Material file · Leather and suede
Leather: what it can take
Covers finished (protected) leather sofas, jackets, bags and car seats. Use as little liquid as possible on leather: blot and dab rather than pour, because whatever soaks in cannot be rinsed out properly.
- Water
- Minimal
- Max temperature
- 30 °C (86 °F)
- Rubbing
- Never
- Stain files
- 41
01 What it is
Finished leather has a protective topcoat over a tanned hide; anything that strips the coat or the oils marks it.
Leather cannot be rinsed through, so whatever you put on it partly stays in it.
02 House rules
- Use as little liquid as possible on leather: blot and dab rather than pour, because whatever soaks in cannot be rinsed out properly.
- No rubbing at all; every step is a press-and-lift.
- No soaking, so each treatment is applied, given a few minutes, and blotted away.
- Water stays at or below 30 °C (86 °F) the whole way through.
03 Field notes
- Most sofas and car seats use finished leather with a pigmented topcoat, so stains sit on the surface for a while. Aniline leather soaks them up instantly.
- Oil darkens leather by soaking in, and powder can draw it back out if you give it hours, not minutes.
- Cleaners and conditioners must be suitable for the exact leather and finish. Conditioning is not automatically required after every clean.
04 Every cleaner, rated
| Cleaner | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cornstarch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Dish soap | Test first | A drop on a damp cloth is usually fine on finished leather; wipe it off with a clean damp cloth and condition after. |
| Rubbing alcohol | Test first | Neat alcohol strips dye and oils from leather. Use it only on a cotton bud for ink, or diluted 1:1 with water for mould, test first, and condition afterwards. |
| White vinegar | Test first | Dilute 1:1 and use sparingly; acid dries leather, so condition after. |
| Baking soda | Avoid | It dries leather and its grit can scuff the finish. |
| Citrus adhesive remover | Avoid | It can soften and stain leather finish. |
| Enzyme cleaner | Avoid | Enzyme sprays soak finished leather and can mark it; use one labelled for leather, sparingly. |
| Lemon juice | Avoid | Acid and sun bleach and dry leather. |
| Magic eraser | Avoid | It removes the protective finish from leather. |
| WD-40 | Avoid | Petroleum oil can stain and soften leather. |
| Acetone | Never | Acetone strips leather dye and finish instantly. |
| Borax | Never | It dries and discolours leather. |
| Chlorine bleach | Never | It burns the dye and finish off leather. |
| Bio detergent | Never | Laundry detergent strips leather finish and oils; use a leather cleaner. |
| Hot water | Never | Hot water dries out and shrinks leather and can leave a hard, dark patch. |
| Household ammonia | Never | It strips and darkens leather. |
| Hydrogen peroxide 3% | Never | Peroxide bleaches and dries leather. |
| Oxalic acid cleanser | Never | It burns leather. |
| Oxygen bleach | Never | Oxygen bleach strips and blotches leather dye and finish. |
| Steam cleaner | Never | Steam shrinks and cracks leather. |
05 Stains on leather
| Stain | Difficulty | Never |
|---|---|---|
| BBQ sauce | Specialist | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Mildew and mould spots | Specialist | The dryer, Mixing bleach |
| Nail polish | Specialist | Acetone, Rubbing |
| Permanent marker | Specialist | Water first, Rubbing |
| Self-tanner and fake tan | Specialist | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Super glue | Specialist | Acetone, Pulling |
| Turmeric and curry | Specialist | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Ballpoint ink | Tough | Hairspray, Rubbing |
| Berries | Tough | Oxygen bleach, Bar soap |
| Chocolate | Tough | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Grape and cranberry juice | Tough | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Grease and cooking oil | Tough | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Lipstick | Tough | Oxygen bleach, Rubbing |
| Red wine | Tough | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Salad dressing | Tough | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Sunscreen | Tough | Acid rust removers, Chlorine bleach |
| Tree sap | Tough | Hot water, The dryer |
| Urine (pets and people) | Tough | Enzyme sprays, Chlorine bleach |
| Vomit (pets and people) | Tough | Enzyme sprays, Hot water |
| Bird droppings | Stubborn | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Blood | Stubborn | Hydrogen peroxide, Hot water |
| Breast milk | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Butter | Stubborn | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Coffee | Stubborn | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Cola and soda | Stubborn | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Crayon | Stubborn | Oxygen bleach, The dryer |
| Egg | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Foundation and concealer | Stubborn | Rubbing, Hot water |
| Gravy | Stubborn | Hot water, The dryer |
| Hair and body oil | Stubborn | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Ice cream | Stubborn | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Matcha | Stubborn | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Mud and dirt | Stubborn | Water first, Rubbing |
| Peanut butter | Stubborn | The dryer, Rubbing |
| Perfume | Stubborn | The dryer, Ironing |
| Tea | Stubborn | Oxygen bleach, Hot water |
| Water stains and rings | Stubborn | Spot-wetting |
| Beer | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
| Bronzer, blush and eyeshadow | Manageable | Water first, Rubbing |
| Sticker and tape residue | Manageable | Oily removers, Rubbing |
| Washable marker | Manageable | Hot water, The dryer |
06 The most common mistakes on leather
Counted across all 41 stain files for leather:
- The dryer before it is gone (33 files). Dryer heat locks in whatever is left. Air-dry and check first.
- Hot water (24 files). Hot water helps the colour bond, and leftover sugar browns later under an iron or in a dryer.
- Rubbing or scrubbing (22 files). It spreads the stain and grinds it deeper; blot instead.
- Oxygen bleach (OxiClean-type powder) (15 files). Oxygen bleach strips and blotches leather dye and finish.
- Bar soap or soap flakes (6 files). True soap is alkaline, and alkalis set tannin stains such as wine, coffee, tea and fruit.
- Water first (3 files). Water spreads alcohol-based ink and does not dissolve it.
07 What the leather files use most
These are the products the 41 stain files for leather rely on most. Dish soap leads because surfactants have a water-loving end and an oil-loving end.
08 When to call a professional
Aniline (unfinished) leather, antiques, designer bags and any stain that has changed the colour of the leather itself.
Specialist-rated stains on leather: BBQ sauce, mildew, nail polish, permanent marker, self-tanner, super glue and turmeric.