dry.

Step 4. Disinfect if Necessary

Unlike genuine leather, disinfecting vinyl furniture or faux leather is straightforward. Mix a solution of roughly 1 part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water and use a damp cloth or spray bottle to apply enough to get the surface visibly damp. Wait 5 minutes for disinfection, then wipe it with another cloth damped in plain water. Buff dry.

5. Keep it Moisturized

If neglected, faux leather will dry out and crack. You should protect all furniture from direct sunlight, but artificial leather also needs moisturizing to prevent cracks. Twice a year, or more often in dry climates, apply an artificial leather conditioning product. You can try coconut or olive oil on a soft cloth if you’d rather but spot-test a hidden area first since these oils are likely to darken the color of your faux leather.

GET YOUR DAILY SMALL WINS

Join My Free Daily Cleaning Series

These quick emails focus on minor tasks that leave you feeling accomplished in just a few minutes each day. They’re the “secret sauce” to taking your home from tidy to truly clean — or rediscovering your cleaning motivation if you’ve lost it under the clutter.

Similar Posts

and retain its authentic look |

(Image credit: Furniture Village)

Wondering how to clean faux leather as part of keeping a living room, dining room, kitchen or bedroom hygienic?

The latest faux leathers have a fabulously realistic appearance, but just like with cleaning a leather sofa, they do need a little care so couches, armchairs, dining chairs, bar stools, upholstered beds and more are clean and stay looking their best. The right cleaning solutions are a must, too, and laundry room ideas that include space to stash what’s needed are a sound strategy.

Our guide has the lowdown on how to clean faux leather without compromising its appearance.

How to clean faux leather

Faux leather furniture can both look and feel like genuine leather, but to stay that way it does need cleaning techniques that are appropriate for this type of upholstery material. 

‘For cleaning I would first look at the manufacturer’s suggested care,’ says Wayne Edelman, CEO of high end dry-cleaning service Meurice Garment Care , which specializes in interior and wardrobe cleaning services. ‘While these materials are resilient, they do not like harsh cleaners.’

Here’s how to clean faux leather correctly.

1. Vacuum faux leather

Vacuuming is a good way to clean faux leather, removing any dust, crumbs, pet hair and so on. ‘Use a soft brush attachment on flat surfaces,’ says Wayne Edelman. ‘You can use the crevice attachment in nooks and crannies but be careful not to scratch the material while maneuvering the tool into the cracks.’ 

2. Wipe faux leather

It’s worth vacuuming faux leather furniture weekly as part of cleaning a living room, but you might want to wipe it down from time to time as well. 

‘One area to pay attention to is the top of the couch where your neck/head rests,’ says Wayne Edelman. ‘This area is prone to oil buildup from hair and neck oils. 

‘The next area that needs regular attention is the arm as most people use it as a brace when getting up from the chair or couch.’

Check the manufacturer’s recommendations on how your piece of furniture should be cleaned. ‘A damp cloth is always safest and remember to wipe – do not rub, as you can damage the material,’ says Wayne.

If you want to use anything else, spot test before committing. ‘I always recommend testing anything you are going to use other than water on an inconspicuous area first,’ Wayne advises. ‘If you try a cleaner that is not compatible with the material better have an adverse reaction on an unseen area.’

As for cleaning solutions? ‘A gentle neutral household spray cleaner is best or a diluted solution of dish soap like Dawn can be mixed in a spray bottle,’ Wayne says. ‘The surfactant properties of this soap mixture will help suspend the soil and remove it from the material.’

Wipe gently with a microfiber cloth, then rinse with a damp clean microfiber cloth. ‘Dry the area with a fresh cloth after cleaning,’ says home cleaning expert with Clearsurance Dorothea Hudson.

3. Remove stains from faux leather

If a stain needs to be cleaned from faux leather, don’t panic. ‘I would try a general cleaner first,’ recommends Wayne Edelman. ‘Stains in this type of material usually sit on the surface because the material is nonabsorbent.’  

However, if this doesn’t solve the problem, get a product made for the job. ‘There are commercially available cleaning solutions specifically for faux leather stain removal,’ explains architect and interior design expert Andrei Vasilief of Radiant Home Designs .

‘Apply to a fine cloth, and gently apply to the stained area, cleaning it bit by bit. For really bad or very old stains, speak to a professional sofa cleaner.’

What is the best thing to clean faux leather with?

The best thing to clean faux leather with regularly is a vacuum cleaner plus the soft brush attachment.

After that, check the manufacturer’s recommendations but in general a damp soft cloth used gently can be sufficient, or try a mild dish soap solution or a special faux leather cleaner – we like Leather Honey leather cleaner from Amazon, but do follow the instructions and spot test first.  

