Leather sofas are strong and great complementary furniture in the home. However, over time your leather sofa will become dirty, stained, damaged, or worn until the color fades. Wipe the sofa with a simple cleaning fluid, use a few household ingredients to remove stains, cover holes, and correct the color of the leather to restore it to its original condition!
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Method 1 of 4: Cleaning the Leather Sofa
Step 1. Clean the sofa with a vacuum cleaner to get rid of any dust or dirt
Attach the brush or brush to the vacuum cleaner and turn on the appliance. Aim the vacuum cleaner over the entire surface of the sofa up to the crevices and grooves in the base and armrests to make sure the sofa is clean of dust.
If you don't have a vacuum cleaner with an extra brush, you can use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean the sofa. Make sure you don't apply too much pressure to prevent damage or soiling of the leather
Step 2. Make a cleaning liquid diluted with white vinegar
While there are a variety of skin cleansers available on the market, one of the easiest and most effective ways to clean your skin is with diluted white vinegar. Combine white vinegar and water in equal ratios in a bowl, then stir until evenly distributed.
- You can also use apple cider vinegar or vinegar without a strong scent.
- If you purchased a leather repair kit for another restoration process, the kit may come with a leather cleaner as well. These products work, and may even be more effective than homemade cleaning fluids.
Step 3. Moisten the microfiber cloth with the cleaning liquid
A clean, dry microfiber cloth is soft enough to clean the skin without scratching it. Dip a microfiber cloth in the cleaning liquid, then squeeze the excess water back into the bowl.
- The washcloth should absorb some of the cleaning liquid, but not dripping.
- Microfiber cloths can be used to clean a lot of things so they are very handy to have. This product is available online or at the nearest home supply store.
Step 4. Wipe the sofa in small circular motions
Start at the top corner of your leather sofa, then start cleaning the entire surface. Use small circular motions to clean parts of the sofa and dip the microfiber cloth back in the cleaning fluid when it is dry or dirty.
Cleaning the leather in small circular motions can help the cleaning fluid to be absorbed into the leather fibers so that stains and dirt can be removed without damaging the surface of the sofa
Step 5. Dry the sofa with a clean towel
After you clean the surface of the sofa, use a clean, dry towel to remove any remaining cleaning fluid. Wipe the entire surface of the sofa to prevent the liquid from seeping into the skin.
Don't let the sofa dry on its own as this will leave streaks on your furniture. Dry the sofa with a towel as soon as possible after cleaning
Method 2 of 4: Getting Rid of Stubborn Stains
Step 1. Remove mildew and mold with diluted rubbing alcohol
Moss and mildew can accumulate on the leather if the sofa is exposed to liquid for too long. If you notice any of these stains on the leather sofa, mix an equal ratio of water and rubbing alcohol together in a bowl. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the soiled area with diluted rubbing alcohol. Use small circular motions.
- The rubbing alcohol will help kill the mildew and get it off your couch.
- Dip the washcloth in the diluted rubbing alcohol again when it is dry or dirty.
Step 2. Remove pen marks with hairspray or eucalyptus oil
If you often write or do other work on the couch, stains from dropped pens are common. Dip a cotton swab in eucalyptus oil, then rub it into the pen stain to clean it. To remove permanent marker stains, use an aerosol hair spray and wipe off any excess liquid.
- If you don't have eucalyptus oil, you can also use rubbing alcohol to remove pen stains.
- Test your cleaning fluid of choice first in a small area of the sofa.
Step 3. Use baking soda to remove oil stains or marks
Oil stains can ruin the look and aesthetics of your leather sofa. Try to cover the oily areas with a small sprinkling of baking soda. Leave it on for 3 to 4 hours before wiping it off with a clean cloth.
- Baking soda can help absorb the oil so it can be wiped off easily.
- If there is some oil left on the sofa after cleaning with baking soda, try wiping it off with a clean, dry cloth. If that doesn't work, apply the baking soda again and let the material soak a little longer before wiping it off.
