The Leather Honey Cleaner Vinyl and Leather is our best leather cleaner which definitely has a concentrated formula for cleaning leather and in the long term makes your leather item last longer. One bottle of this leather cleaner includes 32 oz of cleaner when diluted and it is greatly applicable for vinyl and leather apparel.
Top Pick: Leather Honey Cleaner Vinyl and Leather
Our step-up pick is the Leather Nova Leather Cleaner for Furniture and it has a pH balanced formula that effectively cleans up grime, dirt and oil from your furniture or any leather surface. Furthermore, the leather cleaner formula does not leave your leather dry or greasy because of the fast drying matte finish. In addition to that, it also pre-conditions your leather surface by opening up the pores so you can treat it with a corresponding conditioner later. The cleaner is great for use on automotive interior and seats and it also comes with a free microfiber towel.
The budget pick is the Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner 12oz and it uses a UVX-15 sunscreen to protect your leather from drying, fading or cracking. Generally, it works not just on leather upholstery but also on other leather products such as boots, shoes, purses, handbags and briefcases. The cleaner gives a smooth and finished leather surface overall.
A Little Background
Leather is a very delicate type of material that is used on a variety of household items, furniture and apparel such as shoes and bags. Not a lot of people can afford fine leather, because it is a very expensive material that can only be obtained from animals like cows, crocodiles or sheep.
Of all types of fabrics, leather is the most difficult to clean because it is very porous and quite sensitive to harsh abrasive cleaners. This is because leather is made from skins of animals and therefore, they are just as sensitive as our skin. Humans and animals don’t really differ when it comes to skin sensitivity, and this is why cleaning leather is a pretty tough job to consider, especially when it comes to bad stains.
Leather, when unclean or get exposed to high sunlight, may also crack and discolor, which is also a problem. Some people have no choice but to expose their leather products to the harsh sun, such as those who use leather boots or leather bags. Discoloration really happens like cracking, and this is why leather furniture owners make it an effort to not put their leather near heat sources or under sunlight.
Most car interiors often get dirty and collect oil and grime over time and the leather or vinyl surface might get damaged when not properly and regularly cleaned and / or maintained. Unfortunately, harsh temperatures can surround your car, especially if you park under the midday sun and the heat can take its toll on your leather upholstery on your car, which can lead to discoloration, cracking or dirt build-up.
Most leather items will come with a cleaning instruction, especially upholstery and furniture that are made from leather. Always know and consult the manufacturer first if the leather upholstery and / or furniture have some cleaning methods that are recommended. While a lot of leather couches and chairs are recommended to be cleaned by experts, some can still be cleaned at home using special cleaners.
Leather items should have special leather cleaner to clean them up. Leather cleaners come in all variety of forms – as liquid, as sprays, as pastes, and many others. It is mandatory to choose appropriate leather cleaner for your item. For instance, saddles have their own types of cleaners and boots have their own, too. Some cleaners are specifically designed for car interiors, and the list goes on and on.
How We Picked
The best leather cleaner was chosen out of the following guidelines and criteria:
We considered the safety of the leather cleaner formula. The leather cleaner should be safe to use not just on genuine leather, but also on other types of leather or even vinyl, plastic and rubber. The leather cleaner that will work on leather apparel should work just fine even on automobile upholstery and such.
We looked into how versatile the leather cleaner is for a variety of leather products. As we mentioned, the leather cleaner should be able to clean up leather, vinyl, rubber, plastic and other types of leather such as faux leather, bonded leather and many more.
We also looked at how much the leather cleaner contains in one bottle or container. The leather cleaner is usually measured in ounces, quarts or gallons, depending on how much you need. It is better to look for a concentrated cleaner formula to get the best results for your leather cleaner.
We considered how the leather cleaner should be best applied on. Some leather cleaners work best on leather boots while some work best on saddles. Some leather cleaners are specifically made for car interiors so you should choose leather cleaners that work best for your intended use.
We also looked if the leather cleaner works best on a specific type of leather item. As we mentioned, some leather cleaners will work on saddles or boots better than other apparel or upholstery. Most leather cleaners of this type come in paste form rather than liquid and / or spray form.
We considered the price of the leather cleaner. A lot of leather cleaners are not really too expensive when you look at it. They range from about $5 to $30 depending on how much they contain.
Our Pick
Top Pick: Leather Honey Cleaner Vinyl and Leather
For our best leather cleaner, we chose the Leather Honey Cleaner Vinyl and Leather which includes 32 oz of cleaner when diluted when it comes to contents as it also has a concentrated formula for cleaning leather. In fact, this leather cleaner is applicable for vinyl and leather apparel and its truly fast-acting formula makes your leather item last longer.
