Leather furniture has such a rich and delightful vibe!
Stylish and luxurious, leather furniture is a classic element of upscale home décor – a symbol of elegance, sophistication, and timeless beauty. And this is only logical as leather couches and chairs are not only lovely and comfortable, but also quite valuable and long-lasting. In fact, leather pieces look even greater as they grow old – leather ages gracefully and acquires unique character over time. Yet, it is very susceptible to everyday accidents and may sustain a lot of damage, unless properly protected and cared for. Stains, cracks, tears, discolored spots, and/or flaky patches may appear over the years and make your leather furniture look dull and shabby, decreasing both its appeal and its value.
Fortunately, most of this damage can be easily reversed with the help of a few proven leather furniture restoration tricks – just keep in mind that the project will require plenty of time and patience on your part or, by preference, competent professional assistance. The results, however, will be worth it – your leather pieces will look brand new (and you will only spend a fraction of the money you’d pay for new leather products).
Here is what to do in order to restore worn out leather furniture to its original condition:
How to Remove Stains from Leather Furniture
Your first step to restoring the gorgeous look of a shabby leather piece is to clean it thoroughly and get rid of any stains that may mar the surface. Vacuum your couch or chair using the soft brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner and wipe the surfaces with a damp sponge. If the result is not satisfactory, apply a small amount of water-based leather cleaning product to the dirty area and use gentle, circular motions to clean the furniture. Rinse the spot with clean water several times as you do this, but be careful not to wet the leather too much. When ready, wipe the furniture dry with a clean, dye-free cloth. Then polish with a leather conditioner to restore the sheen and softness of the leather.
If any persistent stains remain, you’ll need a specialized leather stain remover (do not forget to test it on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t blemish or otherwise damage the delicate leather surface). Depending on the types of the stains, you may need different kinds of removal products:
Your comfy chair seems to have seen a lot of use…
- An all-purpose leather stain remover will help you get rid of stains from wine, juices, coffee and tea, as well as of dye transfers from clothing or cushions. Toothpaste may also do the trick – let it sit on the stain for 10-15 minutes, then clean with soapy water (use a mild, conditioning soap) or a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar;
- A special leather ink remover will be required for ink stains from markers, ball-point pens, or newsprint. Alternatively, you can put a small amount of alcohol on a cotton swab and gently dab the stain;
- A grease remover designed especially for leather products will work best for fat-based stains. It is also a good idea to sprinkle some cornstarch or baking soda on the spot and let it sit overnight, then vacuum the powder using the soft brush attachment of your cleaner.
Whatever stain remover you use, make sure you squirt only a small amount of it on a dye-free sponge and dab gently on the stain until the sponge absorbs it. When the stain is gone, apply a leather conditioner on your furniture to keep the leather supple and protected.
If a stain is very large or very difficult to remove, you’re strongly advised to call for professional help as a more rigorous stain removal process and re-dyeing may be needed. The professional leather furniture repair specialists will know what cleaning methods to use in order to safely remove the stains from your luxurious leather furniture and restore its original beauty.
How to Restore Faded Leather Furniture
Once your leather couch or chair is perfectly clean, you’ll be able to see its actual color – you may remember it was a deep maroon color when you purchased it several years ago, only to find it looking somewhat auburn now. If your furniture has begun to lose its color and/or develop discolored patches, you’ll have to find an efficient way to reverse the fading.
If the damage is not severe, conditioning the affected area may be enough – it will effectively re-darken the faded leather and allow it to blend with the rest of the furniture.
If this doesn’t work, you’ll have to apply a leather recoloring balm. Use a leather dye applicator sponge to spread the balm evenly across the affected area. Work slowly, with gentle circular movements and make certain the dye gets into all the cracks and wrinkles of the leather. Wait for 30 minutes and evaluate the result. You will most probably need to add another layer so that the color intensifies and matches the rest of the furniture.
Finding the right color to match your leather furniture is trickier than you may believe.
In fact, it is often a good idea to coat the entire piece in several light layers of dye (up to six for a rich, intense color), until the leather achieves the desired color. Allow it to dry for about 48 hours and if you’re happy with the result, buff the surface with a clean, dye-free cloth.
Good to remember: Restoring faded leather furniture is very tricky, as no two leather colors are exactly alike. The process is time-consuming and difficult, and may easily result in a two-toned couch if you don’t find the right color of leather dye to match your leather couch or chair or if you don’t apply the dye evenly. Therefore, professional help is highly recommended when it comes to restoring the color of leather furniture.
