How To Choose The Best Leather Sofa Cleaner?

A leather sofa can be tricky to maintain. Unlike synthetic materials that can withstand a wide range of chemicals and substances, leather is delicate. You have to be careful what you use to clean and condition it.

That’s why we recommend getting a leather-specific sofa cleaner. Don’t buy a general upholstery or furniture cleaner. Most cleaners and stain removers contain chemicals that can damage leather.

Look for a cleaner formulated specifically for leather. Leather cleaners use mild chemicals that are safe for your sofa, and most contain natural waxes and oils that condition and moisturise the leather.

In this buying guide, we recommend the best leather sofa cleaners you can buy online in the UK.

What to Consider When Buying a Leather Sofa Cleaner

A. Type of Leather

Most leather sofa cleaners don’t work on all types of leather. The most common exception you’ll find on the label is aniline leather, a type of soft, natural leather that requires extra-care.

If you have an aniline leather sofa, you’ll have to buy a specialized aniline leather cleaner. Some cleaners will also warn against using it on nubuck and suede leather.

Generally, most general purpose leather cleaners are not suitable for unfinished leather – that is, aniline, suede and nubuck leather. If you have one of these types of sofa, look for a cleaner/conditioner specifically formulated for it.

B. Complete Kit

Check what you get in the cleaning kit. Cheaper kits consist of just the cleaner, usually a liquid spray. Some of these cleaners are 2-in-1; they clean and feed/condition the leather.

Pricier leather cleaning kits include a separate cleaner and conditioner. You start by using the cleaner, then finish by applying the conditioner. It is a complete leather sofa care kit.

C. Colour Neutral

Make sure the cleaner or conditioner you buy is colour neutral. That means it works on all leather sofa colours without leaving any marks or colouring behind.

If you specifically want a conditioner that will restore the colour and shine of your sofa, you can find some colour-specific conditioners and balms for black, dark brown and other leather colors.

D. Safe for Other Leather Products

If you own other leather products such as leather shoes, a leather jacket or leather car upholstery, check if the cleaner is suitable for use on other leather surfaces.

E. Scented or Unscented

The choice between a scented or an unscented leather cleaner is up to you. If you are sensitive to smells or don’t want to mess with the natural leather smell of your sofa, get an unscented cleaner. There are plenty of them online.

If you’d like a nice refreshing scent on your sofa, look for one with an added scent. We especially love those that use natural scents from essential oils like lavender or sandalwood.

F. Non-toxic

Though they are more expensive, natural or plant-based leather cleaners and conditioners are the best. They ensure you don’t come into contact or inhale any dangerous chemicals when you sit on the sofa.

Even a cleaner with synthetic ingredients should still be safe for you as well as any pets in the house. If you or a member of the family is sensitive to certain chemicals, check the ingredients list of the cleaner to make sure there’s nothing on there that can cause issues.

Best Leather Sofa Cleaner Reviews

1. Furniture Clinic Complete Leather Care Kit

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This is the best choice if you are looking for a leather cleaner and conditioner kit. It’s also one of the few leather cleaners you’ll find that’s suitable for aniline leather sofas.

The Furniture Clinic leather care kit includes a 500ml bottle of leather cleaner and a 500ml bottle of leather protection cream.

The cleaner uses a gentle formulation that’s safe for all types of leather, including aniline leather. It is also suitable for both finished and unfinished leather.

To use the cleaner, apply it onto the sofa using a sponge. It’ll form a foam that picks up dirt and grime from the leather. Wipe away the foam using an absorbent cloth.

After cleaning, apply the conditioner cream. The cream feeds the leather (moisturises and keeps it soft) and protects it from dirt and stains.

Note that kit includes the applicator sponge and cloth.

What we like about it:

• Complete kit.
• Safe for all types of leather.
• Restores leather’s luxurious smell.
• Easy to apply.

2. Renapur Leather Balsam Natural Balm

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Renapur Leather Balsam is a 2-in-1 leather cleaner and conditioner. It’s made from natural ingredients like jojoba oil and beeswax and is gentle enough for most types of finished leather.

