You might have heard; many professionals recommend using oils on leather products. As it not only moisturizes the leather but also it also gives the leather product a new life. A few months back, I was wondering if I could use baby oil on my leather furniture. So, I did some research, and let’s see what I have found!
Can you use Baby Oil on Leather Furniture? You can use baby oil on leather furniture. A light coat of Baby Oil can give your leather furniture a glossy new look. It enhances the leather and give it a better appearance. Nonetheless, you have to be careful while applying it and wipe off any excess oil from the furniture.
In this article, I will tell you how using baby oil can improve your leather condition and the procedure of applying baby oil to leather furniture. Lastly, I will mention a few alternatives you can use to restore furniture’s leather conditioner.
Things you need to know before applying baby oil on leather furniture:
- Baby oil contains a greater portion of mineral oils; usually, about 98% mineral oil, and the rest is added fragrances.
- Mineral oil is a highly purified liquid that is good for moisturizing and hydrating. Being a petroleum-based product, it is greasy and sticky on leather.Â
- Mineral oil is an inert substance (don’t easily react with other substances); even so, you need to clean the surface of your leather furniture properly before applying baby oil.Â
- Baby oil is great for softening leather upholstery, even on the old ones.
- Leather soaks the baby oil very quickly and gives instant results.Â
- Baby oil will not stay on the leather for a longer period of time. As a result, you might reapply it three to four days after.Â
How To Apply Baby Oil On Leather Furniture?
Things you need:
- A Microfiber Cloth
- Baby oil
- Leather Cleaner (Optional)
- Leather Spray (Optional)
1. Take Necessary Preparations
It is very important to wipe off the dirt and other debris from the leather furniture. It will help to unclog the pores and will allow the oil to work efficiently on the fabric.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to clean the leather with a soft wet cloth. Gently rub in a circular motion the entire surface area of the furniture. DO NOT FORGET THE EDGES OF THE UPHOLSTERY.Â
Tips: You can also add a few drops of leather cleaner for better results.
2. Allow The Leather To Dry Off
Now let the leather dry for 24 hours. Remember to let it dry naturally without using any electric dryer.
3. Remove Excess Residue
Once it is dried out, wipe off the residue. If there remains residue, it might ruin the leather. Carefully but gently rub off the excess dirt.Â
4. Patch Test Hidden Area Of The Leather
Remember to patch test the leather as, before applying, you need to know how the baby oil will react once it comes in contact with the leather.Â
Choose an area that mostly stays concealed and apply a little amount of baby oil in a circular motion with a microfiber cloth.
Let it sit for around 30 minutes to determine how the color of the leather will be affected.
5. Application Of Baby Oil
Once you are sure about the effect the baby oil will be given to the color of the leather, you can use the microfiber cloth to apply baby oil to the rest of the surface.
6. Allow The Leather To RestÂ
Then allow the leather to air-dry for 1 – 2 hours, for better outcome leave it overnight. Don’t let anything fall on the leather furniture.
7. Post-Cleaning Phase
Don’t leave any extra baby oil on the leather surface. Extra oil can harm the quality of the leather. So, MAKE SURE TO WIPE OFF the EXTRA BABY OIL.
After a definite time, you will see the leather’s color has got darker and visibly smoother than before.
For extra protection, you can use a leather spray. It will prevent water and dirt from penetrating the leather’s surface and protect the internal fibers.Â
Make sure to apply the spray from at least 30 cm distance, and apply a thin layer. Then, let it dry for approximately 1 hour.
You can use Spray by Loctite. It is good for not only leather but also wood, foam, glass, plastic, and many more i.e., you can use it for multipurpose. It dries out quickly and it works like magic when you have unsmooth leather. You can find it on amazon by clicking here.
How To Get Baby Oil Out Of Your Leather Furniture?
Even though baby oil enriches leather furniture’s appearance, along with all other fascinating benefits, if not properly applied it can leave a stain.
