How to fix a faded leather couch

Restoring a Faded Leather Couch

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Breathe new life into your old leather furniture using these easy-to-follow steps

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Normal wear and tear (think sweat, body oils, and even sunlight) can cause your once vibrant leather furniture to fade and crack over time. But you don’t need to toss it out and head to IKEA for a new couch—instead, you can repair slightly damaged leather with a few inexpensive materials from your local fabric store and a bit of elbow grease.

Note: If you feel like your leather sofa or chairs are more than just slightly damaged, or you’re more of a lay-on-the-couch than a fix-the-couch type, you can often hire a local upholstery professional who specializes in leather furniture refinishing and repair to do the job for you.

This can cost between $195–$475, depending on the size, the amount of damage or fading there is, and the type of leather.

Difficulty: 2 out of 5

Time: about one day

Tools and Materials Needed:

Vacuum with upholstery attachments
Leather safe cleaning solution
Bucket for mixing
Three microfiber cloths
Leather conditioner
Leather recoloring kit (for significant color damage)
Tarp or blanket to put under your furniture

1. Determine the Type of Leather

Before you get started cleaning your furniture’s upholstery, determine what type of leather you’re working with.

Different varieties of leather will all have different care needs. Because leather sofas can cost between $1,500 and $4,000 make sure you’re not doing anything that could permanently damage your furniture in the process.

Here are some common types of leather:

Full-grain leather normally undergoes minimal processing and will retain both the look and feel of animal hide
Top-grain leather has a more polished look and feel than full-grain
Split-grain leather is similar to full grain in feel, but it can feel harder to the touch and requires more maintenance
Bonded leather is often made up of leftover pieces of scrap leather that have been rolled and pressed
Nubuck leather is harder to care for and is made from rawhide.
It requires waterproofing in order to protect it from daily wear and tear.
Bi-cast leather is an inexpensive alternative to split-grain leather that is covered with a coat of polyurethane to give it the appearance of the more expensive top-grain leathers. Without regular maintenance, this type of leather is prone to cracking and peeling.
Faux leather isn’t leather at all, but a man-made alternative. It’s a great option for those worried about budgeting or leather’s environments and ethical impact.

2. Remove Loose Cushions and Vacuum

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Remove the cushions and throw away any large pieces of trash or debris that you find (and return the missing remote to the coffee table). Then run your vacuum’s upholstery attachment across the entirety of your sofa.

3. Remove Surface Debris

Clean your sofa using one of your three microfiber cloths and either a leather-safe cleaning solution (be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions) or a bucket with warm water.

Get the microfiber cloth damp, but not soaking, and use it to wipe down your couch. This will remove any surface dirt that the vacuum missed and any dust that has settled back onto the surface.

4. Tackle Stubborn Stains and Messes

If your sofa has stains that aren’t wiping up easily, consider a more targeted approach. These are some common stains and the best ways to remove them from leather surfaces:

Ink stains can be removed with rubbing alcohol. Target small stains with a Q-tip or cotton swab. As you work, swap out your swab often so you don’t spread the stain around.
If you’re dealing with food or blood stains, you can use a mix of cornstarch and lemon juice. Use two parts cornstarch to one part lemon juice to create a paste and gently rub it onto the stained area.
If your sofa has grease or oil stains, try to remove them using an absorbent powder like baking soda. Apply some liberally to the affected area and let it sit for a few hours so it has a chance to absorb.
Use a dry cloth to wipe it up when you’re through. If you can’t get the powder up with a dry cloth alone, try using step three.

As with any cleaner, you should test an inconspicuous area before applying it to a place where color loss or damage would be noticeable.

5. Buff the Surfaces Dry

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Leaving damp areas on your couch can cause streaking or discoloration. So after you’ve cleaned, use a fresh microfiber cloth and go over small sections of your furniture in circular motions until dry.

6. Retouch Your Sofa Color

If your sofa’s color has faded significantly from the sun, retouch the color using a leather recoloring kit. These can be purchased directly from your sofa manufacturer in some cases. If they don’t carry them, try a fabric or specialty store that deals with leather upholstery. If you’ve never attempted retouching your sofa’s color you may want to ask a pro for help when it comes to color matching your couch to the kit.

These kits each come with their own sets of instructions, so follow the manufacturer's directions. Remember to use the tarp to cover any nearby furniture or flooring that could be in the splash zone while you’re dealing with the recoloring kit, as the dyes can get onto places you don’t want them.

