The Best Leather Cleaners

The Best Leather Cleaners

Whether it’s a bag, a belt, shoes, car seat, or a couch, leather is highly desired and, unfortunately, highly expensive. With the bigger price tag comes the desire to keep your leather items in better shape, which means more tending to your leather and regularly cleaning it properly. But leather is not something that you clean with just any product; it requires a special cleaner with specific ingredients. We've researched the best leather cleaners on the market to come up with this list of our favorites so that you can choose the right one to keep your leather goods looking and feeling like new.

Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner and Conditioner Complete Leather Care Kit

The Total Package

This cleaner and conditioner combo deal will make your leather look and feel brand new.
Best Overall

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Though some leather pieces are intentionally aged, you want to keep them in good shape, especially things like couches or car seats that get a lot of use. Chemical Guys’ leather cleaner is pH balanced to ensure that the leather maintains its strength while cleaned. Best of all, it’s odorless, so there’s no need to worry about any strong chemical scents. This cleaner will get your items clean without leaving a stench behind, a quality that makes it our top pick for any family who wants to keep their leather items in tip-top shape.

Pros:

  • pH balanced to keep your leather strong
  • Colorless and odorless, so no funny scents here
  • Only a little bit of this cleaner is required to effectively clean, so it should last you a long time

Cons:

  • The spray bottle can clog up from time to time

Leather Honey Leather Conditioner

The Family Formula

This formula’s success has carried the company through generations.
Runner Up

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Sometimes newer isn’t always better, as is the case with this Leather Honey leather conditioner. The formula for this conditioner hasn’t changed for 50 years, and we say there’s no need to mess with success. Unlike some conditioners, Leather Honey can hydrate each fiber in the leather, bringing protection to your leather items that can last up to six months. This conditioner can do so without the use of toxins, silicone, solvents, or animal products. It keeps your leather strong and protected without leaving a sticky residue behind.

Pros:

  • This family formula has been trusted for over 50 years
  • This leather conditioner protects leather for up to six months
  • The conditioner is free of toxins, silicon, solvents, and animal products

Cons:

  • The consistency of the conditioner is a bit hard to work with

Bickmore Bick 4 Leather Conditioner

Keep Your Leather Looking Fresh

Some leather conditioners may run the risk of changing the color of the item, but not this one.
Best Color Protection

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When it comes time to clean and condition your leather, you need to do so with the utmost care to keep your leather safe and strong. This leather conditioner from Bickmore is a great option that protects your leather in just one step. Its wax-free formula won’t leave your leather feeling sticky, either. Use this conditioner if you’re looking to restore old worn leather and give it back its original shine or to keep your new leather looking fresh without darkening it.

Pros:

  • Protects the color of your leather and won’t darken it
  • Wax-free formula won’t leave a sticky residue
  • Easy to apply and doesn’t require additional products

Cons:

  • It may not be safe for colored leather

Lexol Conditioner Cleaner Kit

The Perfect Package

This cleaner and conditioner combo will keep your leather looking and feeling supple as ever.
Best Kit

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This trusted name in leather cleaning brings us a kit with all we need to take care of our leather goods. Whether you’re cleaning car seats or your favorite belt, this kit will restore life to your leather. The kit comes complete with a bottle of All Leather Deep Cleaner, a bottle of All Leather Deep Conditioner, and two applicator sponges specifically for leather cleaning. The first step of cleaning removes any dirt and oils in the leather. The second step uses the conditioner to hydrate the leather’s fibers and protect them against outside forces.

Pros:

  • Lexol is a trusted brand in leather cleaning
  • This kit comes with leather cleaner, conditioner, and two applicator sponges
  • The steps for cleaning and conditioning with this kit are easy to follow

Cons:

  • The smell of these products is strong

Weiman Leather Wipes

A Quick Option

When you’re looking for a quick leather clean on the go, these wipes are the perfect choice.
Best Wipes

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For those times when a quick clean is all you need, these wipes from Weiman are your new best friend. You’ll get two portable containers, so you can keep one in your car and one with the rest of your cleaning supplies. These wipes are toxin-free and safe to use on any leather products, though spot testing is always recommended with any leather cleaner. Keep your leather in good shape between deep cleans with a quick swipe with one of these wipes followed by a quick buff with a dry cloth.

Pros:

  • Great option for small leather clean-ups between your deeper cleanings
  • The 2-pack means you can keep one in your car and one in your home

Cons:

  • The wipes don’t condition as much as other leather conditioner products

Frequently Asked Questions

What household products can you use to wash leather?
Some people claim that a mix of vinegar and water works to clean leather, but that may dry out your leather and cause cracks. Specialized leather cleaners are formulated to address the areas that household concoctions can leave behind.

How often should you clean your leather items?
The frequency of clean depends on how often you’re using the product. If it’s something like a couch that you use daily, you should clean it every 2-4 weeks. If it’s something used less often, you should clean it every month or so.

Can I use Clorox wipes on leather?
Bleach wipes aren’t appropriate for leather because they strip it of its oils and cause it to dry out.

What does leather conditioner do?
Leather conditioner restores the life of the leather after cleaning. It works to hydrate the fibers in the leather and keep the leather looking fresh and new.