You might be wondering; Can you get out the oil stain from a leather? Well, yes. By using a few absorbing agents, you can definitely get the stain out. For instance, you can apply baking soda, talcum powder, or cornstarch to absorb the oil from the leather.
Normally, all kinds of greasy stains on leather furniture stay for a long time except baby oil stains.
However, sometimes over-saturation of baby oil on leather can leave a stubborn stain. In such cases, you can use baking soda. It is something you will definitely find in your kitchen.
Actually, you can use baking soda for deep cleaning your leather furniture. For more detailed information, you can check this article, Can You Clean Leather Furniture With Baking Soda?
What is the procedure to take off the Baby oil stain using baking soda? Take a damp cloth and put some baking soda on it. Then dab it on the part of the leather with the stain. Leave it for a few hours before dusting it off. You can use a vacuum cleaner or a dry cloth to take it off.
Baking soda will suck off all the oil keeping your leather furniture as fresh as new.
Related Content:
What To Apply On Leather Furniture Other Than Baby Oil?
There are few alternatives to baby oil. You will find even in your home, that can also ensure proper care of your leather furniture.
This is the list of products you can use instead of baby oil,
- Coconut Oil
- Neatsfoot Oil
- Mink Oil
- Olive Oil
- Shaving Cream
- Vaseline
Coconut Oil On Leather Furniture
Pros – Treating leathers with coconut oil can be beneficial and help to soften the leather and provide waterproof protection. You might see people recommending coconut oil more often.
Coconut oil is mostly solid at room temperature since it contains high saturated fat, so it needs to be heated before applying. This natural oil can darken the color of leather furniture.
Cons – However, along with these pros, coconut oil also carries few drawbacks, such as it can leave a spotty, patch-like appearance and also leaves a sticky residue.
Neatsfoot Oil On Leather Furniture
Pros – A thick liquid yellow color oil, Neatsfoot Oil comes from cows or cattle. It is one of the popular options, mainly because of its softening quality.
Neatsfoot oil is good for applying in old leather furniture, as it can restore dried leather, and also improve elasticity and flexibility.
Cons – Since it is acidic, it can weaken and disintegrate cotton stitching on leather furniture. Nonetheless, you can avoid it by putting the oil sparingly and carefully.
Neatsfoot oil can have a strong effect on lighter leather and darken leather color in general. Sometimes the coloring can be uneven and cause the leather to crack and deteriorate.
Mink Oil On Leather Furniture
Pros – Mink Oil is actually an oily balm extracted from pelts of minks. It infuses leather and refills internal fibers, i.e., it helps to heal the pores of the leather.
Cons – Out of all leather oils, mink is one of the top oils. It removes scratches from the surfaces and darkens them subtly. It works as a natural leather softener and provides temporary water resistance.
Olive Oil On Leather Furniture
Pros – Instead of the cooking process, olive oil can be applied to leather furniture. It softens the leather, resurfaces, and stains leather after a one-time application.
Cons – Some of the drawbacks of putting olive oil on it give a tacky and greasy feel to the leather, which can attract dirt. It also makes the leather surface slightly thick.
Shaving Cream For Leather Furniture
Pros – Shaving cream can instantly give your leather furniture a softened texture. It also works as a proper cleaning agent.
Cons – However, extensive use of shaving foam can damage the leather surface of your furniture. You need to know how to appropriately use shaving foam on leather furniture.
Vaseline For Leather Furniture
Pros – Vaseline or petroleum Jelly is reputed for its moisturizing and protective benefits. It also removes scratches, scuffs and softens dried leather. It provides an adequate amount of waterproofing resistance capacity.
Cons – Applying Vaseline on leather furniture can help old leather furniture restore its original color and rich luxurious look. It also has cleaning properties and can remove stubborn stains.
However, it can cause leather fiber cells to expand resulting and result in breaking down the tensile strength of leather.
The effect of Vaseline doesn’t last long, so frequent reapplication is required. It may promote rot on leather and does not provide the best conditioning.
