Leather Honey Leather Cleaner Review: Effective and Gentle Cleaner That Adds UV Protection

Per Leather Honey’s website, “Leather Honey was invented in the early 1960s when a retired chemist met with businessman Daniel McGowen, who had recently taken over his father-in-law’s Philadelphia-based manufacturing company.” The two created the original formula for the cleaner and the conditioner and found it very effective at preserving leather. An early test on the soles of postal carriers’ shoes showed that those treated with Leather lasted twice as long as those that were unprotected. Leather Honey makes cleaners and conditioners for leather products, including the Leather Honey Leather Cleaner we received for review.

The products were sold as “Sole Dip” to several large shoe manufacturers in Philadelphia, but the invention of synthetic soles thwarted the company’s expansion efforts. The product was reborn in 1972 by McGowen’s son, Jim, who sold it to maintain harnesses, saddles, and other equipment as “Harness Honey.”

Jim McGowan and his son relaunched the product for use on all leather products in 2010, and since then, the cleaner and conditioner has become the #1 best-selling cleaner on Amazon.

The newest formula of the Leather Honey Leather Cleaner is non-toxic and safe to use on all leather, vinyl, plastic, and faux leather products. The only leather that it is not recommended for is suede.

The cleaner not only cleans and restores but it now also includes UV protection; this is especially valuable on car interiors that can be left to bake in the sun for hours at a time.

I tried Leather Honey Leather Cleaner on many different types of real leather items, including boots, bags, car seats, and other interior items made of leather, such as gear shift knobs and hand rests. I found it to be excellent at removing the gummy buildup that can make these items feel sticky and less than desirable to touch.

Leather Honey Leather Cleaner is engineered to be gentle, and there are limitations to what it can remove. I have two cars with light-colored leather interiors that tend to darken and discolor from the dyes in blue and black colored denim.

I tried using Leather Honey Leather Cleaner on these types of stains and found that it did not do much to remove them. In all fairness, I had read that these stains are easily removed using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser but found that these did not work either.

Apparently, the answer is soaking affected areas in a general-purpose cleaner, letting it soak in, and then cleaning it with a rotating brush on a power drill. You may then need to follow up with steam and then conditioning, but I have yet to try this more aggressive approach.

Using the Leather Honey Leather Cleaner is very simple. The spray bottle delivers very controllable amounts, and when used with microfiber lint-free cloths, the process goes quickly. You simply apply the cleaner, let it dry, and then wipe the item down.

For real leather products, it is best to follow up with their leather conditioner, which I hope to try soon.

Leather Honey Leather Cleaner easily removes surface dirt and conditions the leather on boots and shoes. The cleaner is not shoe polish. It will not restore scuffs and the like. However, it is great for cleaning shoes prior to polishing.

Using the cleaner on leather bags is very similar to that of boots and shoes in that it cleans and provides protection without changing the look of the leather.

With regard to furniture, I found that I could easily and quickly clean it while providing the same UV protection, making the leather regain some of its original surface tautness.

The cleaner seemed to lessen these effects on a leather sofa and side chair, where areas of more sustained use have caused undulations over time. I’m curious to see if this effect could be reduced further with continued use and follow-up with the leather conditioner.

In my tests with the 16-ounce spray bottle, after cleaning several pairs of shoes and boots, the interiors of two cars, a leather sofa and side chair, and a few other small items, I found that I had used less than a fifth of it.

In fact, the manufacturer’s directions for the product’s use state not to oversaturate surfaces. In my tests, this was confirmed not to be necessary; a little goes a long way.

My favorite use for the leather cleaner was a bit unexpected.

My iPad has an Apple Smart Cover with a dyed leather exterior. As it is carried by hand most of the day, oils from your hands attract dirt and stick to the surface, resulting in a sticky and stained case.

A quick spray and wipe with the Leather Honey cleaner restored the surface to like-new condition.

Would I recommend Leather Honey Leather Cleaner? Yes. It’s simple and quick to use, very effective at cleaning and restoring a wide variety of leather, vinyl, and plastic products, and is gentle enough to use often.

The ingredients are non-toxic, free of harmful chemicals, and free of common allergens, including nut and seed oils and animal products, including honey. It is safe for families, children, and pets.

Leather Honey Leather Cleaner is not a cure-all for every type of stain, but that is not its aim. In typical use, I am confident in the manufacturer’s claim of an increased lifespan of the leather products on which it is used. I am sure that this is even truer when combined with the Leather Honey Leather Conditioner.

The Leather Honey Leather Cleaner 16oz Spray Bottle with UV Protectant sells for $29.99; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Price is reasonable; Easy to use; Effective cleaning; Added UV protection

What Needs Improvement: It’s not a cure-all for some stains on leather, but it also doesn’t claim to be