How to Restore Leather Furniture Scratches, Rips, and Tears
Leather is a high quality, durable material, but it is very prone to scratching – your pets’ teeth and claws or your kids’ toys may be the main causes of rips and tears on the delicate leather surface, but all kinds of sharp objects (keys, belt buckets, scissors, etc.) can also result in a scratch.
The good news is that most times the damage can be fixed. The process, however, requires a lot of time and effort:
1) If the tear is small and no stuffing is missing from inside the furniture, you can restore the damage quite easily – all you need to do is apply super glue (or leather glue) to the sides of the tear and press them together so that the leather is joined back with itself. Make sure you wipe away any excess glue before it dries completely.
2) If the tear is larger and/or some of the stuffing is missing, it will be much more difficult to restore your leather piece. You need to:
- Rub the surface around the rip with an abrasive pad to remove oils and finishes from the affected area;
- Carefully trim the frayed edges;
- Fill the hole:
– Use a palette knife to apply an even layer of suitable furniture filler across the hole. Wait for about twenty minutes until it dries, then add another layer (the filler will shrink as it dries and it may take a few layers to fill up the hole);
– You can also use a cotton batting slightly larger than the tear – press it into the hole with a toothpick, position it so that it evenly fills the empty space, and add some more, if necessary;
This is when you seriously need to consider professional leather furniture restoration services.
– If the torn area is very small, you can use cotton balls to fill the hole. Stretch and thin the cotton balls to smooth them out, then push them into the hole and align them with a toothpick;
- Cut a piece of sturdy fabric, so that the patch is at least half an inch larger than the tear in each direction. Use your tweezers to insert the patch into the hole and slide it around to position it so that it completely covers the tear from the inside;
- Put some leather glue between the patch and the torn edges of the rip. Use your tweezers to press the edges firmly in place until the glue dries;
- If necessary, use a very fine sandpaper to sand out the excess glue and remove any flakes or sticking leather edges;
- Restore the color of the repaired area as described above.
Keep in mind that the restoration process is very difficult and quite risky – a lot of things can go wrong and you may cause even greater damage to your cherished furniture. To avoid such undesirable occurrences and save yourself plenty of time, effort, and nerves, you’re recommended to call for professional assistance (especially for larger tears or rips). The experienced leather furniture repair specialists will restore your damaged leather pieces in the safest and most efficient way possible.
How to Fix Cracks
Cracks and creases develop on all leather furniture over time, but may appear very quickly (even after a few years) if the pieces are kept in warm, dry conditions, such as in direct sunlight or beside a fireplace. Unless addressed promptly and effectively, small cracks can become large rips and tears, so you’re strongly advised to fix them while they’re still tiny and easy to restore.
All you need to do when you notice cracks on your leather couch or chair is clean the area well and treat it with a specialized conditioner – the oils will penetrate the surface and moisturize the brittle leather, making it smooth and supple. Just make sure the conditioner seeps deep into the leather and leave it on overnight. In the morning, wipe the surface with a damp cloth and check for remaining cracks. If the leather is still dry in some places, repeat the process until you get the desired results.
If the cracks are deeper, you will need a special leather repair compound (you can find one in any leather repair kit):
Making such a worn out leather piece look like new again won’t be an easy task.
- Apply a thin coat of the compound to the damaged surface with the help of a palette knife;
- Let the repaired area dry completely and repeat the process up to four times – until you’re happy with the result;
- Rub the area with a lint-free cloth dampened in rubbing alcohol to even out any rough spots. If necessary, use a fine sandpaper to lightly sand the repaired area;
- Apply a light coat of appropriate leather dye and let it dry for 24 hours;
- Apply a leather conditioner to keep the leather soft and protected.
For better results, however, consider hiring professional furniture restoration services – especially if the damage is more extensive.
How to Smooth Flaky Leather
It is common for old leather furniture to begin flaking away with wear and tear. If it is just the finish that is chipping away, you can still save your cherished piece – sand away the flakes with a very fine sandpaper (be careful not to apply too much pressure while doing this as you may cause additional damage – you only want to remove the pieces that are already flaking), then apply leather dye to the uncolored surface and condition the leather.
If it is a bonded leather couch or chair that is flaking, however, your only viable option is to have the furniture professionally refinished.
All in all, restoring leather furniture is a time-consuming and tricky process that is better left to the professionals. You can fix some minor damage yourself, but the experts will do a better job and will ensure the long life of your gorgeous leather pieces.
