How to Repair Leather Shoes

A good pair of shoes is priceless. Once they're worn in, you can wear these shoes over and over again. But sometimes with leather shoes, everyday wear can cause damage to your favorite shoes. Slight rips and tears can be repaired with a leather repair kit.

Instructions

1. Purchase a leather repair kit. These kits are available at many of your local retailers like shoe repair shops and other leather merchants. Carefully check the kit to make sure it's appropriate to use for your shoe repair needs.

2. Prepare the surface of your shoe. You can clean around the tear with soap and water. Then wipe the torn area with an alcohol pad.

3. Determine the severity of the tear. If it's a deep tear, you'll need to apply a sub-patch. If you do not have a deep tear, proceed to the next step.

4. Rub the creamy leather repair mixture onto the torn area of the shoe. This should be as smooth as possible. Let this mixture dry completely before moving on to the next step.

5. Wipe the area with another alcohol pad. This helps smooth out any uneven areas so your shoe will look as good as new when the process is complete.

6. Spray or brush on the color finish. The application process varies depending on the repair kit you purchase. Allow the color finish to dry completely.

7. Apply conditioner. This helps keep your leather in top condition.

Tips & Warnings

• To speed up drying time, you can use a hair dryer on high heat. Simply aim the hair dryer in the direction of the tear and spread the hot air across the area until it's dry.

• Because of the delicate shape of shoes, some experts say it's best to repair leather shoes by taking them to your local shoe repair shop.