Can you use vinegar on faux leather?

You can use vinegar on faux leather, but make up your own cleaner to benefit from its properties. 

‘Vinegar is present in many commercially available cleaners,’ says Wayne Edelman CEO of Meurice Garment Care . ‘A solution of one part soap, one part vinegar and eight parts water can be used as a general cleaner.’

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others. It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator. 

How to clean a leatherette sofa at home?

Basic care instructions

How to clean carpets?

Do-It-Yourself Carpet Cleaning at Home

Chemicals and Equipment

Using Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Powder

Citric Acid

Snow Cleaning

Stain Removal with Glycerin 9Ol000 the time of our great-grandmothers. Then the new material was used for upholstery of entrance doors and seats in public transport. The development of innovative technologies in chemical production has significantly expanded the range of imitation leather (artificial leather). Now it looks like high-quality genuine leather:

Do you want to calculate the cost of dry cleaning sofas? 30% discount for you now!

Why leatherette is good

Furniture manufacturers are perhaps the largest consumer of artificial leather. Models of sofas, armchairs, corners with such upholstery are in great demand. This is due to the fact that visually materials (eco-leather, apatek, vinyl-leather) are indistinguishable from genuine leather at a much lower cost. And leather never goes out of style. nine0057 Muscovites are in favor of large folding white sofas for spacious bright living rooms and halls in the style of minimalism or light classics. There is a high demand for stylish black models with a laconic design, with branded stitching, with legs or with drawers for things at the base.
What are the advantages of the material:

IMPORTANT! To care for the coating, you do not need to buy expensive chemicals based on beeswax, as for leather. Wet cleaning is acceptable, which greatly simplifies the life of the hostess.

Water does not penetrate into the thickness of the seat, backrest, sofa cushions. In the depths of the furniture, there are no colonies of fungus and mold caused by dampness after an amateur wet cleaning of the sofa. To avoid this, it is always better to turn to professionals specializing in dry cleaning of upholstered furniture.

Preparation for cleaning leatherette sofa

Remove carpets, cover them with oilcloth. Wipe the sofa with a dry cloth to remove dust, wool, dirt. To detect stains, traces of a felt-tip pen, nail polish, the cleaning area should be well lit. When caring for artificial leather, avoid the use of:

In the list of products that may be useful for the care of leatherette coating:

For work, buy clean sponges, microfiber cloths, a container for cleaning solution, and for personal protection, gloves and a respirator. nine0003

Cleaning a sofa made of artificial leather (eco-leather)

We offer you a choice of several cleaning technologies:

We hope that the advice of CLEAN ALL experts will help you dry-clean your sofa.

This article is also being read

Please note: JavaScript is required for this content.

Grass G-oxi Carpet and Furniture Cleaner 600 ml with free home delivery from VkusVill

Vkusvill

Carpet cleaner Grass Grass G-oxi 600 ml. Universal cleaner for carpets, furniture, carpet. Universal foam detergent composition for cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture from any dirt. The shampoo is designed for wet cleaning of all types of carpets and carpets made of wool, cotton and synthetic materials. The cleaner is suitable for fabric, velor, artificial leather, plastic and glass. The cleaner in a concentrated form is used as a stain remover, removes stains from wine, blood juice, fat and other contaminants, and eliminates unpleasant odors. The foam formula penetrates deeply into the fibers of the carpet, helping to remove accumulated dust, dirt and even the most difficult dirt along the entire length of the pile. Ideal for cleaning all types of carpets, upholstery, walls, car interiors. Due to the content of hydrogen peroxide in the composition, the shampoo has an antibacterial effect and kills up to 99% bacteria. Cleaning your home carpet just got easier. Producer country Russia

Supermarket

600 ml

VkusVill

128 rub/piece 183 rub/piece 128. 00 183.00

Valid until 31.01
with loyalty card

Description

Grass Carpet Cleaner Grass G-oxi 600 ml. Universal cleaner for carpets, furniture, carpet. Universal foam detergent composition for cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture from any dirt. The shampoo is designed for wet cleaning of all types of carpets and carpets made of wool, cotton and synthetic materials. The cleaner is suitable for fabric, velor, artificial leather, plastic and glass. The cleaner in a concentrated form is used as a stain remover, removes stains from wine, blood juice, fat and other contaminants, and eliminates unpleasant odors. The foam formula penetrates deeply into the fibers of the carpet, helping to remove accumulated dust, dirt and even the most difficult dirt along the entire length of the pile. Ideal for cleaning all types of carpets, upholstery, walls, car interiors. Due to the content of hydrogen peroxide in the composition, the shampoo has an antibacterial effect and kills up to 99% bacteria.

Learn more