The idea of cleaning leather with shaving cream might seem like a great way to save money, but does it really work? This article will answer that question and provide you with some pros and cons of using shaving cream to clean your leather.
When it comes to cleaning leather, there are a lot of different methods that you can use. Shaving cream contains glycerin, lanolin, and other cleaning and moisturizing agent that can help clean and soften your leather items. All you do is spray it on a damp microfiber cloth and wipe the leather.
Using shaving cream is safe for all types of leather, but it might not be the best solution if your item is very dirty or stained. In that case, you might want to try a more powerful cleaner like saddle soap or mild dish soap.
In the rest of this article, I will go ahead and share with you a few more of the pros and cons of cleaning your leather items with shaving cream among other important information.
The Pros Of Using Shaving Cream To Clean Leather
There are a lot of benefits to using shaving cream to clean your leather items. Here are just a few of them:
1. Shaving Cream Can Be Used On All Smooth Leathers
One of the first advantages of using shaving cream to clean your leather is that it can be used on all smooth leathers. This means that it can help clean your shoes, bags, jackets, and more without any problems or damaging the material.
This is because all shaving creams are made up of cleaning mild ingredients that will not harm your leather. They are also safe to use on a variety of other materials, making them the perfect all-purpose cleaner.
So whether you have a dark-colored or a light-colored leather item, shaving cream will work for you. It can also work on all types of leather including faux leather, suede, and nubuck leather – which often tend to be some of the most sensitive leathers.
2. Shaving Cream Won’t Damage The Color or Texture of Leather
Again, due to the mild ingredients that are found in shaving cream, it won’t damage the color or texture of leather.
Usually, a lot of the home remedies used to clean leather surfaces can end up damaging the color or texture of the material.
This is because they are often made up of harsh chemicals that can strip away the natural oils from leather, leading to a dry and cracked surface.
Shaving cream, on the other hand, contains none of these harmful chemicals. So you can use it without any worries about damaging your leather items.
This is particularly great for those who have dark-colored leather items as you won’t run the risk of lightening your item after cleaning with shaving cream.
3. Shaving Cream Removes Stains From Leather
You can also use shaving cream to clean away any stains that might be on your leather item. Shaving cream is a great way to clean up small stains or marks on your leather without using harsh chemicals.
The shaving cream will help break down the dirt and oils that are causing the stain, making it easier to remove.
Just make sure to saturate the area with shaving cream and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a clean cloth.
You might need to do this a few times before you get rid of the stain completely. Also, do make sure to test the shaving cream you have on a small, hidden area of your leather first to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage.
4. Shaving Cream Leaves Behind A Light Neutral Scent On Leather
Another awesome benefit to using shaving cream to clean leather items like jackets, bags, etc is that it leaves behind a light neutral scent.
This means that your leather won’t smell like the shaving cream itself, but rather it will have a fresh and clean scent to it.
Many people find this to be much more preferable than using other methods of cleaning their leather items which often leave behind a harsh or unpleasant odor.
Usually, what you want is for your leather to have a rich leathery smell, not a chemical or soapy smell.
So this is another big advantage to using shaving cream as one of your go-to cleaners for leather items if you do not have a cleaner made exclusively for leather goods.
5. Shaving Cream Can Soften Leather
Shaving cream does not only clean your leather but can also be used to soften it. If you have a brand new leather boot, bag, etc, that is a bit stiff, you can use shaving cream to help break in the leather and soften it up.
We all know how important it is to break in leather items like jackets and shoes as this is the only way you get to use the leather item a lot more comfortably without having to worry about it stretching or tearing.
Just make sure to apply a generous amount of shaving cream to the leather surface and let it sit for a few hours before wiping it off with a clean cloth. You should see a difference in how soft the leather is after doing this.
Shaving cream is also particularly great for those who have dry leather surfaces which are always much harder to clean.
Again, the shaving cream will work to break down any dirt or oils on your item that are making it feel a bit stiffer.
6. Shaving Cream Is Affordable
Shaving cream is affordable and easy to find. This is large because chances are you might already have one in your home.
The shaving cream you or your partner uses on a daily basis can be used to clean and soften leather so there is no need to go out and buy another product specifically for this.
Not only that, but the ingredients in shaving cream are very gentle so they won’t bother sensitive skin or cause any irritation when cleaning your leather.
This is why shaving cream stands out as one of the best cleaning alternatives for leather goods.
So there you have it – five great reasons you can use shaving cream to clean your leather items. Not only is it a more gentle and safer option than other harsh chemicals, but it’s also very effective in removing dirt, stains, and smells
So there you have it – five great reasons you can use shaving cream to clean your leather items. Not only is it a more gentle and safer option than other harsh chemicals, but it’s also very effective in removing dirt, stains, and smells.
But before you ahead and give it a try the next time you need to clean your leather, let’s take a look at some of the main downsides of using shaving cream as your go-to leather cleaner.
The Cons Of Using Shaving Cream To Clean Leather
There are some potential problems with cleaning your leather items with shaving cream;
1. Can Be Messy To Use On Large Leather Pieces
One of the first downsides to using shaving cream is that it can be a bit messy to use. This is because you need to apply a generous amount of the cream in order for it to work its magic and break down any dirt or oils on the surface of your leather item.
If you are cleaning a large piece of leather like a leather couch, jacket, bag, etc, it can be a bit difficult to get the shaving cream to all the right places.
You might find that you are left with white residue or streaks on your leather item if you’re not careful.
The best way around this is to visually divide the item into sections and clean each section before moving onto the next.
This will help to ensure that the shaving cream is evenly distributed and you won’t have any streaks or residue left behind.
2. Leaves Behind A Bit Of Residue
If you do not take your time to clean or wipe the leather surface after applying the shaving cream, you will likely be left with a bit of residue.
This is because the shaving cream contains oils and other ingredients that can leave your leather item feeling a bit greasy or oily.
While this might not be a big deal for some, others might not like the feel of an oily leather surface.
It’s important to note that this residue will eventually disappear over time, but if you’re looking for a quick and easy clean without any trace of soap residue, you might want to consider an alternative cleaning method.
One way that can help avoid this problem is by removing any excess shaving cream before it has a chance to dry on your leather item.
Grab a clean cloth and wipe over the surface of your leather item after applying the shaving cream. This will remove most if not all of the shaving creams and leave you with a clean leather surface.
3. Doesn’t Do Well With Tough Stains
In some cases, using shaving cream will not be able to get rid of tough stains on your leather items.
For example, if you have a stain that has seeped into the pores of the leather and becomes stuck there, it might be difficult for shaving cream to penetrate this type of stain.
Also, if you have distressed leather items like some boots and purses, shaving cream might not work as well because it is not as effective on distressed leather surfaces.
In these cases, using another cleaning solution such as diluted dish soap or saddle soap is likely going to work better.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are a ton of benefits to using shaving cream to clean your leather items – from the color and texture of the material to removing stains and leaving behind a light neutral scent.
So if you’re not concerned about the downsides of using shaving cream, then it’s definitely worth a shot when you need to clean your leather and you do not have any specialized leather cleaners on hand.
But, if you are concerned about the downsides of using shaving cream to clean your leather or have particular stains that are proving difficult for this method to remove, then it might be a good idea to try out some other cleaning solutions instead.
For example, diluted dish soap is an effective solution for breaking down dirt and oils, while saddle soap is great for cleaning distressed leather items.
In conclusion, shaving cream can be a great way to clean your leather items – but it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides before you start using it. If you experience any of these issues, try out one of the other cleaning solutions mentioned in this article.