Buying guideLeather Care section

Best leather cleaner for shoes, bags and furniture: Amazon

Leather cleaner pH balance for leather compatibility, foam versus spray versus wipe format, whether the cleaner is safe for suede and nubuck versus smooth leather only, cleaning strength for removing oils and stains and whether the cleaner also conditions determine which leather cleaner suits regular leather maintenance.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated September 28, 20264 picks

The short answer

Lexol pH-Balanced Leather Cleaner at $15 is the best leather cleaner for most uses: the pH-neutral formula removes oils, salt deposits and surface dirt from smooth leather without stripping the leather's natural oils or leaving detergent residue that accelerates drying, the spray bottle applies evenly and the formula is safe for all types of finished leather including shoes, handbags and furniture.

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Quick picks

01
Best leather cleaner for most uses
Lexol pH-Balanced Leather Cleaner
Leather owners who want a proven pH-balanced cleaner for regular maintenance cleaning of smooth leather shoes, boots, bags and furniture without stripping natural oils, where Lexol uses a mild surfactant formula at a near-neutral pH that cleans surface contamination without harsh alkaline or acidic chemistry that degrades leather over time.
02
Best budget leather cleaner
Angelus Easy Cleaner Leather and Shoe Cleaner
Sneaker and shoe owners who want a safe leather cleaner at the lowest price that is compatible with multiple shoe materials including smooth leather, suede, nubuck and synthetic materials in a single product, where Angelus Easy Cleaner uses a gentle foam formula safe for all shoe materials.
03
Best leather cleaner for car interiors
Chemical Guys Sprayway Leather Cleaner
Car owners who want a strong automotive leather cleaner for removing oil transfer from jeans, food stains and body oils from car seat leather, where Chemical Guys Sprayway uses a more aggressive cleaning formula than maintenance cleaners to remove the embedded oil and dye transfer that accumulates in automotive leather from repeated contact.
04
Best leather cleaner and conditioner combo
Leather Honey Leather Cleaner
Leather owners who want a single step cleaner that conditions as it cleans for maintenance cleaning between full conditioning treatments, where Leather Honey Leather Cleaner is a mild surfactant spray that cleans light surface dirt while leaving conditioning agents on the leather surface after cleaning.

How we chose

Leather cleaners are evaluated by pH balance, cleaning agent type, format (foam versus spray versus wipe), compatibility with different leather types, whether the cleaner conditions as well as cleans, drying time and price. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed

Best leather cleaner for most uses

Lexol pH-Balanced Leather Cleaner

Brand: Lexol

Best for

Leather owners who want a proven pH-balanced cleaner for regular maintenance cleaning of smooth leather shoes, boots, bags and furniture without stripping natural oils, where Lexol uses a mild surfactant formula at a near-neutral pH that cleans surface contamination without harsh alkaline or acidic chemistry that degrades leather over time.

Skip if

Deep cleaning of heavily soiled work boots or saddles caked with mud is the need. Lexol's mild formula is designed for maintenance cleaning, not heavy-duty restoration cleaning. For leather that has accumulated heavy wax or oil buildup, or leather with embedded grime from years of use without cleaning, a stronger cleaner like Chemical Guys Sprayway used with a bristle brush provides more aggressive cleaning action.

Check price on Amazon

Lexol pH-Balanced Leather Cleaner uses mild surfactants at a near-neutral pH that remove soil without affecting the leather's natural acid mantle. The spray format applies a fine mist onto the leather surface that is worked in with a soft cloth or applicator pad. The cleaner does not contain alcohol, ammonia or alkaline detergents that dry leather or affect colorfast dyes. After cleaning, allow the leather to dry before applying a conditioner.

Lexol is a leather care brand established in 1933. Their pH-balanced cleaner and conditioner are among the most widely recommended leather care products by cobbler and leather goods professionals.

At $15, Lexol is the best value pH-balanced leather cleaner in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Lexol pH-Balanced Leather Cleaner
pH	Near-neutral (pH-balanced)
Format	Spray bottle
Compatible leather	All smooth finished leather
Residue	No detergent residue
Price	$15

Specs from Lexol pH balanced leather cleaner spray shoes boots bags furniture 8 oz dermatologically, tested Amazon search

Best budget leather cleaner

Angelus Easy Cleaner Leather and Shoe Cleaner

Brand: Angelus

Best for

Sneaker and shoe owners who want a safe leather cleaner at the lowest price that is compatible with multiple shoe materials including smooth leather, suede, nubuck and synthetic materials in a single product, where Angelus Easy Cleaner uses a gentle foam formula safe for all shoe materials.

