Cleaning white leather can be a headache for many people, but it's not that difficult to restore the beautiful white leather to its former glory and remove stains.
Yes, it's true that white leather is naturally more susceptible to dirt and stains, but cleaning it is really not rocket science.
Whether it's light-colored car seats, your white handbag or the white sofa , with a little patience and expertise you'll make the leather shine in no time. We promise, white leather is easy to clean.
Let's get started!
How often should you clean white leather to prevent discoloration?
White leather should be cleaned of dust and dirt once a week to prevent discoloration.
Stains from ink, red wine or grease should be removed from the leather as quickly as possible to avoid them soaking in and discoloring the white leather.
This is how often you should clean white leather:
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Handbags and backpacks should be wiped with a damp cloth once a week
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Leather shoes should be cleaned after each wear , especially if they have been exposed to dust and dirt, but at least once a week.
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You should clean leather jackets thoroughly at least once a year and treat them with a care balm if you only wear the jacket sporadically.
If you wear the jacket regularly, you should clean it thoroughly at least twice a year and then treat it with care balm .
In between, it is usually sufficient to remove dust and dirt with a damp cloth.
Cleaning white leather: step by step
OK, now we've talked enough and are now moving from theory to practice . As you can probably imagine, you shouldn't put leather products in the washing machine like you would your underwear . We'll tell you what you can do instead in our step-by-step guide.
Attention: If you prefer to use a professional leather cleaner for white leather, make sure that it is suitable for your leather and follow the application instructions.
For cleaning with household products, it is best to have the following utensils ready:
- Empty spray bottle
- 2-3 cotton towels
- Castile soap and water
(We will tell you the exact mixing ratio right away)
1. Mix the cleaning mixture
Once you have decided on a mixture , it's time to mix it together.
Cleaner 1:
Castile soap and lukewarm water, mix in a ratio of 1:8.
For 50ml this corresponds to: 6ml Castile soap and 44ml water
Pour the mixture into your spray bottle and shake it vigorously.
2. Wipe leather with a damp cloth
Before using the cleaner, remove dust and dirt from the white leather with a damp cloth.
3. Apply cleaning mixture to a cloth
To avoid getting the leather too wet , it is better to spray the cleaner onto a clean cotton cloth and start cleaning.
4. Clean in circular movements
Clean the white leather with the sprayed cotton cloth in circular movements . Wipe the entire surface , but please be gentle with your leather and avoid rubbing too hard.
The cleaning mixture does not need to be wiped off, but you can wipe it down with a damp cotton cloth.
5. Pat leather dry
Now you can gently pat the leather dry. To do this, take a clean cotton cloth and pat the leather dry over the entire surface.
Tips and home remedies for cleaning white leather
You can use milk, baking soda and soap to clean white leather .
Of course not everything together, but we will now tell you exactly what you can use for which stains.
Please note that this type of cleaning is suitable for smooth leather.
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Milk can be used to clean yellowed leather and ink stains.
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Soap and water can easily remove dirt from white leather
(Mix a little bit of soap in water and wipe the leather with a cotton cloth)
- Baking soda can remove grease and oil stains from white leather. Simply sprinkle the powder on the stain and let it soak in. Then tap off the powder and wipe it with a damp cloth.
Cleaning white artificial leather
The insider tip for white artificial leather is: “mild detergent”
Mix a little mild detergent with lukewarm water and soak a clean cotton cloth with it.
Wipe the artificial leather gently and then dry with a damp cloth.
Then the artificial leather should be dried.
You can also use wet wipes to clean white leather if you don't have any mild detergent on hand.
It is important to know that your artificial leather does not tolerate cleaners that contain oil or fat, as this will dissolve the plasticizers in the artificial leather more quickly and the result will be a brittle surface.
As with real leather, you should also not rub too hard.
Cleaning white suede
Cleaning light-colored suede is not as difficult as you might think.
You can easily brush off dust and dirt with a suede brush , and you can treat light dirt and grease stains with dry shampoo for blonde hair .
To do this, simply spray the dry shampoo onto the stain from a sufficient distance, allow it to take effect and then brush it off.
Important: When cleaning light suede and rough leather, please do not use cleaners that contain oil or grease, as this would stick to the surface and damage it.
With a waterproofing spray for light suede, you protect it from moisture and dirt, while at the same time caring for and pampering the suede.
Cleaning white leather couch
Cleaning a white smooth leather sofa is also very easy. First wipe off dust and dirt or alternatively vacuum it. Then you can wipe it with a damp cloth and clean it with the cleaning mixture you made yourself.
If you prefer to use a professional cleaner , pay attention to the application instructions.
As already mentioned above, regardless of whether you use a professional cleaner or a household remedy, please always test on a small, inconspicuous area first to see if the leather can tolerate the cleaner.
After this cleaning, your white leather sofa should shine again.
How can I protect white leather from dirt?
Regular cleaning of dust and dirt is essential; fresh stains should be removed and treated immediately if possible.
A final leather care product for smooth leather or a waterproofing spray for suede and rough leather can provide optimal protection for your white leather.
Conclusion
Cleaning white leather requires attention, but it is not complicated at all. With regular cleaning, including weekly removal of dust and dirt, as well as prompt stain removal, you can keep your white leather sparkling and free of stains.
Use gentle, circular motions to protect the leather, and always test cleaning products on an inconspicuous area first to make sure they are suitable for your leather.
With these simple steps you can optimally care for your white leather and protect it from future dirt.
Find out more by reading our other articles.