Leather furniture adds some elegance and class to a room. It is so cozy and comfortable sitting or lying on a leather couch. However, after several years of giving you excellent services, the leather furniture will wear out. It will lose its color, develop cracks and wrinkles. All its glory will be lost. At this point, you start researching on how to restore leather furniture. It is not an easy process, but it is worth the time and effort.
When you start noticing color coming off your leather couch, know it is time to take action. Find a good quality leather restoration kit in your local market. It is an affordable remedy you can take instead of buying a new couch. The steps to restoring old leather are easy. However, you should be careful not to destroy your furniture in the process.
How to restore leather furniture; A Step by Step Guide
The steps you will take to restore your leather furniture depend on the extent of the damage. Leather will need restoration when it discolors, has minor cracks or experience deep cuts. There are different steps to take on each type of restoration. Below are the details to handle each situation.
How to Fix Leather Couch Discoloration
The following simple steps will give your leather couch new glory
1. Cleaning the Leather
Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up all the crumbs and dirt in crevices and curves. Wipe the leather surface using a lint-free cloth. When the leather is free from loose dirt, dilute the vinegar with an equal part of water and wipe the leather. Add some soap to the mixture. When the sofa is clean, rinse it with cloth dipped in clean, warm water. Dry with a microfiber cloth.
Read: Best Ways to Clean a Leather Couch At Home
2. Prep the Leather
Assess the condition of your leather. Use an abrasive pad or a lint-free cloth to apply the best leather prep. However, you should not use an abrasive pad on cracked leather. Let the product sit for about 30 minutes.
3. Bind the Leather
Use a foam sponge to apply a leather binder all over the leather surface. Wipe excess product along seams and crevices. Repeat the process five times, allowing the binder to dry after every application.
4. Colorant and Finish
Use a soft sponge to rub in colorant to your leather furniture. Rub more product to the crevices. Leave the colorant to dry or cure it with a hairdryer. Apply several thin layers of leather cream to seal the color. The cream also moisturizes and protects the leather from damage.
How to Restore Cracked Leather Couch
When you need to repair a leather sofa, you can renew it to its original state. It does not matter if it has a minor crack or deep cuts. With the right tools, you can repair any damage to your leather. The following steps will help you in restoring old leather.
Repairing minor cracks
Clean the area with alcohol. Use a soft cloth to prevent further damage. The alcohol helps rid all dirt and grease in the affected area. Wipe away any excess alcohol as it damages leather. If your leather is of suede or nubuck design, use vinegar in place of alcohol
Apply super glue on the underside of a flap on genuine leather, in the case of suede or nubuck, use the glue compatible with the material. Use a toothpick or a needle to apply. Reattach the flap before the glue dries out.
If any glue pops on the surface, use wet sandpaper for sanding it before it dries. The movement of the sanding should be along the grain. The wet glue will cover the area and leave a smooth surface.
Apply dye on your couch to acquire a uniform color. Leave the dye to dry for about 30 minutes. Ensure you countercheck whether the dye is suitable for your leather. You can repeat the process from sanding until you are satisfied with the outcome.
Use a leather cream to finish the process. The outcome should be smooth and shiny leather, just as when it was new. Leave your leather furniture for about one hour so that the glue can dry. Some people use heat to dry. But you should be cautious because heat can damage leather.
How to Repair Deep Cuts and tears on a Leather Furniture
However, careful you are, it is impossible to monitor kids at all times. Thus, it is possible to have deep cuts and massive tears on your leather furniture. In such an event, you can take your item to the furniture clinic. However, you can become the best leather restorer if you follow these simple steps.
- If the substrates are exposed, you need to patch the area. Purchase a leather restoration kit. That way, you will get a sub patch together with other repair tools. However, if you are on a tight budget, use a sturdy fabric or a piece of leather as a sub patch.
- Using a pair of tweezers, squeeze the sub patch inside the hole. Carefully cover the hole with the patch. Ensure it sits smoothly beneath the leather.
