4 Tips to Care For and Repair Leather
Leather is tanned animal hide that has a multitude of uses. One of them is decoration. But leather needs very specific care. It is important to know that at times you will have to care for and repair leather if there is leather furniture in your home.
Leather in interior decoration portrays elegance and comfort. You can usually find it in more classic decorative styles such as those used in libraries or offices.
However, it is more and more common to see leather in many styles of decoration. The most common shades of leather in interior design are black, dark brown and camel. Today’s article will give you 4 tips to care for and repair leather.
How to care for and repair leather
If you have leather furniture in your home such as chairs, a sofa, cushions, etc., there will be times when you will have to care for this fabric. Although leather is very durable, it requires special care. Since it is better to prevent the problem rather than fix it when it happens, you should know how to take care of your leather furniture.
Sun
Again, leather is very strong but lack of maintenance can shorten its useful life. One thing that can damage leather is exposure to the sun. For that reason, we recommend that you do not place leather furniture in direct sunlight. Doing so may cause the leather to dry and crack.
Cleaning
Clean the leather once a week. The best way to accomplish this is:
- Dust the leather with a microfiber cloth or a vacuum cleaner. Use the soft brush attachment or just the tube.
- If the leather is stained, use a soft cloth with a cleaner made with distilled water and gentle soap to clean it. Of course, try to clean any spills immediately to prevent the liquid from penetrating the leather.
How to fix leather
If your leather becomes damaged, there are ways to repair it. As mentioned before, leather damage can occur from sun exposure. Pets and people can also damage leather furniture. However, there are several solutions to repair cracking or worn leather. In this section, you will learn two ways to fix leather.
Leather patches
Leather patches are one of the most common ways to repair leather. They’re so popular because they are easy and economical. You simply place the patches over damaged areas.
The patch itself is leather with an adhesive backing. So, you don’t need additional adhesives or even a needle and thread. They cost about 15 euros and come in many sizes and shapes. They are perfect to cover where the leather cracks.
Liquid leather
Yes, liquid leather exists. It is a great invention. It requires expertise and is a little expensive. It is used to repair small cuts, holes or scratches.
You will need a leather degreaser to clean the entire surface to be treated. First, you sand the entire surface until it is smooth. Once you have done this, apply the liquid leather with a spatula.
It costs about 18 euros and you can find it in different colors.
Conclusion
There are many ways to care for and repair leather. The important thing is to clean it and care for it regularly. Another useful piece of advice is to treat the leather monthly with specific products made for that purpose.
Obviously, it is better to take good care of the leather than to have to repair it later when it’s damaged. But if you have pets, the leather will likely suffer damage faster.
For that reason, if you can’t keep your pet from climbing on your leather furniture, put a protective cover over it to prevent damage.