Leather products can feel luxurious, but they’re also an investment. Maintaining leather requires time and effort, as well as the right products, such as a reliable leather cleaner.
“Leather cleaners go beyond surface cleanliness," says Vanessa Terra Bossart, the owner of Green Terra Cleaning. "They delve into the pores of the leather, removing ingrained dirt, oils, and stains. This deep cleansing not only revitalizes the leather's appearance but also extends its lifespan."
To find the best leather cleaners, we researched various options and factored in type, suggested use, and protection levels. In addition to Tessa Bossart, we also spoke to Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi, for her expert insight on selecting the best leather cleaner. Whether you’re cleaning your purse, shoes, clothes, furniture, or car seats, here are our top picks to keep your favorite products looking new for years to come.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Leather Cleaning Kit:
Chemical Guys Complete Leather Care Kit at Chemicalguys.com (See Price)
Best for Furniture:
Best for Clothing:
Leather CPR 2-in-1 Leather Cleaner & Leather Conditioner at Amazon ($26)
Best Wipes:
Best Natural:
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What Stands Out
This 4-in-1 product cleans, conditions, polishes, and protects your leather items without darkening them.
What Could Be Improved
The cap makes it hard to control the quantity of product that comes out.
For an all-around leather treatment, the Bickmore Bick 4 Leather Conditioner does it all. It cleans, conditions, polishes, and acts as a stain repellent, and it only requires one application, either directly with your hands or with a soft cloth.
The formula is non-greasy and wax-free, so instead of sealing, it allows leather to breathe. The product is non-darkening, so your favorite leather products—whether it’s a leather sofa, shoes, jackets, car seats, or more—will stay the original color after you’ve polished them up like new.
One slight drawback is the cap, which makes it hard to control how much product comes out. We recommend squeezing carefully to avoid getting too much cleaner at once.
Type: Liquid | Size: 8 ounces | Suggested use: Clothing, furniture, shoes, bags
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What Stands Out
The combination leather cleaner and conditioner has built-in UV protectant for items that get frequent sun exposure.
What Could Be Improved
You’ll have to work harder to remove stubborn stains.
The Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner can be used on a variety of surfaces including shoes, bags, and furniture. In addition to restoring your leather products, it contains UVX-15 protection, so it’s a great choice for items that get regular sun exposure (for example, car seats).
Applying is simple since it’s in a convenient spray bottle. Spray some of the formula on a soft cloth, wipe your leather products, and then buff. Note that you may need to use more elbow grease on older or more settled stains.
Type: Spray | Size: 22 ounces | Suggested use: Furniture, shoes, bags
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What Stands Out
These products can be used on synthetic leather and vegan leather as well as natural leather.
What Could Be Improved
Application takes longer because it’s two separate formulas.
The Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner and Leather Conditioner Kit comes with both cleaner and conditioner in separate bottles, which gives you the flexibility to use both together or separately as needed. Because it’s not a 2-in-1, it will take longer to apply.
The pH-balanced cleaner is colorless and odorless and helps remove dirt and oils from deep in your leather products without leaving a residue behind. The conditioner has a light leather scent and is formulated with vitamin B to deep condition and keep your leather feeling soft and moisturized.
Both the cleaner and conditioner can be applied to synthetic and vegan leather, so it’s a nice option if you’re trying to keep faux leather items in tip-top condition as well.
Type: Spray (cleaner) and liquid (conditioner)| Size: Two 16-ounce bottles | Suggested use: Clothing, furniture, cars, shoes, bags
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What Stands Out
The conditioner formula helps prevent liquid and ink stains for up to three months between applications.
What Could Be Improved
It has a strong smell that might be unpleasant to some.
The Furniture Clinic Large Leather Care Kit has everything you need to keep your leather furniture looking its best. The kit includes two 17-ounce bottles of leather cleaner and leather conditioner, a sponge, and a cloth. It can be used on any color of leather and all types of leather.
The cleaner can help deep clean leather grain that has been through years of daily use (like on your living room couch), and the conditioner nourishes the leather and helps repel liquid and ink stains for up to three months after application.
