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Safe Sanitation / Disinfection of Leather for Covid-19 Coronavirus

Sanitation = killing a lot of what can make you sick

Disinfection = killing 95%+ of what can make you sick

1) Is your leather absorbent? TEST: Apply a few drops of water in an inconspicuous area for a minute.

A. Absorbent = water soaks in or there is a dark spot when you remove the droplets. It cannot be cleaned with liquid. The cleaner and dissolved soil would spread out and soak in farther instead of being removed.

  • Vacuum using a HEPA filter which will capture 99+% of what comes through it. Use the brush attachment and disinfect that when done. Viruses are not very sticky, so this will remove many.

  • Leather Wipes (or baby wipes) remove dust and will capture some viruses, but otherwise just add shine and don’t clean very well (or moisturize at all).

  • See below: 2) UV light and 3) Ozone

B. Water-resistant = water remains beaded up and there is no dark spot.

  • Liquid Leather Cleaner

How it works: Just like hand washing, surface soil is released so it wipes off easily. Most viruses and bacteria are physically removed, even if they are not killed, esp. if you use an exfoliating glove or terry cloth (descried below). Liquid leather cleaners can actually destroy Covid -19 after a few minutes of contact. All soaps and detergents gradually dissolve the protective fat layer encasing the virus, which then disintegrates.

What to use: Only use liquid leather cleaners labeled for use on the type of leather item you have. Upholstery, shoes, baseball mitts, saddles, etc. each need different cleaners. Choose a leather cleaner labelled as mainly for cleaning. It may also moisturize and condition, but if that is the main purpose, it’s probably not powerful enough to sanitize / disinfect.

DO NOT USE SADDLE SOAP unless cleaning a saddle. It is made for tough, dense leathers and can damage the softer leather of upholstery, coats, purses, etc. I have seen it eat holes in aged upholstery leather.

Highly recommended: Leather Cleaner from ADV Leather. Order direct from their website: https://www.advleather.com/product-list.html

Why not use other cleaners / disinfectants? Leather is made from the same protein as your hair. If you wouldn’t wash your hair with it, it’s bad for leather. AND - most important: Leather-safe products have a pH (acidity) 4 to 4.5 = coffee or tomatoes. A pH higher or lower harms leather.

Cleaners for your home, car or body are the wrong pH by a lot - - and may contain other destructive chemicals, especially bleach and de-greasers. Even baby shampoo (pH 7) can weaken leather and accelerate aging. (see separate web page “Leather Care”).

The color on water-resistant leather is a 2nd skin coating with millions of micro-pores that let liquids and air pass through. Water beads up due to surface tension, but once it is wiped across or sits long enough, some passes through. Some of every other liquid that touches the leather surface enters the leather below and causes ongoing damage. Damage / accelerated aging is usually not visible for weeks, months or years. So if you’ve used the wrong cleaner and don’t see a problem yet, just wait.  

  • ALL disinfecting products will do serious harm to leather: Bleach, Lysol, Clorox wipes, bathroom cleaners, etc.

  • Alcohol / Hand sanitizer is a solvent for leather color and dries it out = cosmetic damage and faster aging

  • DIY / “natural” / organic cleaners have large pH differences that will harm leather: Vinegar, lemon, limonene, baking soda, Simple Green, etc

  • Magic Eraser is a fine abrasive with a cleaning agent (bad pH) that removes a layer of the surface and doesn’t disinfect at all.

  • For a complete guide to bad leather cleaning choices that might sound OK, request an info sheet at “Request a Quote” (link below).

How to use: Apply liquid cleaner with a strong paper towel or soft cloth: Old t-shirt, terry wash cloth, dish cloth, or an exfoliating glove (very effective).

Let the cleaner sit for 5-10 minutes. This is when it releases the soil from the surface. Leave it alone to work best!

Remove residue with a damp cloth or paper towel.

If needed, rub (like Teflon) to loosen soil already softened by cleaner, as long as the color coating is not flaking or peeling. Go gently at first, then add pressure.

OK to repeat once after 30 minutes, or dry the leather with a blow-dryer for 2-3 minutes - aim across, not straight at it. Any soil left is permanent but can be recolored.

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2) UV light: On clean, smooth surfaces, and used correctly, high-intensity UV-C light can kill most viruses and bacteria in seconds and can kill mold and fungus in under 1 minute. However, small crevices, textures or a thin film of soil reduces disinfection.

Short, hand-held wand devices are not expensive ($25 - $30). Some also emit ozone (not recommended). Move the light slowly, don’t just wave it past. There is no way to be sure the UV device you buy is as intense / effective as advertised. So, if you can use liquid cleaner, that’s best.

NOTE: UV can damage vision (if looked at directly), burn skin, and fade delicate materials. DO NOT USE on people or animals. UV fades leather, but brief exposure is OK (and leather can be re-colored). The UV in sunlight is not intense enough to disinfect quickly..

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3) Ozone: Professional fire recovery cleaners have ozone chambers for items even as large as a sofa. Ozone kills bacteria, viruses and mold, and removes odors like smoke, mold, pets, and even skunk, if applied long enough.

NOTE: Avoid ozone machines for home use. Oxygen deprivation is a hazard, exactly like carbon monoxide:  Ozone is odorless, colorless, and a lung irritant. It can be lethal if handled wrong or if the containment or generator leaks