How to Clean a Leather Couch with Dove Soap

Want to clean your leather couch? While there is a wide range of leather cleaning products in the market, most of them tend to be fairly harsh on the leather.

So you need to use a mild product like a saddle or dove soap. Let’s look at whether or not cleaning leather couch with dove soap is a good idea and how to use it to get the best results.

Is cleaning leather couch with dove soap a good idea?

Cleaning leather couch with dove soap is okay because it is gentle on leather compared to commercial leather cleaners. Thus, it does not damage your leather couch rather it leaves it clean and well-moisturized. This brings back the natural shine of the leather couch and makes it last longer.

Why Dove soap is good for cleaning leather

1. It has a mild PH

Most ordinary soaps are way too alkaline and tend to dry out the skin and strip off its natural oils.

On the other hand, Dove beauty soap has a PH of 6, which means it’s fairly neutral since it’s closer to 7. The mild PH makes it gentle on any type of leather and removes grease, oil, and dirt fairly easily without over-cleansing.

Dove soap is therefore better than saddle soap, which has a PH of 9 to 10; hence a strong alkaline.

2. Moisturizes leather

Another benefit is that dove soap moisturizes leather. As leather ages, it dries out and starts to crack. The benefit of using dove soap is that it only cleans but also moisturizes the leather.

Dove soap contains aloe vera as well as ¼ moisturizing cream that helps to maintain the leather’s natural moisture barrier.

3. Leaves no residue

Dove soap does not leave residue or scum on leather. Other ordinary soaps do not rinse off completely and often leave behind a film that dulls the surfaces of the leather couch.

Despite having ¼ moisturizing cream, dove beauty soap rinses off completely compared to ordinary soap.

This was illustrated in one of Dove’s commercial advert dramatizations;

“Two women lather up and rinse. A special light then reveals that the Dove user rinsed clean, while the other soap left “scum” all over its user” abcnews.go.com

5. Does not contain harsh chemicals

Leather is animal skin so it needs to be cleaned carefully using the right cleaning agents.

However, the problem with most commercial leather cleaners is that they contain chemicals that tend to be fairly harsh and abrasive on leather.

Dove soap does not contain harsh and toxic substances like sulfates, alcohol, and parabens. So it is safe to use on your leather couch since it does not leave traces of toxic chemicals behind and cause the leather to smell awful.

In addition, it is delicate on leather and cleans without stripping off natural oils from the leather.

6. It does not discolor leather

As aforementioned, dove soap does not contain alcohol. Alcohol can seriously harm your leather couch as it causes it to stain as well as strips off the natural oils, which results in drying out and cracking.

Therefore, use Dove soap instead of any cleaner that contains alcohol if you don’t want your leather sofa to stain or discolor.

7. It’s affordable

Dove beauty soap is relatively cheaper compared to most commercial leather couch cleaners.

For instance, a packet of 14 Dove soap bars costs way less than 16fl.Oz of Chemical Guys leather cleaner.

Moreover, dove soap is multipurpose. It can be used to clean leather as well as to cleanse and pamper your body so as to have smooth, soft, and glowing skin.

How to clean a leather couch using Dove soap (Steps)

Step 1: Preparing and materials needed

Before beginning to clean the leather couch with Dove soap, it is important to gather all necessary materials and prepare the area.

The following items will be needed:

• A bucket of warm water
• Dove soap
• Soft and clean microfiber cloths or sponges
• Leather conditioner (optional)
• Vacuum cleaner (optional)
• Soft-bristled brush (optional)

Step 2: Vacuum the leather furniture

Before starting to clean the leather couch, it’s important to remove any dust, dirt, or debris that may have accumulated on the surface of the leather.

Use a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to gently remove any loose dirt or debris from the couch

Step 3: Spot-test the dove soap

Before applying Dove soap to the entire couch, it is important to spot-test it on a small inconspicuous area to ensure that it does not cause any damage or discoloration.

To do this, apply a small amount of the diluted soap solution to an inconspicuous area, such as the back or underside of a cushion, and wait for 24 hours to see if any adverse reactions occur.

If there is no discoloration or damage, the soap can be safely used on the entire couch.

Step 4: Clean the entire couch

Start by wetting a clean soft microfiber cloth or sponge with warm water and wring it out so that it’s damp but not dripping.

Next, rub the Dove soap gently onto the damp cloth until you create a lather.

Using the soapy cloth, gently rub the leather couch in a circular motion paying extra attention to any areas that are particularly dirty or stained.

Once you’ve cleaned the entire couch, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away any excess soap residue. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and remove all traces of soap.

Step 5: Leave the leather to dry

First, use another dry and clean cloth to dry the leather sofa then leave it to air dry away from direct sunlight before using it.

FAQs

Is dove soap safe for cleaning leather?

Yes, dove soap is considered safe for cleaning leather because t has a pH that is close to neutral and is free from harsh chemicals and abrasive cleansers that can ruin the leather.

Is dove soap ph neutral?

Yes, dove soap’s PH is typically around 7.2 so it’s very close to neutral. This pH level is within the range considered mild and is intended to be gentle and non-irritating. So, it’s safe to use on leather.

Does dove soap leave a residue?

Dove soap does not leave residue on leather surfaces. However, since leather is a porous material that can absorb soap and water, residue from the soap can get trapped inside the leather’s pores and build up over time. So, it’s important to rinse off the soap thoroughly to prevent build-up.

Does dove soap contain alcohol in it?

Dove soap typically does not contain alcohol as an ingredient so it’s safe to use for cleaning leather. Instead, it is formulated with gentle cleansers, moisturizers, and nourishing ingredients that work together to clean and condition the leather.

Conclusion 

Cleaning a leather couch with dove soap not only removes dirt and stains but also moisturizes the leather, which brings back its luster.

Dove soap has a mild PH compared to other regular soaps, making it kinder to leather. Additionally, it rinses off cleanly without leaving any residue on the surface of the leather.

Another benefit is that it does not contain harmful chemicals like paraben, sulfate, and alcohol, which often damage leather.

However, if you don’t have dove soap, you can try other PH-balanced or neutral soaps like Nivea and Pear since they are also gentle on leather.