DIY Leather Polish

by Amy · February 19, 2018

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DIY Leather Polish

I have a leather couch, chair and ottoman that I’ve had for almost 15 years. It’s been through at least half a dozen moves and was one of my first major furniture purchases as an adult. Believe it or not, it’s still in fairly good shape, minus a few minor rips underneath.

I try to clean it ever so often, to get the grimy spots and who knows what else from the kids, but it was seriously lacking the shine it once had, and I haven’t polished it in ages. I recently noticed that it had some major dry spots and the leather was cracking in a few places.

I didn’t have any polish at the house, but I remembered reading that coconut oil was a good conditioner for leather. Most furniture stores recommend a commercial product, but I like using all natural when I can.

I decided to mix a little coconut oil in a small container with a few drops of lemongrass essential oils. I just love the scent of lemongrass, and lemongrass is also known to kill germs–a win, win!

Before I polished the leather I gave it a good cleaning using a vinegar solution. (equal parts water & vinegar) Then I just mixed 1/4 cup of coconut oil and added 4-5 drops of lemongrass. I mixed this in a small 4oz container I had, but you could use a mason jar or another jar or container with a lid. A little really goes a long way!

The mixture will have a slight liquid form once you add the essential oils. However, once it is stored, it should harden again like traditional coconut oil, but easy to work with once you start using it. If not, you can add a few more drops of essential oils and stir again. Just remember to store in a cool dry place if you are going to use it again later. Don’t forget to label the container if you plan on storing it, so you remember what it is.

Next, I just dipped a microfiber rag in the concoction and used circular motions to polish the couch. I started on the areas that had visible cracks, but then decided to do the whole couch, chair and ottoman.

I was surprised that this worked better than any commercial polish I’ve used in the past! Not only that, but it made the house smell really good! I woke up the next morning and could still smell the lemongrass, and my couch looked almost as good as new!

I used Organic Refined Coconut oil which you can find at most of your local stores alongside other cooking oils or in the health food aisle or on Amazon. You can also purchase a 1 0z. bottle of lemongrass here.

Supplies:

Container, coconut oil, lemon or lemongrass essential oil, microfiber towel

Note: If you plan on storing this for future use, I recommend a glass container with a lid.

*If you are looking for a monthly subscription of essential oils, along with recipes on how to use, supplies and more for only $39/mo I highly recommend Simply Earth Recipe Box Subscription. You can also receive a FREE $40 gift card after your first order when you use the link here and code: AMYBLAIRFREE (can cancel at anytime)