How to Clean Oil Out of Leather Furniture

Remove oil stains from leather promptly for best results.

Oil from foods, makeup, car oil and even oils from your hair or body can easily stain leather furniture. Use the proper products and methods to remove oil from leather furniture without compromising the appearance of the leather itself.

1. Blot up as much of the oil at first sight. Fold up a paper towel and gently blot the oil stain. Do not rub the stain or it will spread to other areas of the leather furniture.

2. Sprinkle the oil stain with a generous amount of corn starch or talcum powder. Rub the powder briskly into the stain using your fingers until you feel heat from friction. The heat will help to loosen the oil and allow the powder to absorb it.

3. Cover the powder and oil stain with plastic wrap. Allow the powder to sit covered on the oil stain overnight.

4. Vacuum up the powder the next day. Use a soft-brush vacuum cleaner attachment to suck up the powder from the leather. A hand-held broom will also work for cleaning up the powder.

5. Wipe down the affected area with a damp rag. Inspect the leather furniture for any traces of the stain.

6. Use mineral spirits if the oil stain persists. Moisten a clean rag with mineral spirits and gently rub it over the stain. Sprinkle corn starch or talcum powder over the stain. Allow the powder and mineral spirits to sit uncovered on the furniture overnight. Sweep up the powder the next day.

7. Apply a leather conditioner to the furniture once all traces of the oil are gone. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying leather conditioner as this will vary among products.