If you own leather, you probably already know about the need to keep it moist and supple. You can either purchase expensive leather treatments, and some might even be suggested at the time of purchase.
But cooking oils can serve as a useful alternative to expensive treatments. Olive oil is a well-known one. But what about coconut oil? Can you use coconut oil — a low-smokepoint oil — to achieve the same results?
We took a look at it and put what we learned in this article. We hope that it answers a lot of your questions and that you find a lot of value in it.
In This Article We'll Discuss
Can you use Coconut oil on Leather?
While you can pay a lot of money for specialized leather treatments, coconut oil is a great alternative even if just as a stop-gap solution.
One of the best things about it is that since it is a solid at room temperature that you can wield greater control over just where you rub it in. An oil that is liquid at room temperature is harder to control because of the nature of liquids versus solids.
A couple of things coconut oil has going for it is that if you do a lot of cooking, you probably already have it in your home. It’s also relatively cheap. Just pull it from the pantry and you’re ready to go.
It’s got its drawbacks, too. It can darken leather that is light in color. While that might help give leather a rich coloring, it it’s just part of the leather it will create a discoloration problem.
It can also become a solid at cooler temperatures, so watch how much you apply. If you use just a little bit, it won’t be a problem. The great part about it being a solid is that it’s easier to control how much you use.
Will Coconut Oil Soften Leather?
Coconut oil is used as a base in home skin softening treatments, so it makes sense that it would work to soften leather, which is animal skin.
In fact, it’s a pretty popular alternative to expensive store-bought treatments.
In addition, coconut oil is also inexpensive and can create a waterproof layer to your leather. So, it not moisturizes but protects from damaging moisture.
One thing to be aware of is that coconut oil will darken whatever leather you’re working on. It isn’t nearly as noticeable if the leather is dark in color, but if you want to use it we’d recommend using it on a hidden little corner first to make sure you approve of the results.
If your leather is lighter in color and you are happy with it that way, we’d suggest not using it. If your leather piece is large, you might also wish to consider whether you use coconut oil or something that won’t commit you to a lot of hours of work.
Will Coconut Oil Darken Leather?
Coconut oil can definitely darken leather. It isn’t a given that it will do that with leather that is already dark, but if you have leather that is lighter in color it is an issue.
Whether it will darken your leather also depends on how many layers of coconut oil you use. The more layers, the darker it will turn your leather. Of course, the darker your leather was to begin with and the less oil you use, the less a chance it will darken it.
Of course, that can also provide a guide if you want to get your leather furniture or clothing a darker color. Wipe in a layer of coconut oil and then repeat later.
If you do it this way, we’d recommend waiting a few hours between layers. That will ensure that you can get even coloring. It will also make sure that the oil has a chance to dry between uses. Too much oil all at once might not soak it, and you might wind up with rancid oil on your leather.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention the scent. Coconut oil has a scent to it that admittedly is rather pleasing. It’s one reason people use it to condition their skin. You might not necessarily want that for your furniture or clothing.
Can you use Coconut Oil on a Leather Couch?
If you can use oil on your skin, you can use it on your leather clothing. If you can use coconut oil on your leather clothing, you can use it on your leather couch.
The most important thing to remember is that your couch is big. If you go this route, you’ll have an awful lot of work to do.
Coconut oil is especially effective as a leather conditioning alternative to flaxseed oil. That means you can use it to help repair your leather couch and restore its original appearance.
The first step is to clean the couch with a mixture of vinegar and water. Allow it to dry completely before applying the oil.
If you are working at standard room temperature or just a little warmer, the oil will be a solid. This will help you control how much you apply much better than if it is in its liquid form.
Rub it in even layers using a clean rag and don’t use any ambient heat, which might raise the oil’s temperature and convert it to a liquid. That could lead to overapplication.
Conclusion
Coconut oil is often used as part of a skin conditioning treatment, so it makes a lot of sense that you can use it to condition your leather clothing and furniture. It not only helps moisten it, but it can also be part of a strategy to repair and restore cracked leather.
We hope you found a good deal of value in this article and that it answered your questions. If it did, we’d love for you to leave a comment below. Or a tip of your own, if you have one. You can also share it on your social media networks.