Various types of faux leather have become popular for furniture. It’s just as attractive as leather but doesn’t come with quite as steep of a price tag. Of course, you want to keep it well maintained. So, how do you condition it? We’ve gathered information on the top leather conditioners on the market and have it for you here.
The best faux leather conditioners are:
- Leather Honey
- TriNova
- Rejuvenate
- Colourlock
- Lexol Protectant
- Mothers VLR
- Interior Defense
- Rejuvenate Marine
We’ll look at each of these products and what they do. We’ll also talk about how to condition a faux leather couch, if you can use coconut oil on faux leather, and if you can use a real leather conditioner on faux leather. So please, keep reading.
Eight Best Faux Leather Conditioners
Faux leather goes under a variety of different names. There’s vinyl, pleather, PU leather, and vegan leather. There’s also bonded leather which is kind of a hybrid between faux leather and real leather. But all of these fabrics need some conditioning over time to keep them supple and pliable for use in furniture. Let’s look at each product.
Leather Honey
Leather Honey has been around since 1968. It penetrates deep to protect new leather, rejuvenate dry leather and old leather, and even works on vinyl products. This non-toxic leather conditioner has no silicone, solvents, or animal products. It’s not sticky and is completely odorless. It works to soften and promote the flexibility of your faux leather products. And it can also be used on everything from auto interiors to furniture to clothing.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
TriNova
This product is a cleaner and conditioner all-in-one. It soaks deeply and quickly into your vinyl and faux leather. This enables it to condition and restore your faux leather quickly. The compound in this cleaner and conditioner effectively lifts dirt and grime from your faux leather goods, clearing away mild stains.
As it works, it also provides the moisture your products need to prevent cracking and fading, keeping them looking like new for years to come. Use it on purses, car interiors, furniture, clothing, and more.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
Rejuvenate
This product reconditions all vinyl and leather products. Safely rehydrate, restore, and protect leather and vinyl upholstery, apparel, and accessories with this versatile formula. It has a fresh, clean scent and does not leave an oily residue. It adds back suppleness to your leather, faux leather, vegan leather, pleather, and vinyl. Use it with a microfiber buffer or rag to bring your faux leather up to a healthy shine.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
Colourlock
PU leather relies on its polyurethane coating for stability. This makes the leather feel colder than real leather and more likely to stick to the skin. This coating requires special care – normal leather care products may not penetrate into the coating while the classic wax and oil treatments may cause damage and build-up.
PU leather can easily crack, which is why it needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly. Use a lint-free dry or slightly damp cloth to dust the surface. Then, every 3 to 6 months, apply Colourlock PU Protector gently with a soft cloth.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
Lexol Protectant
Lexol Vinylex Protectant cleans, conditions, protects, and renews vinyl, rubber, and plastic without leaving an excessively greasy look or feel. Ultraviolet sunscreen protects against fading, cracking, or drying caused by age, environmental pollution, and the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Apply this product with a Lexol Applicator Sponge or soft, 100% cotton cloth. Then allow it to penetrate the vinyl for 10-15 minutes and then buff off the excess with another soft, 100% cotton cloth. It leaves a satin finish without greasiness and does not contain raw silicone oil.
Mothers VLR
Mothers VLR quickly and easily cleans, conditions, and protects a wide variety of vinyl, leather, and rubber surfaces. This pro-strength, pH balanced formula safely cleans even the most stubborn ground-in dirt, soil, and stains. It’s infused with neat’s-foot oil and lanolin. This all-in-one blend conditions and protects against drying, fading and cracking, in one simple easy step.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
Interior Defense
This product is designed for the faux leather and vinyl used in car interiors but can be used for other purposes as well. This potent formula is specially designed as a sun protector to prevent premature aging, drying, and cracking of your dashboard and car interior, while providing maximum sun protection. It would be good for any sort of faux leather furniture used near a bright sunny window.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
Rejuvenate Marine
This conditioner is marketed with the boat in mind. Use it on your boat’s faux leather upholstery to keep it looking supple and new. The conditioner has a subtle, natural fragrance and keeps your boat, car, or household leather and vinyl soft, lustrous, and supple. This conditioner creates a protective barrier preventing stains from being absorbed deep into the surface. Just spray it on, rub it, and let dry – it’s that simple.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
How Do You Condition A Faux Leather Couch?
The first step to keeping your faux leather couch nice is to keep it clean. By freeing it of dirt, dust, and grime, you’ll keep the surface in great shape for much longer than letting it get dirty. Vacuum it regularly, including under the cushions. Then use a mild soap and water, a dust cloth like a Swiffer, or simply a damp cloth, to wipe up any dirt. There are faux leather cleaners available for tougher stains.
This cleaner is made by the same maker of the popular Leather Honey conditioner.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
If your faux leather couch is starting to get brittle or gets some scratches, then choose one of the conditioners listed above in the post. Follow instructions for each individual conditioner, however, they all pretty much just need to be rubbed into the surface of the sofa.
This PU leather sofa is in the classic Chesterfield rolled arm style. But the synthetic leather gives it a much better price tag than the same style sofa in leather.
Click here for this sofa on Amazon.
Can You Use Coconut Oil On Faux Leather?
Coconut oil is a natural oil that is used for everything from hair care to internal medicine. But can you use it to condition faux leather? You can, with a few conditions. Because faux leather isn’t porous, solid coconut oil is just going to glob on the surface. However, if you melt the coconut oil and use it sparingly, in liquid form, it will work on your faux leather.
Simply wipe on a very thin layer of liquid coconut oil to help keep faux leather supple. Be aware that coconut oil does have a distinct smell which you may, or may not, enjoy for your couch.
Can You Use Leather Conditioner On Faux Leather?
There are some leather conditioners that work on both leather and vinyl. In our list above, Leather Honey and Rejuvenate, are made for both. In the world of faux leathers, there’s one type, called bonded leather, which is a bit of a combination. Bonded leather utilizes ground-up leather, which is then sprayed onto a polyurethane fabric backing. It looks very much like real leather at a fraction of the cost.
For bonded leather, it’s actually recommended that you use an actual leather conditioner to keep it supple, scratch-free, and free of cracks and wear.
This Weiman leather conditioner is non-toxic and easy to use for keeping bonded leather conditioned.
Click here for this product on Amazon.
There’s No Faking A Well-Maintained Faux Leather
Keeping your faux leather furnishings beautiful and well-maintained is one step toward keeping a beautiful home. The great news is that it’s easy to do when you have the right tools and products. Choose the product that’s best for you and put the conditioning on your home maintenance calendar to keep up with it.