How to Clean a Leather Couch

Keep your leather sofa looking its best by cleaning and conditioning it regularly.

Madeline Buiano is an editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home.

Genuine leather furniture is an investment—and should be treated as such. This includes giving your leather sofa regular cleaning and conditioning treatments, which will protect the material from damage and ensure it stays lustrous over time. But more important than how often you clean your leather couch is knowing how to clean it properly. Using the appropriate cleaning products and methods for cleaning and conditioning a leather couch is essential to avoid damaging the material. We asked experts for their tips on the best ways to clean leather furniture.

How often you clean your leather couch depends on a few factors, including usage, environmental conditions, and the specific care recommendations from the manufacturer. But here are some general guidelines:

These cleaning recommendations should only be used on full-finish leather. If your couch is made from raw leather, it's best to contact a professional for cleaning assistance.

Certain cleaning supplies should never be used on leather as they can permanently damage the material.

Make sure you have these materials on hand when cleaning a leather couch.

For routine cleanings, all you need is a gentle dusting tool, distilled water, and natural dish soap.

How you treat stains depends on the type of stain you're working with, but there are some general steps you can follow, says Sokolowski.

Leather conditioner is what creates the seal on the surface, which will help protect the couch from oil, water, dirt, and food spills, says Johnstone. Test your leather conditioner on an inconspicuous spot before you apply it to the whole piece.

Ensure your leather couch stays beautiful between deep cleans by heeding these maintenance tips.