Skip if

Furniture leather cleaning is the need. Angelus Easy Cleaner is a concentrated cleaner designed for footwear volumes. Cleaning a leather sofa with a small-bottle sneaker cleaner would require many applications and is less practical than a spray cleaner (Lexol) designed for larger surface areas. For shoes and sneakers, Angelus Easy Cleaner is well-sized and safe for all shoe materials.

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Angelus Easy Cleaner uses a gentle surfactant concentrate that foams when worked into the shoe surface with the included soft-bristle brush. The foam lifts dirt from both smooth leather and suede fiber nap without saturating the material. After cleaning, wipe off the foam residue with a clean cloth. The formula is water-based without solvents or petroleum distillates. The 8-oz bottle is sized for shoe care rather than large surface cleaning.

Angelus Shoe Polish is a Los Angeles shoe care brand established in 1907. They produce shoe polishes, paints and cleaners for professional cobblers and sneaker customizers.

At $8, Angelus Easy Cleaner is the most affordable multi-material shoe cleaner in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Angelus Easy Cleaner Leather and Shoe Cleaner
Formula	Gentle foaming surfactant
Compatible leather	Smooth, suede, nubuck, synthetic
Format	Liquid with brush applicator
Size	8 oz
Price	$8

Specs from Angelus Easy Cleaner leather shoe sneaker cleaner 8 oz foam safe suede, nubuck Amazon search

Best leather cleaner for car interiors

Chemical Guys Sprayway Leather Cleaner

Brand: Chemical Guys

Best for

Car owners who want a strong automotive leather cleaner for removing oil transfer from jeans, food stains and body oils from car seat leather, where Chemical Guys Sprayway uses a more aggressive cleaning formula than maintenance cleaners to remove the embedded oil and dye transfer that accumulates in automotive leather from repeated contact.

Skip if

Regular maintenance cleaning of shoes or bags is the intended use. Chemical Guys Sprayway's stronger cleaning action is appropriate for automotive leather that accumulates heavy oil and dye transfer from jeans. For regular maintenance cleaning of shoes or bags where the leather is cleaned after each use, the Lexol pH-balanced formula removes surface dirt without the more aggressive chemistry.

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Chemical Guys Sprayway Leather Cleaner uses a surfactant formula with mild solvents designed for automotive leather's heavily coated surface. The spray applies directly to the seat surface. Working the cleaner in with a soft brush or microfiber cloth agitates the cleaning agents into the pores of the leather coating. Wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth. Chemical Guys recommends following with their leather conditioner after cleaning.

Chemical Guys is a California automotive detailing product brand established in 1968. They produce a range of car cleaning products including leather cleaners, tire shines and car waxes.

At $12, Chemical Guys Sprayway is the best value automotive leather cleaner in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Chemical Guys Sprayway Leather Cleaner
Strength	Medium (stronger than maintenance cleaner)
Application	Automotive leather seats
Format	Spray
Safe for	Finished leather, vinyl, plastic
Price	$12

Specs from Chemical Guys Sprayway leather cleaner spray automotive car seats interior pH neutral, safe Amazon search

Best leather cleaner and conditioner combo

Leather Honey Leather Cleaner

Brand: Leather Honey

Best for

Leather owners who want a single step cleaner that conditions as it cleans for maintenance cleaning between full conditioning treatments, where Leather Honey Leather Cleaner is a mild surfactant spray that cleans light surface dirt while leaving conditioning agents on the leather surface after cleaning.

Skip if

Heavy-duty cleaning of stained or soiled leather is the need. Leather Honey Cleaner is formulated for light maintenance cleaning between conditioning treatments. For leather with oil stains, salt deposits or accumulated grime, the Lexol pH-balanced cleaner or Chemical Guys Sprayway provides more cleaning power. Use Leather Honey Cleaner for regular wipe-downs, and stronger cleaners for periodic deep cleaning.

Check price on Amazon

Leather Honey Leather Cleaner uses the same food-grade formula philosophy as their conditioner, using mild surfactants without petroleum distillates, silicone or alcohol. The spray formula is intended for light maintenance cleaning before or between conditioning applications. Spray onto a soft cloth and wipe the leather surface, then buff dry. The cleaner leaves a small amount of conditioning agents on the surface after cleaning.

