A standard spin cycle has the power to erase many sins - spilt wine, food stains, general dirt - but the one thing it can’t do? Bring leather goods back to looking new. Slinging leather accessories or clothing into a washing machine can ruin the prized hide by causing it to shrink, discolour or dry out, which leads to cracking and eventually binning. It’s no way to treat things that can cost an eyewatering amount to procure in the first place.
And what to do with leather sofas and chairs , and the interiors of luxury cars? Without the right care and maintenance, these notoriously expensive pieces of furniture could unravel well before their time. As with all specialist fabrics, it pays to study the care instructions before you start advancing upon them with a microfibre cloth and bleach spray gun. Since leather is animal skin, it calls for a completely different cleaning approach.
Day-to-day, use a soft cloth to get rid of dust and debris, especially from leather sofas where crumbs can hide in the cracks. If your leather happens to be clothing, store it in a dust bag when you’re not wearing it. Keep it out of the rain, extreme heat and direct sunlight.
And every so often, give it a deep, moisturising clean with a specialist cleaner. Formulated specifically for leatherware, such cleaners get rid of stains and grime while protecting the hide. A good one will nourish it to such an extent that it will gleam with good health afterwards.
For those who want their small leather goods, leather sofas, journals and more to go the distance we’ve rounded up the best leather cleaners for popular products below. Shop now.