Step 4. Try a mixture of lemon juice and cream of tartar to remove dark blemishes on light leather
If your leather sofa is made of white or light brown leather, the dark stains may be more noticeable. Combine equal ratios of lemon juice and cream of tartar in a bowl and mix until it forms a paste. Rub the paste onto the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it off with a damp cloth.
Lemon water and cream of tartar can help lift blemishes from the skin and restore a radiant glow. However, this mixture should not be used on dark leather as it can affect the color
Method 3 of 4: Closing Holes and Rips
Step 1. Fix the tear smaller than 2.5 cm with super glue
If you notice minor rips in the sofa, the damage can be easily repaired using super glue. Use your fingers to press down on the tear and align it with a thin layer of superglue. Hold the skin in place until the glue hardens and holds the tear together.
- If you want to remove the tear, apply a small amount of the leather patch to the dried super glue. Rub the product with a paper towel or sponge until the tear has been repaired.
- Alternatively, you can sand the area around the tear with fine sandpaper. Use 320 grit sandpaper to smooth the tear after the glue dries. This will create flakes of skin that mix with the glue and cover the tear. You may need to sand the worn leather afterward.
Step 2. Use a round patch to cover large holes and tears
A patch made of leather, suede, or similar, is placed behind the snag to hold the sofa material. Leave about 0.6 cm of space at each end of the patch so that it can be glued to the inside of the sofa. Use scissors to trim the corners of the patch so that it has a rounded shape.
- The rounded corners are easier to fit into the torn area without creating a bulge in the leather
- If you don't have material that can be used as a patch, buy a leather repair kit online or at a leather specialty store. The kit comes with everything you need to fix a hole in a leather sofa, including some patching sheets.
Step 3. Use tweezers to position the patch behind the hole
Position the patch over the tear so that it is right in the center. Use tweezers to press one side of the patch into the tear until it is positioned behind the leather sofa. Smooth the edges of the patch with tweezers until they are aligned behind the tear.
- Once the patch is in the correct position, rub your hand over the area to look for any invisible bumps or indentations. Use tweezers on the inside of the sofa to straighten the patch and fix the bump before continuing the process.
- If the tear is in the sofa cushion, check to see if the cushion is removable, and look for a zipper that allows access to the inside. If you can remove the pad from the leather cover and flip the inside out, you will be able to level and apply the patch more easily.
Step 4. Glue the patch to the surface of the leather and wipe off the excess glue
Drop a small amount of fabric glue or leather glue onto the end of a toothpick or cotton swab. Avoid creases around the tear, then rub the glue between the patch and the inside of the skin. Smooth the entire patch and add enough glue.
Use a kitchen paper towel to wipe off any excess glue stuck to the exposed leather of the sofa
Step 5. Cover the tear and apply weight while waiting for the glue to dry
Use your fingers to press both sides of the tear or hole carefully so that it fits back together. Once the area looks even and tidy, place a flat piece of wood or a heavy book on it. This will compress the tear so that the surface of the sofa stays flat and sticks together as the glue dries.
- If the rips or holes appear uneven, there will be threads or gaping edges that will need to be trimmed more carefully. Make sure you tie the two pieces together neatly, and either align the edges or stack the threads so the snag is no longer visible.
- Check the instructions on the leather glue for information on how long it will take for the glue to dry. Most glues will dry quickly within 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 6. Align the patched area with super glue
Once the torn area has been successfully covered with leather glue, superglue can be used to improve the appearance of the leather and keep the patch firmly in place. Apply a small amount of superglue to the torn area of the sofa, then use a toothpick to press it in. Gently blot the glue with a kitchen paper towel to remove any residual glue and smooth out any dried glue.
- If you're happy with how your patched sofa looks, you don't need to continue the repair process.
- You have to work quickly when using super glue. Otherwise, the glue will dry and cause a toothpick or tissue fiber to stick to the sofa.
- Superglue can usually be removed with acetone, which is sold at many nail polish remover stores.
Step 7. Rub the sandpaper in the direction of the tear with fine sandpaper
While the super glue is still a little wet, rub the sandpaper into the area around the tear. Use fine sandpaper with a grit between 220 and 320 to roughen the area and create flakes of leather that can help fill in gaps in the sofa.