Leather Honey is an Austin, Texas leather care brand. The cleaner is sold as a companion product to their leather conditioner for use as a two-step clean-then-condition maintenance routine.

At $10, Leather Honey Cleaner is the best value conditioning cleaner in this guide.

Specifications

Specifications for Leather Honey Leather Cleaner
Formula	Cleaner with conditioning agents
Format	Spray
Conditions	Light conditioning during cleaning
Compatible	All smooth leather
Price	$10

Specs from Leather Honey leather cleaner spray 8 oz shoes boots bags furniture clean, condition Amazon search

Leather cleaner comparison

Product	Format	pH	Compatible	Price
Angelus Easy Cleaner	Foam/liquid	Neutral	All shoe materials	$8
Leather Honey Cleaner	Spray	Neutral	All smooth leather	$10
Chemical Guys Sprayway	Spray	Medium	Auto leather	$12
Lexol pH-Balanced	Spray	pH-balanced	All finished leather	$15

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification	Lexol pH-Balanced Leather Cleaner	Angelus Easy Cleaner Leather and Shoe Cleaner	Chemical Guys Sprayway Leather Cleaner	Leather Honey Leather Cleaner
Our verdict	Best leather cleaner for most uses	Best budget leather cleaner	Best leather cleaner for car interiors	Best leather cleaner and conditioner combo
pH	Near-neutral (pH-balanced)	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Format	Spray bottle	Liquid with brush applicator	Spray	Spray
Compatible leather	All smooth finished leather	Smooth, suede, nubuck, synthetic	Not listed	Not listed
Residue	No detergent residue	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Price	$15	$8	$12	$10
Formula	Not listed	Gentle foaming surfactant	Not listed	Cleaner with conditioning agents
Size	Not listed	8 oz	Not listed	Not listed
Strength	Not listed	Not listed	Medium (stronger than maintenance cleaner)	Not listed
Application	Not listed	Not listed	Automotive leather seats	Not listed
Safe for	Not listed	Not listed	Finished leather, vinyl, plastic	Not listed
Conditions	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Light conditioning during cleaning
Compatible	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	All smooth leather
Buy	Check price	Check price	Check price	Check price

Questions people ask

Can I use dish soap to clean leather?

Avoid using dish soap on leather. Dish soap is formulated to break down oil and grease aggressively, which removes the oils from leather that keep it supple. A single cleaning with diluted dish soap may not cause visible damage, but repeated use strips the leather's natural and applied oils faster than normal wear. Dish soap also leaves a detergent residue on leather that continues drawing moisture out of the leather surface during the drying process. If a pH-balanced leather cleaner is unavailable, saddle soap (specifically formulated for leather) is a safer alternative to dish soap. Saddle soap has a mild alkaline pH that cleans leather without the aggressive oil-stripping of dish soap.

How do I remove salt stains from leather boots?

Remove salt stains from leather boots with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water applied with a soft cloth. Salt deposits from winter road treatment leave white marks on leather as the water evaporates and the salt crystallizes on the surface. The mild acidity of diluted white vinegar dissolves the salt crystals. Dampen a cloth with the vinegar-water solution, gently wipe the salt-stained area without oversaturating the leather, then wipe dry immediately with a clean cloth. After cleaning, allow the boots to dry completely at room temperature (not near a heat source, which can crack the leather during rapid drying), then apply a leather conditioner to restore moisture. Repeat if the white deposits remain after the first treatment. A pH-balanced leather cleaner (Lexol) also removes salt stains effectively.

How do I clean leather furniture?

Clean leather furniture with a pH-balanced leather cleaner applied with a soft microfiber cloth or applicator pad. Vacuum the furniture first to remove dust and loose debris from seams and tufting. Apply the cleaner to the cloth rather than directly to the furniture to control the amount of moisture on the leather surface. Wipe in sections, working the cleaner across the surface and lifting dirt with the cloth. Use a separate clean cloth to remove excess cleaner. Allow the leather to dry for 15 to 30 minutes before sitting. For spills that have dried, allow the cleaner to dwell on the stain for 30 to 60 seconds before wiping to dissolve the residue. Follow cleaning with a leather conditioner to replace oils removed by the cleaning process.

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Best leather cleaner for shoes, bags and furniture: Amazon