Leather

Leather that is used for upholstery often can be given a light cleaning with good old fashioned soap and water. Before you get into the cleaning, check with the manufacturer's instructions. Also, try the soap and water on a small area before cleaning the entire piece of furniture. Use a light soap, such as mild dish washing liquid. A good ratio is one part dish washing liquid to five parts water. Gently rub into the leather, using a circular motion. Make sure that the solution is not wicking out the color from the leather before you use the solution on a larger area.

If the maker of your leather furniture does not specifically recommend soap and water, then do not use it. You will end up with cracks and discoloration that you will never be able to repair. Instead, go with a leather-cleaning kit that does not contain water based cleaning agents. Chances are that the store where you purchased the leather furniture will also carry a line of leather cleaning products that will be right for your furnishings.