How to Dye Pleather

Pleather is an alternative to leather.

Pleather is an artificial type of leather made out of plastic. It is similar in looks to leather, but does not involve the killing of animals to make. This allows it to be a trendy alternative to leather. Pleather is easy to clean and can also be dyed to a particular color. Dyeing pleather is similar to dyeing leather or any other fabric. The most important thing to remember is to prepare the surface before you begin.

Things You'll Need

• Clean rag
• Dish soap
• Leather bleach
• Water
• Container
• Soft-bristle brush
• Tarp
• Spray dye

Instructions

1. Wipe down the surface of the pleather with a clean, damp rag. Scrub thoroughly over areas with a lot of dirt and grease. Add dish soap to the clean rag, if necessary, and rub down the pleather until all visible dirt and debris is no longer there.

2. Wipe the surface clean with leather bleach. Mix 1 oz. of bleach and 1 pint of water into a container and dip a soft-bristle brush into the mix. Brush back and forth over the surface of the pleather with the brush. Work from one end to the other until the bleach has covered the entire surface.

3. Dampen another rag and wipe the surface clean. Remove any bleach that still remains before adding the dye to the pleather. Dry the area with a rag once you've removed all the bleach.

4. Lay the pleather you will be dying on a tarp so the surface underneath does not get covered with the spray dye. Pick up the desired color bottle of spray dye and begin spraying the surface of the pleather. Hold the dye 4 inches from the surface and work back and forth across the entire surface. Let the dye dry for at least one hour.

5. Flip over the pleather and repeat the same process for the other side. Let it dry and add a second coat just like the first was applied, if necessary, to achieve the desired color.

References

• Leather World Technologies: Leather Dyeing