The Leather Honey Cleaner is great for use on auto interior, accessories and shoes and it generally cleans up dirt, oil, grime and tough stains on leather and vinyl. In terms of its cleaning action and the variety of items it can cover up and maintain, the leather cleaner has a non-toxic formula so it is safe for all kinds of leather such as jackets, saddles and tack, car interiors, handbags, furniture, shoes and more.
The Vinyl and Leather Cleaner by Leather Honey is truly a great cleaner to use before applying leather conditioner, so consider this as an integral part of your leather cleaning and maintenance routine. As a matter of fact, the product also comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
As for its versatility, the leather cleaner also works for faux leather just like vinyl products. In fact, it can also clean up plastic and vinyl dashboards, doors and trim. Moreover, adding to its wide range of cleanable products, the Leather Honey product is ideal for both traditional leather and bonded leather furniture. Likewise, even sports equipment made from leather can also be cleaned.
Another ideal use for this particular leather cleaner is that it is said to be great for restoring car interior and leather furniture as well as other plastic and vinyl parts. Adding to that, majority of leather shoes and boots can be cleaned with this leather cleaner. As for its formulation, customers asked and was answered that it is okay to pre-mix the leather cleaner in an empty container and then store for a while.
According to most customer reviews, a spray bottle is more recommended for easier application. The manufacturer also recommends that if you intend to wipe and apply, you must use a microfiber towel so it will not damage your leather item. Microfiber towels work deep in the pores of your surface and are less harsh than other cleaning tools. Being made in the USA, the said leather cleaner is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
The only known downside to the Leather Honey Cleaner Vinyl and Leather is that it is not for use on suede, like most leather cleaners. However, this is normal, since a lot of leather cleaners out there are also not recommended for use on suede.
Step-up Pick
Leather Nova Leather Cleaner for Furniture
The Leather Nova Leather Cleaner for Furniture is our step-up pick which pre-conditions your leather surface by opening up the pores so you can treat it with a corresponding conditioner later. Most reviewers and customers agree that this is a leather cleaning product that is a great for use on automotive interior and seats.
In terms of its content, the Leather Nova Cleaner has a pH balanced formula that effectively cleans up grime, dirt and oil from your furniture or any leather surface. When it comes to its finished surface, the said leather cleaner does not leave your leather dry or greasy because of the fast drying matte finish.
One big bonus point about this particular leather cleaner is that it already comes with a free microfiber towel so you can have a safer application of the said leather cleaner as to not damage your leather surface any further even while cleaning. The Leather Cleaner by Leather Nova works as a stain remover for furniture, handbags, apparels, purses, sofa, shoes and leather boots.
When it comes to versatility, this particular leather cleaner also works for seat covers of cars, various leather bags, couches, leather chairs, saddles, gloves, car upholstery, jackets and similar leather surfaces. As for its content, the Leather Nova contains 18 oz of cleaner.
It strongly improves and lengthens the life of your leather items. In other words, it greatly prevents discoloration of your furniture and / or dullness of the leather surface. Being a flexible formula for leather material, this cleaner works for leather, plastic and vinyl surfaces so it is safe to use and very versatile in general.
Being made in the USA, the Leather Cleaner for Furniture by Leather Nova does not strip away essential oils on our leather which is very important in keeping your leather material well-maintained and away from cracking or discoloration. It is also not as harsh as other detergents or toxic cleaners since we all know that leather is a very sensitive surface to clean up.
All in all, the leather cleaner keeps your leather or vinyl surface shiny and lustrous. However, like our top pick and the rest of other cleaners for leather out there, it is not suitable for suede or nubuck. Nonetheless, this cleaner is truly hassle-free and in the long run, does not leave any soap residue for a mess-free application.
Budget Pick
Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner 12oz
Our budget pick is the Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner 12oz which works not just on leather upholstery but also on other leather products such as boots, shoes, purses, handbags and briefcases, making it truly a versatile budget options when it comes to the best leather cleaner.
In terms of its cleaning technology, it uses a UVX-15 sunscreen to protect your leather from drying, fading or cracking. Once applied properly, this leather cleaner gives a smooth and finished leather surface overall. As for its content, one bottle contains 12 fl oz of cleaner for your leather which maintains a long lasting shine.
The Weiman Leather Cleaner doubles as both a leather cleaner and a leather conditioner, making it a 2 in 1 solution for maintaining your leather material. It is also available in pack of 1 or pack of 6.
The said cleaner gives moisturizing feel onto your leather and restores faded or damaged leather so it truly restores the health of your leather material, especially if you look forward to using this on your couch or upholstery. The Weiman Cleaner and Conditioner, when it comes to cleaning ingredients, comes with 6 natural cleaners and essential oils that keep your leather more conditioned and restored on its shine and its suppleness.