- This will wear out the area around the tear. You can fix this easily by applying leather repair putty to the damaged area, leather dye, and leather conditioner.
- If you're not happy with the look of a tear that's freshly repaired with super glue, you can repeat the process to smooth out the area. Let the glue dry for a few minutes before adding another coat and sanding again.
Method 4 of 4: Smooth Out Worn Skin
Step 1. Spread out a sheet of newspaper so it doesn't fall apart
While the liquid used to repair and color a sofa will look great on leather, it can stain carpet or other fabrics easily. Place a piece of washcloth under the sofa, or cover the area around it with old newsprint.
You can also wear disposable gloves and an old washcloth when working with leather dye to prevent the product from getting on your hands or clothes
Step 2. Apply leather repair putty to the worn area
Leather repair putty, or leather patch, can seep into the leather material and hold it together. Apply a small amount of the product to a clean sponge. Start working from one corner of the sofa and cover the entire surface of the sofa that wears out slowly with putty.
- Leftover leather putty can clump at the edges of the sofa seams. Use a clean kitchen towel to wipe it after applying.
- Leather repair putty or leather glue can be purchased online or at specialty leather care stores.
Step 3. Let the putty dry and apply another coat
Allow the putty to dry on its own within 30 to 60 minutes. Once dry, use the same sponge to apply another layer of putty. Repeat this process 3 to 5 times or until you are happy with the look of the sofa.
- The number of layers that need to be made varies greatly, depending on the condition of the leather on your sofa. If there are only small cracks on the surface, 1 or 2 coats may suffice. For leather that is in very poor condition, an additional 4 or 5 layers may be required.
- You may be able to speed up the drying process with a heat gun or a hairdryer. Use the lowest heat setting to prevent damage to the skin.
Step 4. Buy a leather dye that matches the color of your sofa
Applying the wrong leather dye can make a sofa look striped and weird. Look for dyes of the same color online. Alternatively, you can take a leather sample to a leather repair expert to get the best color mix.
- Finding the right color may be easier online because you can directly compare it to the color of your sofa at home.
- Taking a photo of the sofa for reference when looking for colors can be very helpful, but the color of the image on the camera may differ from the actual color.
- Applying a lot of skin dye will result in a darker color. Therefore, it is better to buy a dye that is lighter than the original color of the sofa rather than buying a darker color.
Step 5. Apply a thin layer of leather dye to the surface of the sofa
Apply a small amount of sofa dye to clean the sponge from the applicator foam. Start at one corner of the sofa and work your way up the entire surface until the color is even. Focus on hard-to-reach seams and curves, and make sure the entire surface of the sofa is evenly colored.
- Do not touch areas on the sofa that have been stained. This method can damage the dye and leave a visible mark.
- If there are only a few areas that need coloring, just focus on those areas. As long as the dye used is the same color as the sofa, the product will blend with the color of the sofa so that it is invisible.
Step 6. Allow the surface of the sofa to dry before applying another layer of protection
After the first layer of skin dye has been applied, let it sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour so that it dries completely. Use the same method as the first coating process until you get a satisfactory result.
Alternatively, you can use a spray gun or spray paint to apply another coat of dye. Spray the product lightly on the surface of the skin, then let it sit for a while until it dries completely before applying another layer
Step 7. Use leather conditioner to keep the sofa soft and shiny
After the leather surface has been successfully stained and allowed to dry, use a clean sponge to apply a thin layer of leather conditioner to the sofa. Start at one corner and work in small circular motions to smooth and polish the sofa with conditioner. Wait 2 to 3 hours for the conditioner to dry completely.
Leather conditioner is usually sold online or at specialty skin care stores. This product is usually sold as part of a skin repair kit
Tips
- Clean the leather sofa with a vacuum cleaner every 1 to 2 weeks to keep it clean and in good condition.
- Apply a skin protective cream every 3 to 4 months so that the condition of the skin material remains good.
