How to Clean Leather Sofa with Baking Soda

Sofas in general can get gross given that they get into contact with buts, food spills, bare feet, and even pets among other things. This means that they accumulate a lot of dirt over time. Leather sofas are one of the most delicate sofas to wash. Although they last long, the leather is porous, making it susceptible to damage when exposed to harsh cleaners. This leaves us with the choice of using homemade cleaners that are gentle.

One of these gentle cleaners is baking soda. How do you clean leather sofa with baking soda? Start by wiping your couch using a dry cloth or a clean stiff brush. Do this to get rid of accumulated dust as well as any food remains. The next step is to sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the leather couch. After about 20 minutes, vacuum the baking soda from the sofa. The process of cleaning has more details as discussed below.

This article will look at how to use baking soda for leather sofas, other uses for baking soda on leather sofas and how to clean leather sofas at home. We will also highlight how to condition leather sofas, what to use to clean different stains on leather, tips for cleaning leather and other related questions. Read on for more insight.

How to Clean Leather Sofa Using Baking Soda

Before we can dive into the detailed process of using baking soda to clean your leather sofa, it is important to note that baking soda does not entirely clean leather. If anything, baking soda is used to clean couches because it helps to deodorize them.

Deodorizing refers to getting rid of foul odors caused by accumulated dirt, sweat, perfume, as well as bacteria. As mentioned before, leather is porous, as such, it tends to soak in strong smells. Unfortunately, unlike other fabric, which you can wash away the strong scent, wiping leather does not help. This is where baking soda comes in.

Step 1: Get a clean dry cloth and use it to wipe off any dust on the leather sofa. I cannot emphasize enough the need for using a dry cloth. This is because you will need to vacuum the sofa and if it is wet, it may cause the vacuum to clog.

Step 2: for dried dandruff and junk, you can use a dry brush to scrubit off.

Step 3: When you are sure all the excess dust is cleaned, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the sofa. The layer should be thin due to the vacuuming process that will later be done.

Step 4: Allow the baking soda to sit on the sofa for about 20 minutes

Step: Finally vacuum the sofa as you get rid of the baking soda.

Other Uses for Baking Soda in Cleaning Leather Sofa

After following the procedure above, you can rest assured your leather sofa will no longer emit the bad smells. However, other than deodorizing leather sofas, baking soda can be used in other ways. They include

• Cleaning Grease Stains

Grease stains are probably the most common stains on our sofas due to the food we consume. The following is how you get rid of grease from a leather couch

Step1: Sprinkle baking soda on the spot with the grease.

Step 2: Allow the baking soda to sit for a couple of hours. This gives time for the baking soda to absorb the oil.

Step 3: Use a soft cloth to wipe off the baking soda

Step 4: Wet the soft cloth, wring out the excess water and use it to clean other dirty parts of the sofa. Be careful, so that the cloth is not to wet since wetness encourages the growth of mildew on leather.

• To Brighten Dull Leather

Ideally, leather sofas are shiny with a vintage touch. However, over a long time, accumulated dirt and stains can dull your sofas. If this happens, there is no need to stress out. You can use baking soda to brighten them again. The following is a detailed procedure

Step 1: Mix ¾ cup of water with ¼ cup of salt in a container

Step 2: To this solution, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of flour.

Step 3: Mix them well

Step 4: Wet a soft cloth with this mixture

Step 5: Us the wet cloth to wipe the leather sofas

Step 6: When you are done wiping the couches, use a dry cloth to wipe off the mixture. Make sure you do not leave any trace of wetness on the sofa. Voila! Your sofas will regain their shiny look.

How to Clean Leather Sofa At Home

As we have said before, baking soda does not clean leather couches it only deodorizes them. This leaves us with the question, how do we clean our leather sofas at home? I mean it is not like you can toss one in a washing machine right?

Well, for cleaning leather seats, you have two options, one, to hire professionals or two, to use homemade methods and cleaning agents. Having said that, let us look at how to clean leather sofas at home.

Step 1: Vacuum clean the sofa while using a soft brush to remove dirt from all the edges and crevices. It is important that you get rid of as much dirt and dust as possible to avoid spreading it when you start using a wet cloth. Also, since dust particle are abrasive they tend to damage leather once they come into contact with moisture

Step 2: Add some water to a container and add an equal amount of vinegar to create a solution. If you do not have vinegar, you can add a few drops of leather cleaner to water. For the vinegar solution, if it starts to separate, mix it a few more times.

Step 3: Dip a soft cloth to the solution. Wring it out so that it is damp and not soaking

Step 4: Use the cloth to wipe the sofas. When cleaning, it is recommended you wipe the seat from the top to the bottom. Moreover, you can rinse the cloth in the solution when the need arises

Step 5: When you are done wiping, dry the sofas using a dry towel. Make sure all wet areas dry up.

