Inexpensive hair conditioners contain more wax than fancy conditioners, so they're great for moisturizing and protecting leather. Use a clean rag to gently rub small amounts of the conditioner into clean, dry leather.
Leather, like your own skin, needs to be protected and moisturized over time. You can create a simple and inexpensive leather conditioner using natural baby soap, vinegar and water. Mix two cups of warm water, a tablespoon of natural baby soap and a splash of vinegar in a bowl.
Conditioning your leather periodically is a great way to keep your leather smooth, supple, and in great shape for years to come. Best of all, you don't need to take your leather somewhere else to have it conditioned. Leather conditioning is easy to do yourself, as long as you have a few necessary tools.
The waxes in less expensive hair conditioners work especially well for this purpose. And you don't have to worry about damage because ingredients safe for hair are also fine for leather. Doing this regularly will keep the leather moisturized and shiny and protect it from sun damage, too.
Be sure to avoid these products when cleaning your leather: Baking soda, white vinegar, cream of tartar, and lemon juice. Some sources online cite these common household products as a DIY solution for cleaning leather. This is actually false as they can be extremely harsh on the material and make stains worse.
Out of all the leather oils we sampled, mink oil showed the best result, removing surface scratches and subtly darkening the tone of the leather for a uniform finish. In addition, mink oil is a natural leather softener, provides temporary waterproof resistance and improves flexibility by lubricating cracked fibres.
Olive oil, and every oily substance for that matter, will not “nourish” your leather, but actually accelerate its deterioration. Leather is extremely permeable, and will soak up any oils you put on it. When oil first saturates leather, it seeps to the back—to the part you can't see.
Using household oils on your leather will damage it. Instead, use a leather cleaning and conditioner product, like Leather Honey Leather Cleaner and Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.
When it comes to maintaining leather furniture, conditioning is a must. Leather dries out over time, so applying conditioner effectively can help it remain soft, bring out its best features, and extend its life.
The softening agents in your conditioner work quite well on fabrics as well. On days when you run out of fabric softeners replace it with your conditioner and get similar results. It can also be used to delicately wash your lacy lingerie without making them stiff.
Use beeswax and oils to make homemade leather conditioner. Use a small amount on a soft cloth to rub into the leather and buff it to a shine. In the top of a double boiler, combine. 3 tablespoons beeswax pellets. 1/4 cup coconut oil, sweet almond, or olive oil.
Apply a dime-sized amount of designated leather conditioner (like mink oil) to a soft cloth (microfiber is best but not necessary). Avoid using DIY leather care products, like olive oil or coconut oil, which can potentially harm your item. Begin rubbing the clean leather in circular motions with the cloth.
Vaseline can be used for softening leather. Before applying Vaseline to leather, start by dabbing a small cotton pad with rubbing alcohol over the leather surface. You'll want to dab each section of the surface until it starts to shine. Try to make the shine even across the entire surface.
1 cup rubbing alcohol + 1 cup lukewarm water = 1 cup rubbing alcohol + 1 cup lukewarm water = 1 cup rubbing alcohol + 1 cup lukewarm water = 1 cup Soak a soft cloth in the liquid for a few minutes. Before applying the leather, wring it out thoroughly and allow it to air dry.
Dust leather couches and all other leather furniture with a dry cloth and give them a monthly application of a leather conditioner or similar leather-cleaning product to keep the material soft and moisturized. It'll also help keep cracks, stains and other discoloration from setting in.
Mix 1 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup coconut oil or EVOO, 1 tsp dish soap, and ten drops of an essential oil. This amount will do a chair of this size. Wipe on and wipe off with a clean cloth. I tried it in a spray bottle and dipped the cloth into the blend.
If you don't have leather conditioner on hand, use body lotion as a substitute.
To make and apply baby soap-based leather conditioner: Mix one quart of warm water, one tablespoon of soap, and a couple drops of vinegar. Dip a cloth into the mixture, wringing it out so it's damp and not wet. Wipe down the entire surface of the leather furniture piece.
Baby oil is a pretty light lubricant (it's mineral oil with some fragrance added) but will still over-soften the leather, much like mink oil would do. So you might find that the leather has turned to something akin to mush.
You may get darker leather if you use coconut oil, albeit temporarily. But what it's best known for is leaving a spotty, patch-like appearance to the leather and sticky feeling. Treating leather with coconut oil does have a few upsides: it will soften the leather and provide a thin layer of waterproof protection.
Mink oil easily permeates leather and replenishes internal fibres, meaning it works especially well with our full-grain Vachetta leather, which is highly porous. But apart from suede, it also represents a great option for other types of leather.
Oils like olive oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil are all effective at softening leather. Simply apply a small amount of oil to the leather and rub it with a cloth. Be sure to test the oil on an inconspicuous area first to ensure it doesn't damage the leather.
If you want to learn how to stain leather darker, try using an oil, such as neatsfoot oil, coconut oil, or mink oil. Apply the oil to a clean white cloth, then rub the oil-covered cloth back and forth over the leather surface. Take care to evenly apply the oil.