Some users note that the cleaner has a strong, unpleasant smell reminiscent of other cleaning products, which might be unpleasant to some.
Type: Liquid | Size: Two 17-ounce bottles | Suggested use: Furniture, clothes, shoes
Best for Clothing
Leather CPR 2-in-1 Leather Cleaner & Leather Conditioner
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What Stands Out
It’s been dermatologist tested so it won’t irritate the skin, making it great for clothing and wearable items.
What Could Be Improved
It may be too gentle for heavy duty cleaning jobs.
Leather CPR 2-in-1 Leather Cleaner & Leather Conditioner is dermatologist-tested and formulated to avoid skin irritation. This makes it a great choice for cleaning items that touch your skin, like leather jackets, pants, or even bags.
It cleans and conditions in one step and also dries quickly without any residue. The formula can help break in and soften leather, as well as remove stains from rock salt. Beyond clothing, you can use it to help soften up any leather accessories, bags, shoes, and furniture that need a refresh.
That said, it’s on the gentler side and it might not do the trick for heavy-duty stains or serious cracks.
Type: Cream | Size: 18 ounces | Suggested use: Furniture, car seats, jackets, purses, shoes
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What Stands Out
It’s a quick, portable, and disposable way to clean and condition leather.
What Could Be Improved
The wipes can dry out fairly quickly.
It’s hard to beat the convenience of cleaning wipes, and that includes this handy option for leather, which also conditions at the same time. The Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Wipes comes in a convenient canister of 30 wipes.
You can use them easily on any leather surface and bring them with you on the go since they’re disposable. With just a few swipes, you can remove dirt and moisturize your leather jackets, shoes, car seats, bags, and more.
The wipes also have UVX-15 sunscreen to provide sun protection. One important thing to note—like most cleaning wipes, they can dry out, and some users say it happens faster than is ideal.
Type: Wipes | Size: 30 wipes per pack | Suggested use: Car seats, furniture, shoes, purses
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What Stands Out
The spray bottles make it easier to clean a larger surface area more quickly.
What Could Be Improved
It leaves behind more of a residue than other options.
The Lexol Foaming All Leather Cleaner and Conditioner Kit features a ph-balanced foaming cleaner and nourishing conditioner in a convenient spray bottle. A spray makes it easier to cover a wider area, so this is a nice choice for furniture like leather chairs, car seats, or couch cushions.
At almost 17 ounces per bottle and including two towels, the kit is a great value. While it does a nice job cleaning and softening leather, leaving behind a nice shine and moisturized finish, some users say that the product leaves an oily residue.
Type: Spray | Size: Two 16.9-ounce bottles | Suggested use: Car seats, furniture, jackets, shoes
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What Stands Out
Regular use of this water-repellant product can help make your items more water-resistant over time.
What Could Be Improved
You have to let the cream sit for 20 minutes per coat.
Skidmore's Original Leather Cream’s water-repellent formula is made with natural oils and beeswax, making it a nice choice for those who look for eco-friendly cleaning products. It pulls double duty by cleaning and conditioning, and regular use can help build up water resistance on your leather products.
To restore shoes, furniture, bags, and more, you apply the cream, let it sit for 20 minutes, and wipe the excess off with a clean cloth. You can apply additional coats as needed. Of course, this does mean that it can take longer than other options, especially if you do multiple coats.
Type: Cream | Size: 6 ounces | Suggested use: Car seats, furniture, shoes, purses
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What Stands Out
It’s a gentle leather cleaner that can also be used on vinyl and faux leather, too.
What Could Be Improved
It doesn’t act as a conditioner.
For a greener option to revive your leather products, look no further than Leather Honey Leather Cleaner. The formula is natural, fragrance-free, and gentle, so it will deeply clean but not strip your bags, shoes, furniture, and more.
It’s safe to use on all colors of leather and can also be applied to vinyl, plastic, and faux leather. To apply, add to a moistened, lint-free cloth and wipe down the surface you want to clean. Note this product is only a cleaner, so you will need to follow up with a separate conditioner to moisturize and protect the leather.