As a matter of fact, residue like dirt and soil will be safely lifted from your delicate leather, making it a truly effective cleaner for your leather material. Furthermore, this cleaner is also highly applicable for coats, car interior, furniture, purses, briefcases, shoes and other products that are made from leather. It is also ideal leather cleaner for removing winter time salt, especially if you want to use it for cleaning up leather boots. If you want to clean upholstery and furniture, do remember to keep it away from wood areas if you are cleaning leather with exposed wood.
Ideal Leather Cleaner for Color Restoration
LeatherNu Complete Leather Color Restoration Kit
The LeatherNu Complete Leather Color Restoration Kit is an ideal leather cleaning formula which greatly restores the color of your leather and repairs damage, making it seem like it is brand new again. Furthermore, this complete kit gives touch-up and re-dying on your leather goods, especially if you are looking forward to going for a complete restoration for your faded or worn out sofas.
With its technology and tools, the LeatherNu Kit lifts up faded spots or worn-off areas of your leather. The equipment included in the kit can help to restore worn out leather goods. As for its kit components, it comes with 7 intermix color dyes to blend to your leather product easier. It also comes with a dropper, a sponge, a mixing brush for applying the dyes, the 7 colored dyes for various leather colors, a filler compound for fixing cuts and holes and also various patterns of leather to make the compound look authentic leather when it dries up.
All in all, the LeatherNu Complete Restoration Kit can repair leather apparel, couches, shoes, jackets, car seats and others. Likewise, it also works for bonded leather but only in some cases.
Best Canister Wipe Leather Cleaner
ArmorAll Leather Wipes Canister 20 Wipes
If you want a canister leather cleaner wipe, you could pick the ArmorAll Leather Wipes Canister 20 Wipes which comes in 1 pack but also available in pack of 3 and contains blocking agents that help to restore and protect your leather surface from discoloration, fading, spills, cracking, stains, premature aging and others.
This leather cleaner reaches within the grains of the leather to effectively take out soil and dirt, making it an effective way to clean and maintain your leather, especially if you look forward to using it to clean your car interior.
All the wipes included are disposable and in addition, the wipes stay moist for a long time. Overall, with the ArmorAll Leather Wipes, you can give your leather a luxurious look and long-lasting surface. The package includes 6 wipes per case.
Ideal Leather Cleaner for Boots
Obenauf’s LP Boot Preservative 8 oz
Having trouble with dirty boots that might have been cracked and discolored? You might want to try the Obenauf’s LP Boot Preservative which contains 8 oz. With its fast acting formula, it greatly removes chemicals, salt, petroleum and acids that build up on your boots.
The dried leather is restored to a supple condition and it also gives your leather boots further protection from damage. It is a truly remarkable leather cleaning product which is also available in a smaller 4 oz container.
As a matter of fact, this is an approved leather cleaning product for Gore-Tex footwear, so it is a big plus if you often buy those. As for its results, most customers have reviewed that after applying, you can polish or buff-shine your leather boots.
When it comes to its safety and content, the Obenauf’s Boot Preservative does not contain harmful solvents, silicones, neat’s foot or petroleum. Being made in the USA, the said cleaner has been designed and formulated to preserve your leather for a long time.
In fact, the cleaner for leather boots also works for car interior or any kind of leather item. In the long run, your boots will stay comfortable even in bad weather. As for its ingredients, the cleaner contains essential leather oils to continuously lubricate your leather on the go.
Best Saddle Leather Cleaner
Fiebing’s Yellow Saddle Soap 12 Oz
If you own a saddle and often go on equestrian hobbies or sports, you might want to have the Fiebing’s Yellow Saddle Soap 12 Oz on your cleaning arsenal as this leather cleaner prevents your leather saddle’s brittleness. With this product made in the USA, the said leather cleaner maintains the leather suppleness and gives it further strength.
This saddle soap can clean up saddles effectively. When it comes to versatility, the Fiebing’s Saddle Soap also works for baseball gloves, boots and other smooth leather items which contains 12 oz.
Being a one-step clean and polish formula for cleaning leather saddles, the saddle soap is also available in black, yellow and white formula. In addition to saddles, the cleaner also works also on tack and black harness.
All in all, the formula gives lubrication to leather fibers to keep it from getting brittle and it can also work for car seats and interior without leaving any residue.
