Tips To Repair Scratches and Abrasions On Leather Upholstery
Posted on: 30 June 2016
Although leather is a hardwearing upholstery material, it can be damaged by scratches and abrasions. Severe damage should be dealt with and repaired by a professional leather upholstery repairer, but you can tackle minor damage yourself. Here's how to do it:
Repairing scratches
Fixing scratches on leather upholstery is pretty straightforward. In the first instance, try placing a dab of olive oil on a soft, clean cloth and rubbing it into the scratched area. Use circular buffing motions to work the oil into the scratches. This method works by moisturising the edges of the scratched areas and helping to condition the leather, effectively smoothing over the damage and blending it in.
If the damaged leather is a very dark brown colour, a good way of treating it is to use a neutral-coloured wax shoe polish. Place a small amount of polish on a clean, soft cloth and apply it to the leather as described above, working it well into the scratches. Then place a blob of saddle soap (available from tack shops) onto a clean, damp cloth and work it into the leather over the top of the polish.
Before applying any substances to your leather upholstery, always test a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure that any leather dye doesn't run.
Repairing abrasions
Small abrasions can be removed quite easily, in many cases leaving no trace that they were ever there at all.
Begin by spraying the abrasion with warm water. Take a small piece of fine-grained sandpaper and gently sand the abraded area very lightly, until it feels completely smooth. Wipe away the sanding dust with a soft cloth. Now take a blob of olive oil on a clean cloth and apply it to the sanded area, working the oil well down into the leather. Allow the leather to soak up the oil, and then repeat the exercise until the area is perfectly blended into the rest of the leather.
In conclusion
If your leather upholstery is damaged by fine scratches or small abrasions, you may be able to repair it by following the suggestions given above. In the case of more serious damage, you may be best to ask an experienced upholstery repairer to tackle the problem for you.
You can help to keep your leather furniture looking great by treating it regularly with leather dressing (available from DIY stores). This can help to prevent the leather from drying out, making scratches and abrasions less likely.
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