Leather Restoration

Leather is a durable material used in furniture and accessories. Continual use typically results in cracks and discoloration in the leather. You can buy the materials to restore your leather at a shoe or leather store. Use these tips to restore leather.

1. Clean the leather. Apply saddle soap to the leather with a damp cloth or sponge. Rub the soap into the leather one section at a time. Allow the section to become sudsy. Wipe the area with a second cloth or sponge. Repeat the process until you have cleaned all of the leather.
2. Prepare the leather. Use a cloth to apply leather prep to one section of leather at a time. Stop applying the leather prep when the cloth takes on the color of the leather. Allow the leather to sit for 30 minutes.
3. Repair fine cracks in the leather. Use a sponge to apply light filler to the leather. Apply only a fine coating. Let the leather sit for 5 minutes. Ensure that the leather is dry before continuing. Go over the leather with fine sandpaper. This will take off leftover filler.
4. Repair deep cracks in the leather. Use a palette knife to apply repair compound to the leather. Let the leather and compound sit for 30 minutes. Go over the leather with fine sandpaper. This will remove leftover repair compound.
5. Re-apply the light filler. Use a sponge to apply a second layer of light filler. Remove leftover filler with fine sandpaper.
6. Restore the color of the leather. Shake the colorant. Ensure that the colorant is mixed well. Use a sponge to spread a fine coat of colorant onto creased or damaged areas of the leather. Use only a slight quantity of colorant on the sponge. Do not press down hard on the sponge. Use a sponge to smooth away any colored foam that develops on the surface of the leather. Let the colorant dry for at least 30 minutes.
7. Spray a second layer of colorant. Fill an airbrush or spray gun with colorant. Spray the colorant onto newspaper to gauge how far to stand away from the leather. Stand at the distance necessary to apply a thin layer of colorant. Spray a thin coat of colorant onto the leather. Use a hairdryer to dry the colorant. If the colorant runs, use a sponge to smooth it out, and then reapply the colorant. Continue spraying a layer of colorant and allowing the colorant to dry until you have concealed all of the original color.
8. Apply the leather sealant. Fill an airbrush or spray gun with glossy leather sealant. Spray the sealant onto newspaper to gauge how far to stand away from the leather. Stand at the distance necessary to apply a thin layer of sealant. Spray a thin coat of sealant onto the leather. Use a hairdryer to dry the sealant. If the sealant runs, use a sponge to smooth it away, and then reapply the sealant. Allow the sealant to dry.
9. Apply the leather finish. Fill the airbrush or spray gun with leather finish. Spray the finish onto newspaper to gauge how far to stand away from the leather. Stand at the distance necessary to apply a thin layer of finish. Spray a thin coat of finish onto the leather. Use a hairdryer to dry the finish. If the finish runs, use a sponge to smooth it out, and then reapply the finish. Allow the finish to dry.