Q&A for How to Clean Leather Furniture

Clean the surface. Rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol are always a good first choice. These solvents are gentle enough for leather and vinyl and will effectively strip residue from oil, grease, many types of adhesives, and slimy residue from ArmorAll and detailer dressings. Water-based cleaner-degreaser-dewaxers are also an excellent choice. Do not use caustic or antibacterial cleaners. If in doubt, work in tandem with both water-based cleaners and solvents to remove an array of dirt, grease, and chemical residues. A soft nail brush will aid in removing dirt from the fine lines of the material's "grain." For suede and nubuck, use white vinegar.

Wipe away as much of the suet as you can with a dry towel, then sprinkle baking soda over the stained area. Let the baking soda sit for 2 to 3 hours, then wipe it away with a clean microfiber cloth. The baking soda should hopefully draw the fat out of the leather.

You might be best off contacting a professional, as it is really hard to get paint off of leather without ruining the material. You could always try applying rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to the stained areas, but that might dry out the material even more.

Full-grain, top-grain, and corrected-grain leathers (similar to those used in auto interiors) have a coating that repels water and liquids (unless the coating has worn through to the suede). If the urine has left a water-mark, you're probably dealing with an aniline or semi-aniline leather. Any odor can be neutralized with a pet stain enzyme. You may be able to remove any remaining watermarks or stains with a 1:1 mix of white vinegar and water. This will evaporate. Any remaining stains or discolorations can be dyed. If the you can feel the perimeter of the stain, and the area is stiff, the urine permanently etched the leather, and there's not much that can be done to reverse it.

Mix together warm water and mild soap really vigorously to create a lot of bubbles. Then use a clean sponge or washcloth to apply the suds to the stain. Use gentle, circular motions to rub the suds into the stain, then wipe the area clean with a microfiber towel.