Step 6: Condition your leather sofas.

Related Article: How To Clean Leather Sofa With Dove Soap?

Conditioning Leather Couches

Cleaning you sofas is only a part of the process of freshening your furniture. You will have to condition them if you need them to look brand new and maintain their sheath and color.

1. In a bowl, mix equal measures of vinegar and linseed oil. You can also use lemon oil
2. Dip a soft cloth in the mixture and wring it out so that it remains damp and not wet
3. Use the damp cloth to wipe the sofas. When wiping it is recommended you do so in a circular motion
4. When you are done wiping all the sofas, leave them like that, preferably all night
5. The next day, rub the sofa using a clean dry rag.

Other than using vinegar, you can use a leather conditioning formula that can be bought in the nearest store. Here is the process of using it

1. Spray the leather conditioning formula on the sofas
2. Use a soft cloth to rub the conditioner into the leather and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes
3. After it has sat for this time, use a new soft cloth to wipe the sofas and attain that exotic leather look.

What to use for Different Stains on Leather

Ink Stains

If ink stains occur on your leather seats, apply alcohol on a cotton ball. You can also use vinegar in place of alcohol. Dab the wet cotton on the ink stain until it is completely removed. Do not rub off the stains since you may end up spreading it to other parts.

If the cotton is already stained and you are not done, use a fresh cotton until you remove the ink. Should the ink stain persist, rub some acetone-free nail polish remover on the stain using a soft cloth. This, however, does not recommend the use of nail polish remover when cleaning your sofa. Nail polish remover tends to discolor things including leather. Therefore, use it only when you have to. Once all the ink stain is off, use a soft dry cloth to pat the stained area until it is dry.

Dark Colored Stains

If your sofa is made of bright leather and you are faced with dark-colored stains, you can use cream of tartar and lemon juice to get rid of it. Start by preparing a paste of the juice and cream. Apply the paste on the stain and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. After this, you can wipe off the paste using a damp sponge. Once you have wiped off the paste, wipe the spot with a dry cloth until it is dry.

Permanent Marker Stains

To get rid of permanent marker stains from leather, spray some aerosol hairspray on the stain. Allow it to sit for some time and use a soft cloth to wipe it off.

Molds and Mildew

For molds and mildew, you can use a solution of water and alcohol in equal measure. Dip a soft cloth in the solution and wring it. Use the damp cloth to wipe off the molds and mildew. When you are done, use a dry cloth to dry any wetness left behind.

Tips for Cleaning Leather Sofas

• Do not use random cleaning agents on your leather seats. This is because you never know which cleaning agent may discolor your couch. Alternatively, to be safe, you can try the agent on a hidden area of the sofa to see the reaction before proceeding to use it.
• You can also use toothpaste and baby wipe to get rid of stains on leather. However, just like for cleaning agents you should first try out in hidden places on the sofa.
• Turn and fluff the cushions of the sofa to keep them from forming wrinkles
• For stubborn stains, consider hiring services from professional cleaners. Experimenting on your sofas may lead to irreversible damage
• To keep your leather sofas from being discolored and aging, keep them away from heat. This includes air conditioners and heat vents. Also, do not expose it to sunlight for air-drying.
• Although using soap and water works for cleaning leather sofas, it is not recommended. This is because rinsing off the soap may result in using a lot of waster causing wetness on the leather and hence causing damage to it.
• Always check on the cleaning instructions of your specific leather sofa. You can find this information on the manual that was given to you at the time of purchase. In case you have lost the manual, make an effort to contact the manufacturer.
• Last but not least, when cleaning your leather use as little water as possible. It helps to conserve water and money and also to extends the shelf life of your seats

Related Questions

How do I treat scratched on my leather sofas?

Just like any other fabric, leather is also susceptible to scratches. As such, in case of scratches on your sofas, here is what you should do. First, clean the scratches using vinegar or any other gentle cleanser. Once you are done, apply some oil to the scratched part. Apply the oil in a circular motion as you rub it into the leather. When you are done, use a dry cloth to wipe off the oil and allow the leather to air dry.

After how long should I clean my leather sofas?

If you are looking to avoid the hustle of getting rid of stains, the best way is to clean the stains as soon as they occur. Therefore, it is recommended you clean your leather couch using a dry cloth at least once a week. You can also dust it off using a feather dust like this. If the sofa is used frequently, consider using a vacuum cleaner. When it comes to conditioning, you can do it after every 6 -12 months.

What is the need for conditioning leather seats?

You see, when cleaning your leather seats you tend to use water. As mentioned above, water and leather are not exactly the best of friends. Water tends to dry up the natural oils of leather. Moreover, moisture in leather encourages the growth of mildew. So, to solve the former it is important to condition your leather seats to restore their natural oils and softness