Clorox Wipes are a household staple that many people keep on hand for cleaning and disinfecting, but do they work on faux leather?
You can use Clorox wipes to clean or disinfect your faux leather items. Faux leather is non-porous and is resistant to harsh cleaning agents and disinfecting ingredients in the Clorox wipes.
Faux leather also marketed as vegan, leatherette, PU leather, fake leather, or pleather is made up of a man-made material that is made to look like real leather.
Some of these man-made materials include polyvinyl chloride or polyurethane, which are both resistant to stains and discoloration at the same time make the faux leather non-porous.
However, if stains do happen, you can use any alcohol or ammonia-based wipes or solution to clean them without any harm to the faux leather.
In some cases, faux leather will be given an additional coating of polyurethane which then gives the faux leather an additional layer of resistance to harsh chemicals. As a result, alcohol-based wipes like Clorox doesn’t have the same drying effect as it does on real leather.
A lot of people are alarmed when it comes to using Clorox wipes on their faux leather items because they usually think Clorox wipes are designed to clean dirt from non-porous surfaces, so it might seem like the answer is no.
With that said, you will be able to wipe down your faux leather with Clorox wipes with almost no issues. As for disinfecting, you can use Clorox wipes or any other antibacterial solution on your faux leather items.
In most cases, a wipe or cloth with antibacterial solution will do just fine on your faux leather item.
However, if you want to make sure that all bacteria is killed and removed from the surface of your faux leather items then you can allow the antibacterial solution to sit on it for about five minutes before wiping away.
After you have wiped down your faux leather items, you will want to make sure that you let them air dry before you use or wear them again.
The only catch is you need to take a few things into consideration before you start wiping down your faux leather product.
Things To Consider Before Using Clorox On Faux Leather
First, consider testing a very small area of your faux leather and make sure it is colorfast. If the wipe leaves any kind of mark or discoloration, you cannot use it on the affected area.
Secondly, you will want to avoid using Clorox wipes on items that have a special coating on them. This is because the cleaners in Clorox wipes are strong enough to remove that protective coating, which then allows water and germs to get through.
In addition, you will want to avoid using Clorox wipes on faux leather that have especially been made porous because it might cause the pores or perforations to expand and absorb more liquid than they can handle.
Last but not least, consider looking at the color of your faux leather before you wipe down the item.
If your faux leather is dark or black, it will be more susceptible to any staining that might occur as a result of Clorox wipes.
All in all, if your faux leather is colorfast, clean a small patch with Clorox Wipes. Let the area dry completely before moving on to another test spot if you notice any discoloration or an altered texture after cleaning, do not use Clorox Wipes on your faux leather.
If the area that you tested is still in good shape, spray a very small amount of water on the faux leather. Then, clean it with a Clorox wipe to see if there are any problems with colorfastness or discoloration.
If the wipe leaves no mark or discolor, then you can use it on your faux leather furniture without worry.
How To Clean Faux Leather With Clorox Wipes
Cleaning faux leather items with Clorox wipes is so easy you can use the steps I’m going to show you to teach your kids how to clean faux leather.
Step 1:
- Start by dusting off any dust, debris, or dirt on the surface of your faux leather.
Step 2:
- After you have dusted off the faux leather, put some clean water into a spray bottle.
- Then spray a small amount of the water onto the surface of your faux leather to get it a little damp.
Step 3:
- Then, take a Clorox wipe and use it to clean off any stains, dirt, or spills on the surface of your faux leather.
Step 4:
- Use a water damp microfiber cloth to wipe over the surface of your faux leather to remove any excess Clorox wipes residue.
Step 5:
- Finally, use a dry microfiber cloth to finish by wiping away any excess moisture left on the surface of your faux leather.
Possible Side Effects of Using Clorox Wipes on Faux Leather
May Remove Colorfastness
One of the common things that I have seen people complain about when they use Clorox wipes on some types of faux leather furniture is that the color of their item seems to be a bit affected.
In some cases, people have noticed that after using a Clorox wipe on a particular faux leather piece that it leaves behind a ring where the cleaner was applied.
In other cases, people have noticed that their faux leather item has become discolored.
While this is possible in low-quality faux leather goods, it is usually unlikely on items that have been created with high-quality materials.
Might Remove Protective Coating on Faux Leather
Using wipes can also remove any protective coating on the surface of faux leather.
In some cases, using wipes like the one from Clorox or Lysol to clean a faux leather item will remove a wax-type coating that is applied to some faux leather items before they are sold.
This can cause the surface of your item to become somewhat porous and absorb liquid, which can cause problems in the future.
May Stain Dark Or Black Faux Leather
If you are thinking about cleaning faux leather furniture with wipes, consider the color of your item first.
I have personally seen situations where you use wipes to clean dark color faux leather and you see some color being transferred onto the wipes.
In this case, it means the ammonia or alcohol in the wipes has reacted with the dye used to create a dark color faux leather.
May Leave A Residue If Not Wiped Properly
When you use Clorox wipes on the surface of your faux leather and you do not use a dry cloth to wipe away excess Clorox wipes residue, you are bound to have small water ripples or streaks on the surface of your faux leather.
In more severe cases, where if you do not wipe off any residue from wipes completely, it can leave behind a sticky film that is difficult to remove. So you need to thoroughly wipe away any excess wipes residue for best results.
I have seen situations where people use Clorox or Lysol wipes to clean their faux leather items, but the wipes are not completely removed from the surface of their faux leather. This over a period of time leaves behind a sticky film that is difficult to remove.
Possible Allergic Reactions To Chemicals In Clorox Wipes
This last side effect is more of a concern if you are cleaning items around your children, pets, or people with allergies.
Clorox wipes contain chemicals like ammonia which some people can have a reaction to.
In some cases, if someone has an allergy or sensitivity to the chemicals found in wipes it might cause a breakout on the skin of that person.
In other cases, using wipes like Clorox or Lysol can cause an allergic reaction in some people, if they touch the chemicals left behind on your faux leather item.
Tips For Cleaning Faux Leather With Clorox Wipes
- Always start by testing out the wipes on an inconspicuous area of the faux leather
- Always clean dirt, dust, or debris build up on the surface of the faux leather before you wipe it down with Clorox wipes
- If you clean your faux leather furniture with bleach or chlorine products, always follow up with a microfiber cloth to wipe away any excess chemicals.
- If you do decide to use Clorox wipes, always remember that they can leave behind a residue or discoloration on dark-colored faux leather.
- If you are worried about allergies, submerge the wipes in warm water, wring it out before wiping the surface of your faux leather item.
- If you do decide to use wipes, try and find a brand that is free of harmful chemicals like chlorine bleach or ammonia.
- Remember the last few wipes in the package will have a lot more chemicals or will be a lot wet than those that were on top so you always want to wring out any excess liquid before using a wipe.
- Last but not least, never use Clorox wipes on real leather or suede items because they can cause discoloration and damage to those items. So be sure your faux leather item is indeed faux leather.