Stop DIY-Cleaning Your Leather with Oil10/03/12 10:30am Need to clean your leather sofa, shoes, or anything else in a pinch? Many sites (even us!) recommend olive oil or peanut butter as a cure-all for your leather woes. The self-proclaimed leather-restoration experts over at Fibrenew argue that you're headed for disaster if you do. Sir Fibrenew, the Fibrenew mascot, explains: Although leather does indeed become a little suppler after applying olive oil, this instant gratification comes with a price. 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. Eventually, the oil ends up spreading throughout the leather and naturally resurfaces. Once this happens, your leather will have unsightly oil spots.We love our clever, DIY cleaning solutions, but sometimes they're not quite as good as they seem.

That's the case with oil, or oily substances like peanut butter. Keep them off your couches, shoes, and other leather. Do not use olive oil to fix your leather! | FibrenewPhoto by Jason Spaceman.Here are some homemade and inexpensive ways to protect and clean leather: Leather should be kept out of direct sunlight. Leather should be cleaned regularly. First, use a soft cloth or micro-fiber cloth to dust the surface. Saddle soap works beautifully on leather. Another option for cleaning leather is to take a damp cloth, wipe it across moisturizing soap and lather the leather. Don’t rinse – buff for a nice shine. Remember: When removing spots from leather, always test any cleaning method on an out-of-the-way spot first. One tip for removing spots from leather is to dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and rub the spot. This can work for removing ink spots as well. If this doesn’t work, you can use non-oily cuticle remover. (Note: That is cuticle remover, not nail-polish remover.)

Leave it on overnight and wipe it off with a damp cloth. To remove normal spots from leather:best price shark vacuum cleaner 1 part lemon juice 1 part cream of tartarvacuum cleaner best suction power Simply work the paste into the spot with a soft cloth, and if soils remain after working it in, let it sit for a few hours. clean the fan on hp laptopCome back and apply a little more paste, work it in and wipe clean.clean internal laptop fan Water spots can be removed from leather by moistening the area again with a little water, then letting it dry or gently blowing dry. best vacuum cleaner for engineered wood floors

Never place leather in the sun to dry. To remove road salt from leather (could be on shoes, coat, etc.):clean fan dell xps 1 part water 1 part white vinegar Take a cloth and dip into the solution, then blot over the shoes or coat lightly to remove the salt. This may have to be repeated several times to clean the entire surface. When you finish they should look almost like new. Be sure to wipe leather shoes with a damp cloth frequently, and keep them well polished with a paste. To keep leather supple, use the following homemade recipe: 1 part white vinegar 2 parts linseed oil jar with a lid Pour the solution into a jar with a lid, shake well and apply to the leather with a soft cloth. Let it sit for 12 hours and buff. If the cloth starts to soil, be sure to change it often. Store the leftover solution for future usage. Removing spots on suede is a whole different problem.

For suede shoes, try an art gum eraser first and if that doesn’t do the trick, use undiluted white vinegar on a soft cloth, and be sure to blot – never rub when cleaning suede. Once the spot is gone, take a shoe brush and rework the nap of the suede. Olive Oil CupOlive OilsCup Oil4C OliveDiy CleaningCleaning ProductsHousehold CleaningCleaning SolutionsNatural CleaningForwardDIY Leather Cleaner & Conditioner: Simply mix up 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup white vinegar, and a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil in a clean empty spray bottle and lightly spray your leather surface. See how dry and cracked it is? *Before doing this, I recommend trying it in an inconspicuous place first...just to make sure it is safe for your leather.Step 1: Tools And SuppliesShow All ItemsTools:Supplies;**Optional**Giving your shoes a good buff and polish doesn’t mean you have to baste your beloved boots, heels or dress shoes in toxic chemicals. Conventional shoe polishes may spiff up your tired footwear, but they also contain ingredients, such as petroleum-derived compounds, methylene chloride and dyes, that are hazardous to the environment and to your health.

Many waste facilities list shoe polishes as “hazardous material” that require special disposal. Meaning they’re likely not a substance you want in your home or near your tootsies. Your kicks deserve a natural way to get gorgeous. You’ll have one pair of eco-happy feet when you gussy up your shoes with these two natural shoe-polishers. After you snack on a scrumptious banana, put that peel to good use before tossing it in the compost bin. Shine your shoes with it!The natural oils on the inside of a banana peel work glossy wonders on your leather shoes. Simply buff out your duds using the peel, and then wipe the shoes clean with a soft cloth. Olive Oil and Lemon Slick your shoes with a combination of two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice to give your kicks a seriously shiny luster. Let the mixture soak in and then buff with a dry cloth. If you don’t have any of the above ingredients, try polishing your shoes with any oil you have available—coconut, vegetable, corn or walnut.