- Apply leather glue on the underside of the hole. Use a needle or a toothpick to avoid wasting the glue. The toothpick will help you spread the glue on all areas where the leather will touch the sub patch. Pull the flap to the middle of the to close the hole.
- Use a heavy flat object to apply even pressure on the patched area. Avoid using heat to hasten the drying process.
- Use a leather cleaner or alcohol to clean the area. If you have any lose fiber, trim it away.
- Use a spatula to apply leather filler on the gap. Smooth out the filler and scoop out any excess product.
- Leave the filler to dry. Repeat the filling process if it is necessary.
- Dye the repaired part to match the sofa. If you need to restore the rest of the seat, you can follow the steps we gave you earlier.
How to Restore Black Leather
As you already know, the leather that makes furniture is similar to that of waterproof leather boots. Thus, you should avoid anything that would cause water damage on a leather couch.
Use the steps above to restore a leather couch. Use the best leather dye to ensure your black leather is safe from chemical damage. Use a soft cotton cloth to apply the dye. In case it has any damage, apply the steps given in this article to repair it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I restore my leather sofa naturally?
Leather furniture is quite expensive. Hence, everyone wishes to own it for the longest time. Various restoration kits in the market are made of synthetic materials. It is a concern to many since leather, as a natural material, is very delicate.
There are several natural options. Most of the natural products are DIY and readily available. For instance, you can make a homemade conditioner using beeswax, baby conditioner, and lemon essential oil. Alternatively, you can use vinegar, olive oil, and essential oil of your choice.
Treating your leather with the natural product helps to prolong its lifetime. It will also gain moisture and keep its luster. The natural products do not fade the color of the leather.
How can I restore the color to my leather sofa?
The most important thing you should know is the type of leather on your sofa. Different leather types require different steps to restore their hue.
Pour a few drops of water on the undamaged area to determine if the leather is absorbent. Well, absorbent leather will not require finishing. But you should select the right hue of colorant. Apply the dye on the sofa using a soft cloth. Follow the dye manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Some leather sofas do not require a dye. Maybe the cause of discoloration is drying out of the leather. Such a leather requires moisturizing and polishing and boom, the color is back.
Can worn leather be restored?
It will depend on the kind of wear. When the leather is worn to a small degree, you can easily restore it. You can even repair minor cracks in a few simple steps. However, the ware degree is so massive; it may be impossible to restore the leather. But you do not need to throw away the whole furniture; you can replace the leather cover on your old furniture.
After you assess the extent of the wear, you can determine the steps to take. Take every precautionary measure to avoid further damage. Use a high-quality leather restoration kit. If you can make DIY leather cleaners and conditioners, you can save on money and protect your leather from chemical damage.
How do you repair damaged leather furniture?
A leather restoration kit will help you in restoring old leather. Clean the damaged area with alcohol or dilute vinegar. Use glue or seal the hole. If the hole is massive, use a leather patch or a strong fabric to stuff the hole.
With the help of a needle or a toothpick, spread the glue on the patch and lay the flap on the patch. Fill the patch with a leather filler and trim excess fabric. Sand any excess glue to create a smooth surface. Wipe any residue from the sanding process. Dye the patch area to resemble the rest of the sofa. Finish the sofa with a leather cream.
What household items can restore leather?
You do not need a synthetic product to restore your leather. There are several products in the house you can use to restore and cure leather.
Vinegar and alcohol are essential in cleaning grease and wax from the leather. After cleaning, apply some olive oil to seal in the moisture restore the luster.
Instead of using expensive leather cleaners, you can squint some dish soap in warm water and use it as a cleaner. Lemon juice lightens stains on bright colored leather. Other home products you can use include bee wax, baby conditioner, hair spray, and coconut oil conditioner.
How To Restore Leather Furniture Video
Final Words
There’s much information on how to restore leather furniture. However, you should be keen to filter out the useful information in the sea of false information. When we realized the fallacy, we got an idea to give you reliable information to ensure you protect your leather.
The steps you have read above will make you one of the best leather restorer. You can even make it a side hustle by offering your excellent services to your neighbors and friends.