Type: Liquid | Size: 8 ounces | Suggested use: Car Seats, furniture, shoes, bags
Final Verdict
Our top pick is the Bick 4 Leather Conditioner and Leather Cleaner—a versatile, multi-use product that cleans, conditions, polishes, and protects a variety of different leather products. If you’re looking for a portable leather cleaner, consider Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Wipes. And if natural cleaners are your priority, Leather Honey Leather Cleaner has a gentle formula that is safe to use on all colors of leather.
How to Shop for Leather Cleaners Like a Pro
Type
Leather cleaners come in several forms like liquids, sprays, wipes, pastes, and creams. Wipes are convenient, easy to use, and relatively mess-free, plus portable and disposable. However, they tend to offer surface-level cleaning/conditioning and they don’t tend to last as long as heavier-duty cleaners.
Sprays can cover a larger surface area with minimal effort, making them nice for larger projects such as cleaning an entire couch or several smaller items. They can also be used for quick touch-ups, but since they tend to be watery, they may not penetrate leather as thoroughly as thicker cleaners.
Lotions and creams provide deeper cleaning, which is good for older items with years of wear and tear. They are often more effective at restoring leather, improving the appearance of cracks and brittleness, but require more work because you have to apply the formula to a sponge or cloth, and then buff it off to prevent any haziness and remove excess residue.
Suggested Use
Using the right leather cleaner is important for not only maintaining the quality of your leather but for also cleaning it without causing damage. Fortunately, most leather cleaners can be used on all sorts of leather items, including shoes, clothes, bags, car seats, furniture, and more.
Versatility is something to look for, but you’ll still want to read labels before cleaning a new item with a particular cleaner. You also want to note what kind of leather a cleaner or conditioner can be used on—most cleaners are only safe to use on smooth leather.
Protection
“Cleaning leather regularly isn't just about maintaining appearances; it's about preserving the material's integrity,” says Terra Bossart. “By removing contaminants, leather cleaners prevent premature aging, cracking, and fading.”
Some leather cleaners have additional protective qualities. The Furniture Clinic Large Leather Care Kit temporarily protects from liquid and ink stains, while repeated use of Skidmore's Original Leather Cream provides some water resistance. Some products, like the Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner, have UV protection.
Questions You Might Ask
How frequently should you use leather cleaner?
Even though regular maintenance of leather products is essential, “over-cleaning can strip away natural oils and cause damage,” says Terra Bossart. She recommends a cleaning schedule of every 6-12 months, adjusting based on usage and spot-cleaning any new stains.
For furniture, Hicks recommends cleaning leather couches and chairs about once a year. “Leather is pretty easy to keep clean, so there’s no need to deep clean it on a weekly or monthly basis. Just make sure to keep up with regular maintenance like dusting and vacuuming,” she says.
What is the difference between leather cleaners and conditioners?
Leather cleaners remove dirt, stains, and oils from the leather’s surface. Conditioners nourish the leather and restore lost oils to keep the material supple and prevent it from cracking.
“While cleaners rejuvenate the leather's surface, conditioners provide long-term protection and maintain its quality over time. Both products complement each other in a comprehensive leather care routine,” says Terra Bossart.
Many products combine cleaning and conditioning into one product, which decreases the amount of time, effort, and cabinet space needed to properly care for your leather products.
Is there anything you should not clean with a leather cleaner?
Always double-check the labels of your leather cleaners for manufacturer recommendations. In general, Terra Bossart says to avoid cleaning suede or nubuck leather with leather cleaners, as they may cause discoloration or damage to the material. You can always spot-test the cleaner on a small area to be safe.
In addition, “unfinished leather stains very easily, so you shouldn’t try to clean it with leather cleaner,” Hicks says. If your furniture is made out of unfinished leather, consider bringing in a professional upholstery cleaner to ensure it’s cleaned properly.
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Lesley Chen, a contributing writer for Real Simple with experience writing commerce, home, and lifestyle stories. To compile this list, she thoroughly researched leather cleaners based on type, suggested use, and protection level. For expert advice, Lesley spoke to Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi, and Vanessa Terra Bossart, the CEO of Sparkling Clean Pro.