Leather Cleaner Kit
Lexol 907 Leather Care Kit 8-oz
For those who want a complete and total care of their leather, they might want the Lexol 907 Leather Care Kit 8-oz which contains an 8 oz cleaner and an 8 oz conditioner. In addition to that, for your convenience, it also includes a 2-pack applicator sponge for easily applying your leather cleaner.
On its versatility, the said leather cleaner works on all types of leather such as sporting goods, baseball gloves, boots, jackets, saddles and tack, leather auto interiors and more. Moreover, this cleaner formula works to clean and condition the said types of leather. As for its ingredients and safety, it does not contain any alcohols, additives, oil, silicones or waxes. In fact, it is a pH-balanced formula that does not trap dirt in the leather with its cleaning action.
The Lexol 907 Kit 8-oz is also available in a 16.9 oz kit. The included applicator sponges are microfiber and non-abrasive which makes them safe to use on your leather without potentially damaging them.
The said cleaner for leather gives a strong and supple finish for your leather using the leather conditioner and it does not leave any greasy residue, making it mess-free. It does not contain any harmful ingredients such as silicon that get stuck onto your dried leather and it also works for leather shoes. It is great for using on leather car interior as well but you have to make sure you color test it first.
Ideal Leather Cleaner that also Works for Rubber
Mothers 06524 VLR VinylLeatherRubber Care 24-oz
The Mothers 06524 VLR VinylLeatherRubber Care 24-oz protects your leather against cracking, drying and fading using an all in one blend of lanolin and neat’s foot oil and it has a pH balanced formula that cleans up dirt, stains and soil – even the most stubborn ones.
As a matter of fact, it can clean up vinyl, leather and rubber surfaces. It gives protection and conditioning to the said surfaces and a one-step application to protect and clean up your leather. One bottle contains 24 oz. The Mothers 06524 VLR Care works well on any car interior and upholstery. In fact, one customer said it also worked for leather surfaces of electronic drum sets, which could be interesting.
Ideal pH Balanced Leather Cleaner
Leather Rescue Leather pH-Balanced Conditioner 8.5-oz
The Leather Rescue Leather pH-Balanced Conditioner 8.5-oz is a cleaner for leather which has a pH balanced formula that is non-toxic to treat your leather without the sticky or greasy residue.
Other than that, it gives a light and natural shine plus leather scent and it also works on all types of leathers – untreated, treated, bonded, vinyl, exotic and many more. It greatly protects against UV radiation and prevents wear damage from extreme weather conditions and it restores moisture and shine onto your leather.
Most rough finishes that are dry will be repaired and rebuilt with this leather cleaner as this formula gives back the suppleness of your leather. The said leather cleaner dries as quick as 1 hour without leaving residue and it also has a clear color and not harmful to most leather types. One bottle of the Leather Rescue Conditioner contains 8.5 fl oz and has been made in the USA. Other than that, it also has a 90 day money back guarantee.
The said leather cleaner, Leather Rescue, is truly ideal for cleaning up bags, briefcases, car seats, sofa, couches, handbags, purses, jackets, wallets, motorcycle seats, saddles, boots, shoes, belts and other leather materials. You can use together with saddle soap and leather cleaner for best results. It also works safe for faux leather and the color vibrancy and luster are improved.
The Competition
Cleaners for leather products should be super safe and not contain any harmful chemicals. We picked the best of the best based on customer comments and complaints and left out those whose reputation make them most likely unsafe for your leather.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the importance of cleaning up your leather?
A: According to Showroom Auto Care , leather is a delicate surface to clean and this is why it is important to clean it up regularly to preserve and protect it. Most leather cleaners and conditioners should be applied separately using a microfiber towel. Do know that dark colored leather needs to be cleaned more than light colored leather. As a matter of fact, cracking and drying will be prevented with regular cleaning of your leather using natural oils.
Q: Can you give some tips on cleaning leather?
A: You should make sure you remove spills on the surface as quick as possible before the leather absorbs it, as it is highly porous. Most people who have and maintain leather products recommend that using mild soap that is safe to use on people is ideal for treating leather.
Always remember: do not use soaps with ammonia or alkaline or they may damage the leather. In fact, most leather furniture has cleaning instructions included so you won’t be bewildered when it comes to the cleaning process and proper cleaning method. Do remember that abrasive and scrubbing pads are not recommended and do not use silicon or wax containing oils for cleaning your leather.
In another story, moving your furniture away from heat sources or sunlight will help to keep it from cracking. You should also maintain and buff the furniture’s surface with specialized oil regularly. Last but not the least – you should remove dirt using a soft brush before cleaning with water and soap.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, the Leather Honey Cleaner Vinyl and Leather is our best leather cleaner which will definitely work on a lot of leather types and vinyl, making it an all-in-one cleaner for general leather maintenance.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.