Cleaning white leather furniture

White leather furniture may look stunning but the big question is how to keep it clean and pristine. Stories of nearly new Tesla's with white leather (or vegan leather – polite word for fake leather) seats that have dye transfer from jeans are common.

The same goes for faux leather – in fact any upholstery in white. The easiest way to avoid dirt, stains and dye transfer from clothes is not to sit on the furniture. Of course, that’s totally impractical.

An added problem with white leather is that it can develop a yellowish hue as it ages. This is part of the natural oxidation process. While you can’t stop it happening completely, it is possible to slow down the process with careful cleaning and care.

Avoid bleach and harsh chemicals

Use a dry microfibre cloth to remove smudges and light soiling and always wipe up spills immediately to minimize stains. If your white leather couch needs a deeper clean, whatever you do, DON’T be tempted to use bleach. The same goes for cleaners containing harsh chemicals as they can damage the leather and promote yellowing, which is what you want to avoid.

So what should you use? First, check the label and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Our COLOURLOCK Leather Shield Cleaning and Conditioning Kit has everything you need to clean and protect your furniture leather. Apply the cleaner to the sponge and then rub the leather surface gently. Remove any residue with a damp cloth.

Once the leather is dry, apply the COLOURLOCK Leather Shield to protect it against further soiling and discolouration from clothing, especially denim aand jeans. This also helps to prevent oxidation.

Cleaning faux leather

Restoring your white faux leather couch to its dazzling glory sounds like it should be an easier task than with the real thing. Well, yes and no. While fake leather can withstand harsher cleaners, we wouldn’t recommend it. It’s far better to be safe than sorry – there’s always the danger of damaging the material.

The COLOURLOCK Vinyl Kit is ideal for faux leather and plastic surfaces. As with the leather cleaner, you just need to apply with a sponge, allow to dry and then add the protector to guard against soiling and brittleness.

If you’re not sure…

You may want to consult a professional cleaner. Our experts would be happy to offer advise

We also stock a range of products that are ideal for cleaning and protecting white leather and faux leather furniture:

COLOURLOCK Mild Leather Cleaner for cleaning visible dirt and stains

COLOURLOCK Strong Leather Cleaner for cleaning heavier dirt and denim stains

COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush – handy tool to remove dirt stuck in the grain.

COLOURLOCK Leather Protector to maintain softness and flexibility of pigmented leather. (Not suitable for Faux leather)

COLOURLOCK Leather Shield to prevent dye migration and friction damage