The 200ml cream restores old, dull and worn out leather sofas. It also moisturises the leather, keeping it soft and luxurious.

You can use it on any leather surface, not just sofas. It is suitable for leather shoes, handbags, car seats, horse saddle and any leather item you own.

Just make sure it is finished leather. It is not suitable for unfinished leather like nubuck, aniline (but it is safe for semi-aniline leather), and suede leather.

As for the cleaning part, the Renapur Leather Balsam works best for leather sofas that are not too dirty.

If you have a sofa or any leather product that hasn’t been cleaned in months or years, or if your sofa gets really dirty because of kids or pets, we recommend buying a separate leather cleaner. Then use Renapur to condition the leather.

Renapur Leather Balsam is available in three scent options: unscented for the smell-sensitive, lavender scented and sweet sandalwood scented.

What we like about it:

• Cleans and conditions leather.
• Suitable for most types of finished leather.
• Natural oils and waxes that condition and feed leather.
• Safe for other leather products.

3. Wheelers Natural Leather Cleaning Spray

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This is the best choice if you just want a leather cleaner. The Wheelers Natural leather cleaning spray consists of mostly plant-based ingredients, ensuring it is gentle and safe for your leather sofa.

The 300ml bottle is suitable for all types of leather products except those made from aniline, suede or nubuck leather. You can use it on your sofa, shoes, handbag or leather jacket.

The cleaner lifts dirt and grime from the leather. It also restores and rejuvenates old and dull looking leather.

Oils in the cleaner, including spearmint and lavender essential oils, condition the leather while also giving it a nice scent. We still recommend getting a separate leather conditioner/protection cream to keep your sofa looking great.

What we like about it:

• Natural plant-based ingredients – safe for leather and people.
• Easily lifts dirt, grime and stains from leather surfaces.
• Suitable for all finished leather products.
• Smells great.

4. STARDROPS Sofa Restorer

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The Stardrops sofa restorer and polish is the best bargain we found. The bottle is extra-large (750ml), but costs less than many other sofa cleaners.

The large capacity makes Stardrops a good choice if you have multiple sofas, or you want to clean several leather products.

Stardrops is a combined leather cleaner and conditioner. It easily lifts dirt, stains and grime from the leather surface. It also contains lanolin oil that softens, moisturises and feeds leather.

Stardrops is suitable for all finished leather products including sofas, car seats, handbags, and shoes among others. Do not use it on nubuck, suede or aniline leather.

What we like about it:

• Good value – low price for a large bottle.
• Very effective at removing dirt and stains from leather.
• Suitable for most leather products, not just sofas.
• Pleasant smell that’s not overpowering.

5. Leather Cleaner by Leather Honey

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The Leather Honey cleaner is another good choice if you want to clean multiple leather sofas or products.

You might be shocked at how small the bottle is – it’s only 118ml – but it’s actually a concentrate. To use the cleaner, you dilute it in water in a 1:8 ratio. So the entire bottle makes almost a litre of leather cleaner.

The Leather Honey cleaner is more versatile than other leather cleaners. It works on all types of leather (with the usual exceptions – nubuck, aniline and suede), as well as faux leather, vinyl, rubber and plastic.

This versatility makes it especially suitable for car interior maintenance. It’ll clean practically every kind of surface in your car.

Note that the Leather Honey cleaner doesn’t contain conditioning ingredients. We highly recommend buying a separate leather conditioner and applying it after using the cleaner.

Our only complaint about the Leather Honey cleaner is the price. Even considering it makes almost a litre of cleaner, it’s still pricey compared to other leather cleaners. Add the cost of a separate conditioner, and it’s not exactly the best bargain around.

But considering how versatile it is, we think the price is worth it.

What we like about it:

• Concentrated cleaner – makes a litre of leather cleaner.
• Versatile – suitable for leather, faux leather, vinyl, rubber and plastic.
• Easy to apply.
• Odourless and non-toxic.