Learning to repair leather furniture is a great way to keep quality furniture for a long time. Leather has many benefits when compared to cloth, and it is water repellent, long lasting, does not hold dust or smell, and generally looks better the older it is. There are three main types of damage that leather can suffer: cuts, scuffs and holes. The type of repair that is necessary depends on the type of damage and where it occurs, but small problems can usually be fixed at home.
Cuts to leather furniture can happen as the result of an accident or a small hole that spreads. To repair a cut in leather furniture, buy a leather repair kit as soon as possible. If the furniture is in use, the cut will expand, so it's important to stop the damage from getting worse. A repair kit usually includes a chemical compound that is applied to the cut, filling the gap and securing the edges together. If you are going to repair leather furniture with a kit, purchase the best kit that you can find.
Scuff marks on leather furniture occur when pushing something with hard edges along the furniture. To repair a scuff mark, you can follow the same steps are repairing a cut, or you can inject the compound into the mark. Since the leather is not actually cut, all you need to do is blend the color of the leather into the lining.
A puncture hole in leather furniture requires a leather repair kit with patches of leather. The leather patch is inserted underneath the hole and the repair compound is put on the top. This method gives the compound something to stick to and improves the appearance.
When you repair leather furniture, it is very important to start with a clean surface. Use saddle soap or a leather cleaner to carefully clean the area in need of repair. Do not use harsh chemicals, as they will dry out the material and may even change the color of the furniture.
When you are cleaning leather, don't just clean one spot. By treating the entire area — or piece — the whole thing will look better. Use two different sponges: the soap sponge to apply the soap, and the rinsing sponge to remove the residue.
Once the repair is completed, condition the leather with a conditioning cream to keep it supple and shining. Rub the leather conditioner in with your hands for the most effective conditioning. Create a schedule of cleaning and conditioning every six months after you repair your furniture to keep it looking like new.
Allow a lot of time for the leather repair compound to dry properly before using the furniture. If you use a hair dryer to speed up the process, you risk causing cracks in the leather repair compound.