How to Shine & Repair Your Leather
Keeping your leather looking like new is an easy process, but it takes diligence and consistent care. The process starts at the store when you determine what type of leather to buy and extends into what happens if you spill something on the leather or it tears. The condition of your leather furniture is in your hands. Take the necessary steps to make it shiny and tear free for years. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Before buying, make sure leather is repairable at home. Most furniture is made from protected leather, which is easy to repair in the event of a tear. You can spot this type of leather by the following: uniform leather color and appearance, it doesn't scratch, it doesn't fade if water is applied to it, and it has a grain pattern.
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Clean the surface of the torn leather before you begin repairing it. Use a wash cloth with dish detergent, and wipe with clean water. Make sure all soap residue is gone before letting it dry. Wipe the dry area with an alcohol wipe, removing any additional debris.
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Carefully spread the leather repair compound over the torn area. Spread about a half inch outside of the tear; then dip your finger in water, smoothing the surface as much as you can. Use a hair dryer, or let it air dry.
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Once dry, smooth the compound with an alcohol wipe. You don't need to wipe it too much (maybe only a few times to avoid removing the compound). Then let the compound dry once again.
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Put on a color coating found in your repair kit, keeping the first coat very thin. The next coats should cover the whole area, and you will begin to see the color darken after each coat. Every coat must be thin until the desired color is reached, but make sure to let each coat dry before putting on another coat.
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If you notice a worn look to the repaired area, apply a leather conditioner to the once-damaged area. Allow it to dry and enjoy!
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Tips & Warnings
When conditioning, make sure the conditioner does not contain ammonia. Ammonia will fade the color you've applied to the leather.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bonvivant: sxc.hu
