How to Clean a White Leather Couch

As chic as it may be, a white leather couch is essentially asking to be stained. No matter how hard you try to keep it clean, you’re going to spot a stain on it at some point or another.

But before you freak out, rest assured that it is possible to clean the upholstery your white leather couch. All you have to do is know the right way to do it.

The Type of Stain Matters

Before you get your cleaning supplies out, assess the damage done to the couch to see how bad the stain is, and what you’ll need to get rid of it. If it’s just a small scuff, you can simply use a microfibre cloth to wipe it down. A more severe stain, however, will require a bit more work.

Using the same microfibre cloth we just mentioned, you can wipe your couch with a leather cleaner. These can typically be found at any hardware store or shop. If you don’t want to spend your hard-earned coin on leather cleaner, you can always make your own.

Make a mix of vinegar, warm water, and dish soap and voila! You have your own homemade leather upholstery cleaner. You want to make sure that you don’t use too much water, however, as water can damage the couch even further.

If your particular stain involves ink, you can use nail polish remover to get rid of it. Simply dip a cotton ball into the nail polish remover and wipe the stain. You want to be careful that you aren’t rubbing the ink in more so be careful to blot when cleaning.

If you’ve accidentally gotten grease on your couch, you can prevent it from staining by applying cornstarch or baby powder to it. This will absorb oil. Make sure that you leave it on all night in order to get the most absorption possible.

Catch Them Before They Get Worse

In order to prevent a stain from getting worse, the best thing to do is to clean it up as soon as you spot it. Some stains may not be bad if they are caught early enough. But the longer you let it soak into the leather, the harder it will be to get out.

Clean a Yellowing Leather Couch

Unfortunately, your once-radiant white leather couch tends to yellow over time. This is due to insufficient cleaning and regular old wear and tear. You can, however, do something about this.

In order to clean your couch and restore it back to its normal colour, you can clean it with a baking soda solution. You will need warm water, baking soda, and Borax (boric acid). Mix all of those ingredients up in a bowl and use a sponge or cloth to dip it in.

After you’ve wiped it down with the solution, go back and wipe it down again but with a clean and dry cloth. The solution will help get rid of some yellowing, but if your couch is too old, it may be too far gone.

Author Profile

Mark Wisken

Mark is a managing director at Optima Cleaners, but copywriting has been one of his passions for many years. When he's not hunched over his keyboard, you'll find Mark exploring quaint bookstores for inspiration or sipping espresso at his favorite local café, always on the hunt for the next big idea to ignite a brand's success. With a pen in one hand and a coffee cup in the other, Mark continues to captivate audiences and breathe life into every brand he touches.

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