leather cleaner?

[flashy]

Got this leather suite (second hand) I've cleaned it with wipes, soap and water, used spray leather cleaner from wilkies but nothing is making it look really clean, been advised NOT to use saddle soap because it will soften the leather more than it already is, I want to put the leather smell back in it if possible, any reccomendations as to what I can use to make it look nice again?

[DaveinGermany]

Bring to the boil half a pint (250 ml) of linseed oil, let cool & when nearly cold add half a pint (250 ml) of vinegar. Mix together well & bottle. By application rub well into the leather & buff up with a soft cloth.

Now I've no idea if it works or not (no personal experience with this particular tip) but it's a tip out of a book called "Household hints" by Hilary Davies, we've tried other things that are suggested & been quite pleased with the results.

To be on the safe side try it somewhere not so obvious initially to see what happens & good luck with it.

[flashy]

Thanx for that DiGy, haven't a clue where I'd buy linseed oil from

[susie123]

Originally Posted by flashy

Thanx for that DiGy, haven't a clue where I'd buy linseed oil from

Homebase, Screwfix. They sell both boiled and raw - I guess if you bought boiled you could omit the first step of this process.

[DaveinGermany]

Sports shop/ chandlers its used for oiling cricket bats Flashy. (at least it was when I was a nipper ....... a good few years back )

[MargaretR]

If you reach a stage where no amount of cleaning seems to make it look clean, it could be the sprayed on colour is worn off.
You can get products to recolour

Leather Furniture Colours

[flashy]

Its cream Margaret, not much colour to come out of it

[maxthecollie]

Have you tried a chamois leather?

[flashy]

No, I just used a normal cloth

[maxthecollie]

Try a chamois we use one when Max comes in dirty and rubs against the settee

[janloot]

most builders yards used to sell linseed oil,to mix with red or buff mastic powder, every one used it to mastic point house fronts, in the day, also to point around the old wood window frames, dont know if they will stock it but a phone call could be worth a try, it was known as boiled oil, linseed of course,

[MargaretR]

There is more than one sort of leather used in upholstery.
Types of Leather
extract -
"Semi-Aniline Dyed Leather
Semi-aniline leather is a leather hide with only a small amount of surface coating. It has the same amount of aniline dye as the pure aniline dyed leather. However, it is not recommended for excessive use, because the pigment could wear off"

[entwisi]

this stuff is highly recomended for restoring car interiors Car Leather Restoration

[annesingleton]

Baby wipes are very good for cleaning and nourishing leather furniture.

[flashy]

My friend is a valeter for Toyota, he's bringing me some leather cleaner up later