How to Fix a Scratch in Leather Furniture
It is easy to reduce the appearance of small scratches in leather furniture; however, it's important to use extreme caution when applying liquid products to leather as it is quite porous and stains easily. While deep scratches are not desirable, a certain amount of mild scuffing can often give leather furniture a burnished look. For scratches and scuffs that are not welcome, however, there are several remedies that can be tried. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Non-gel toothpaste
- Soft cloths
- Iron
- Toothpick
- Leather glue
- Permanent marker
- Leather conditioner
Instructions
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Rub any small scuffs with a small dab of non-gel toothpaste and buff with a slightly damp cloth until all toothpaste residue is removed.
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Temporarily reduce the appearance of some scuffs by placing a damp towel on the scuff and placing an iron set to low on top of the towel to help draw the natural oils of the leather to the surface. Allow the iron to remain in place for about ten seconds before checking the condition of the scuff.
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Look for areas where the scratch has gone all the way through the leather. In these areas, rub the hole gently with your finger until you can see from which direction the scratch was made. To determine this, look for a small flap of leather. Carefully rub the hole with your fingertip so that the flap is raised, then using a toothpick, insert a small amount of leather glue into the hole getting as little as possible on the surface of the leather. Be careful not to enlarge the hole by inserting the toothpick too deeply. Leather glue can be purchased in most craft or fabric stores. Press the flap back in place and hold until it adheres wiping away any excess glue with a damp cloth. Allow repaired holes to dry overnight and then carefully clean the area with a commercial leather conditioner.
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Restore the color in any light areas that remain by using a fine-tipped permanent marker available in a range of colors in any good art supply store. Test the color on an inconspicuous are of the piece. Choose colors that are one or two shades lighter than the leather upholstery in order to avoid leaving dark spots on the area surrounding the scratch. For example, a light scratch on a black leather chair should be darkened with a gray permanent marker, not a black one.
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Tips & Warnings
Conditioning your leather furniture with a good quality product on a regular basis will help the leather remain pliable and less likely to scuff, tear or crack.
