You always get grease spilled on those leather couches and in case the couch is brightly colored, stains can make things worse. We’ll be discussing if Fabuloso can be used to safely clean leather couches. We’ll also mention other methods and ingredients that can be used to safely clean leather.
Can You Use Fabuloso on Leather Couch?
Fabuloso multi-surface cleaners are meant to be used on hard non-porous surfaces only and leather materials do not fall into that category.
Leather couches are porous, and not only that, Fabuloso contains some harsh ingredients/chemicals that can damage leather materials. Hence using Fabuloso or any other cleaner not specifically made to clean leather is not advisable.
How Do Fabuloso Ingredients React with Leather?
The following ingredients found in Fabuloso multi-purpose cleaners are not very gentle on leather surfaces.
1- Hydrogen Peroxide: While this can remove stains, blood, mold, and mildew from leather, it can cause damage too. If not properly diluted, hydrogen peroxide can bleach your leather because it is a powerful chemical.
Even if you dilute it properly, different leathers are made differently and the solution may still be too strong for your leather. Hydrogen peroxide can also dry out leather.
2- Sodium Chloride: This is also known as salt and is very damaging to leather. Salt weakens and disintegrates leather so cleaning leather with sodium chloride or with a cleaner that contains sodium chloride is not advisable.
3- Sodium hydroxide: It is an alkali and highly caustic. It absorbs moisture from leather making it dry up, split and crack, making it deteriorate fast.
4- Ethyl Alcohol: Fabuloso also contains ethanol which is not good for leather. Alcohol generally can dry out leather, bleach it, or make it deteriorate quickly. (Source) Ethanol specifically evaporates quickly and leaves a residue that attracts dirt, and dust to leather.
How to Clean a Leather Couch Safely?
Method 1: Using Vinegar
YOU’LL NEED
Vinegar
Microfiber cloth
Water
Leather conditioner
STEPS
STEP 1- Dust the couch with a microfiber cloth. This removes particles and prepares the leather for a more thorough cleaning.
STEP 2- Mix 1 part water with 1 part vinegar in a bowl.
STEP 3- Wet a microfiber cloth with the solution and wring it out. Then use the cloth to gently wipe your leather couch in circular motions.
When the cloth gets dirty, dip it into the solution, wring it out, and continue cleaning. Do this until you finish cleaning the couch. Ensure you always clean with a damp cloth, and not a wet one. This is to ensure that water doesn’t seep into the leather.
STEP 4- Put some leather conditioner on a lint-free cloth and use it to rub all over the leather couch you just cleaned. Do it in circular motions.
STEP 5- Buff the leather couch off with a clean and dry cloth.
Method 2: Using Lemon Juice
YOU’LL NEED
Lemon juice
Olive oil
Cream of tartar
Microfiber cloths
STEPS
STEP 1- Squeeze some lemons into a bowl. The juice you’ll need depends on how big your couch is and how many you want to clean.
STEP 2- Wet a microfiber cloth with it and use the damp cloth to rub your leather couch in circular motions. This will remove dirt and stains from your couch quickly and efficiently.
STEP 3- If you want your leather couch to shine after cleaning, add olive oil to the lemon juice before using it to clean. Mix 2 parts of olive oil with 1 part of lemon juice. The lemon will clean your couch while the olive oil hydrates and polishes it.
STEP 4- Use a dry lint-free cloth to buff off the leather and you are done.
STEP 5- If there are tough stains on the leather couch, you can mix cream of tartar with lemon juice to spot-treat them.
Make a paste with 1 part lemon juice with 1 part cream of tartar. Use a microfiber cloth to apply the paste to those stains. Let it sit for an hour or two, then wipe the stains clean with a damp cloth.
Method 3: Using Baking Soda and Dish Soap
Baking soda is very effective at removing grease stains from leather couches. (Source) If you eat on your couch a lot, you know good this news is.
YOU’LL NEED
Baking soda
Dish soap
Water
Microfiber cloth
Leather conditioner
STEPS
STEP 1- Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain and let it sit for 1 hour or 2. This will enable the baking soda to soak up the grease on the leather couch.
STEP 2- Use a damp cloth to wipe the baking soda off the couch.
STEP 3- Now that you have removed grease and other stains from your leather couch, you can now proceed with cleaning the whole couch. Pour dish soap into a bowl of warm water and mix it thoroughly.
STEP 4- Dip a microfiber cloth into the warm soapy water and wring out the excess water. Then use the cloth to wipe down your couch, including the areas you cleaned with baking soda.
Repeat the process until every part of the couch is clean. Then wipe clean with a dry cloth.
STEP 5- Put some leather conditioner on a lint-free cloth and use it to rub the leather couch in circular motions.
Leather Couch Maintenance Tips
1- Dust your couch regularly. You can vacuum it once a week.
2- Avoid spilling liquid on your leather couches.
3- Food stains are hard to remove especially if they dwell long on the couch. You may want to clean these stains as soon as you notice them or avoid eating on the couch in the first place.
4- Leathers are not the same. A cleaner that is good for one leather type may not be good for another. So before using a new cleaner on your leather couch, test it in a small area first to see how it reacts with the leather. Test an area that won’t be visible if it turns out bad.
5- You should deep condition your leather couch twice a year or annually.
Final Thoughts!
Leather is easy to maintain but not all cleaners can be used to clean leather. Stay away from Fabuloso and other multi-surface cleaners if you want to enjoy your leather couch for a long time.
References: https://www.limoneira.com/five-quick-tips-using-lemons-to-clean-your-clothes/ https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-cleaning-leather-furniture https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a30360397/how-to-clean-leather/
