White leather is more sensitive and exposed to dirt than other leather colors. The following tips should help you find out how to clean white leather easily and safely.
To choose the right cleaning mixture for the leather surface you need to clean, you should consider a few factors, like what caused the dirt, whether it is something you can clean fast, whether there is a possibility of damaging the surface, etc. So, in continuation, we will try to explain how each mixture works and what kind of stain and dirt it might clean up.
How to Clean White Leather? Make At-Home Cleaning Solutions
Did you know that you can make a powerful leather cleaning solution using only a few products you have at home? You do not need to buy expensive dirt cleaners that are often full of chemicals and might damage the leather surface.
You can make a few white leather cleaning mixtures at home, using only products that are present in almost every household.
- Detergent and stain remover powder mixture
- Baking soda and Borax blend
- Oil, vinegar, and baking soda mixture
- Lemon juice and cream of tartar
Also Read: How to Make Leather Couches look New
Dish detergent and stain remover powder
Pour warm water into a bowl and add ½ tsp of dish soap and 1 spoonful of any stain-removing powder you have at home. Mix the solution with the spoon carefully until the stain remover powder completely dissolves in the water.
As a cleaning tool, you can use a soft cloth, sponge, or very soft toothbrush. If you opt for a soft fabric cloth or sponge, you can rub the dirt with higher intensity and pressure. If you opt for a toothbrush, make gentle circular movements to avoid damaging the leather and its shine.
Avoid using hard-haired brushes because they might scratch and damage the leather surface. This solution might help you clean dirt and stains from food, juices, wine, oily stains, minor spills, etc.
Baking soda and Borax
We all know the wide spectrum of purposes of the Borax powder. Well, it might help in cleaning stains and dirt from white leather surfaces, too.
Pour ½ cup of warm water into a bowl and add 1 tsp of Borax and 1 tsp of baking soda. As a cleaning tool, use a slightly abrasive sponge or soft-haired toothbrush. You can also get a melamine sponge because they are denser and more effective in cleaning stains and marks.
Clean the surface with circular motions. Leave the paste-like mixture on the stain for a while, then wipe with a wet cloth if the stain needs to soak in the solution and soften.
This mixture might help you remove food stains, even if they are dried and hardened on the surface.
Oil + white vinegar + baking soda
For this solution, you will need an empty spray bottle. Depending on the bottle’s size, you should measure the ingredients. Suppose the bottle is ½ liter. Add 200 ml of warm water, 1 tsp of olive oil, 50 ml of white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
Shake the bottle until the baking soda dissolves in the tincture. Spray the solution on the dirty leather area and wipe it with a soft cloth. This blend softens the leather and gives it a natural shine. The white vinegar kills the bacteria and microbes that lend on the surface, leaving clean and disinfected leather furniture.
You can use this mixture for cleaning your white leather furniture from dust and dirt, even if they are not so stained. You can also spray this mixture (without the baking soda) for regular cleaning and care for the leather furniture in your home.
Lemon juice and cream of tartar
This solution should look like toothpaste. Drain one lemon and add 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar. Mix well and add more cream of tartar if the lemon is juicer until you get a paste mixture.
Apply the paste to the stained area and leave it to sit for half an hour. The lemon acid mixed with cream of tartar acts like a mild bleach and might be beneficial for removing stains from a piece of white leather furniture, even if they are a little bit older.
After half an hour, wipe the paste from the furniture with a wet cloth. This solution is recommended only for white leather. Do not put it on dark leather because it might damage the color and leave a wither stain on the furniture.
Alcohol or nail polish remover
Alcohol or nail polish remover might be beneficial for removing ink or other stains that are hard to remove with detergents and homemade solutions.
If you have little children, you might face some drawings on the wall and furniture, so if you need a solution for removing ink or marker traces from white leather furniture, try rubbing alcohol or polish remover.
Dip a cotton swab in the alcohol or polish remover and gently blot the ink/marker stain. Do not rub or press the cotton swab because it might only spread the dirt and make a bigger stain. Wipe the area with a wet cloth after.
How safe is Alcohol for cleaning leather furniture? Can you clean leather with Alcohol?
Bonus tip: Remove bubble gum with ice
The chances of finding bubble gum stuck on your furniture are quite possible if you have toddlers at home.
If you have found bubble gum sticks on your white furniture, do not try to remove them by pulling the gum out. It would not help and may leave only more sticky traces on the leather.
Get an ice cube and put it directly on the gum. The ice will harden the gum and allow you to remove it fully. If there are leftovers of the gum on the white leather, try to remove them with any kind of oil. Dip a cotton swab in the oil of your choice and gently rub the sticky stain on the leather.
Conclusion
Now, you know how to clean white leather surfaces from various stains and messes.
Based on our personal experience, these tips and solutions showed excellent success in cleaning food, drink, and ink stains from leather furniture and surfaces.
We hope these tips helped you with the issue!
