Leather is an ideal material for upholstered hardwood furniture because of its ability to withstand wear and tear. While it can easily endure harsh treatments, it doesn’t offer 100% resistance against stains. Oil, ink, and grease stains are the worst offenders for leather upholstered furniture. A great deal of care should be exercised while cleaning body oil stains from leather upholstery to guarantee that the leather’s quality isn’t negatively affected. If you discover that your leather upholstered furniture has body oil stains, this guide offers several helpful tips on getting rid of them using common household supplies.
Body oil stains on your leather upholstered furniture may be unsightly and detract from the look of your hardwood furniture. However, using the right cleaning approaches and materials, you can easily eliminate these tough oil stains without the need for harsh chemicals. Here are some methods to help you remove stubborn body oil stains from your leather upholstered furniture:
Method 1: Cream of Tartar
The first approach you can use in removing body oil stains is sometimes called “the powder method”. This approach eliminates oil stains from different surfaces, including concrete, clothing, upholstered furniture, etc. The downside with this approach is it’s often done using baking soda, an alkaline powder that is caustic and can potentially cause damage to leather. Rather than using baking soda, you can clean with cream of tartar. The items you’ll require for this method include water, cream of tartar, a vacuum, and a bowl. Follow the steps below to get rid of body oil stains with this method:
- Blend cream of tartar powder with water in a bowl until you get a thick mixture with a toothpaste-like consistency.
- Next, apply the thick mixture to the stained part of your upholstered furniture.
- Then, allow the puree to stay on the body oil-stained part for about half an hour. If you’re dealing with stubborn oil stains, you can let them puree dry on the stained section. The cream of tartar powder will pull the body oil out of your leather upholstered furniture and absorb them.
- Remove the puree when it’s wet by wiping it with a damp cloth. If the puree has dried on the stained area, you can vacuum it off.
- You can repeat these steps severally until you fully get rid of the body oil stains. Once you get rid of them, ensure you clean and condition your leather upholstered furniture the usual way.
Method 2: Talcum Powder
Blot the oil-stained area with a clean microfiber cloth and wipe to remove as many body oil stains as possible. Once you do this, apply a talcum powder coating and let it stay overnight. The talcum powder will soak up the oil from your leather upholstered furniture and absorb it. The following day, you can wipe off the talcum powder using a clean cloth and later dry the area with a dry cloth.
Method 3: Cornstarch
Blot the oil-stained area with a dry piece of cloth, and get rid of as many body oil stains as possible. Then, apply a cornstarch cover on the area and allow it to stay for half an hour. Next, brush off the first cornstarch application before applying more cornstarch and let it stay overnight. The following day, dip a clean cloth in undiluted white vinegar and wipe the cornstarch remains and any remaining oil stains.
Final Thoughts
If these methods don’t work for your case, contact a professional who is familiar with cleaning leather upholstered furniture. Make sure to find an expert with all the necessary tools and skills to help remove body oil stains from your leather furniture—this will ensure your furniture’s leather upholstery lasts just as long as the hardwood itself. If you have any questions or need to find more specialized leather cleaning supplies, stop by one of our locations at Amish Oak in Texas. We’ll be able to help you find the right supplies to keep your leather-upholstered Amish furniture looking like new!