7. Protect Your Couch With a Conditioner

If your sofa’s color hasn’t faded all that much and just needs a slight tone tune-up, you can often get amazing results by conditioning your leather couch. These are available wherever leather products are sold. Follow the manufacturer’s directions when it comes to application and dry time.

The tarp will come in handy here, as well, and prevent any of the conditioner from leaking or dripping onto your flooring or other surfaces.

8. Enjoy Your Restored Couch

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After spending a day (or a weekend) working on restoring your leather couch to its natural beauty, kicking back and relaxing on it will feel extra good.

Although, after dedicating a weekend to getting your sofa looking its best again you might rethink the whole “feet on the couch” thing.

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Leather Sofa Restoration - how to restore faded leather

By Jessica Barron 1 Mar 2019

Leather sofas can often become faded due to age, wear or excess sunlight. In this blog post we will explore the correct procedures in leather sofa restoration.

The way in which you will restore the colour of the leather will depend on the type of leather you’re working with.

Before you start! Pour a drop of water onto an undamaged area of the leather sofa and rub it in with your finger. If the leather darkens and the water soaks in, the leather is absorbent.

If the leather is not absorbent, please read our How to Restore Leather guide.

If it is absorbent, please keep on reading…

Leather Sofa Restoration - Watch the video

The below video shows you how to restore a leather sofa using our Leather Balm. The product is very easy-to-use, comes in a wide range of colours, and gives instant and impressive restoration results when restoring leather sofas.

Leather Sofa Restoration Process

Aniline and Pull Up leathers are both extremely absorbent as they have very little, to no lacquered finish applied after dying. This lacquered finish can often act as a protective barrier so these types of leather, commonly used on leather sofas and other furniture, tend to be more difficult to care for as they stain and fade easily (without the lacquer to protect them).

If the colour on your leather sofa has started to fade, we recommend you use our Leather Restoration Cream to restore it, known as our Leather Re-Colouring Balm. The Balm renovates the colour and aspect of all absorbent leather items both old and new. There are 16 colours formulated for use on leather from a dark to light shade.

It works great at restoring colour to leather sofas that have been exposed to sunlight or direct heat and is ideal for colouring cat scratches, dried out and faded areas.

The Leather Re-colouring Balm 100% absorbs into your leather so will not rub off onto any clothes. Just wipe it into the leather, leave it to soak in for a few minutes and then buff the suface with a clean cloth.

Only one application is necessary. With use, the leather will fade again but this can be reduced by using the Leather Protection Cream. The Leather Re-colouring Balm is generally re-applied once every three years.

Recommended by Real Homes magazine for Leather Sofa Restoration

Real Homes magazine recommends our Leather Re-Colouring Balm to help one of their customers use it for the restoration of a leather sofa.

Priced at £21.95.

Customer Results restoring leather sofas

Our Leather Recolouring Balm has proved to be a customer favourite with many sharing their fantastic results on our social pages for the world to see. Here are some examples below of how it has been used to restore leather sofas.

"Oh my word! I ordered your furniture balm and it is absolutely amazing! I really didn't believe it would be as good as this. My leather furniture came up like new.It is so easy to use, I have never done anything like this before and I found it easy to do. A fantastic product." - Tina Ward

"Just spent an hour recolouring our 2 leather sofas due to our 2 labradors jumping all over them and scratching them. I have to say I am really impressed with leather re-colouring balm that I bought from Furniture Clinic. Very easy to apply, the balm covers really well and we have loads left in the pot. Quick buff with a clean cloth and they are as good as new! Before and after photos attached - thanks furniture clinic!!" - Anna Tuggey

Problems with your leather?

If your leather sofa is suffering from more than a little colour loss, you can find all of our leather repair and restoration products, including the Leather Recolouring balm on our online store, as well as a range of 'How-to' guides and video tutorials to help you every step of the way.

We also offer nationwide leather cleaning, repair and restoration services.

Posted in Leather Restoration

Related Posts

How to fix a worn out leather sofa?

If your leather sofa shows signs of wear, there are a few things you can do to keep it in good condition. your sofa is showing signs of wear and tear, you can also try using a leather repair product. These products work by restoring natural oils that have been lost over time, which helps keep the leather looking like new for longer. Finally, if all else fails and your sofa starts to look too bad, you may have to replace it.

What are some ways to fix a worn leather sofa?

If the skin is dry, apply a layer of oil or cream to the surface.
If the skin is damp, pat it dry and then apply a layer of oil or cream.
Use a stiff brush to remove accumulated dirt and dust.
If necessary, apply a new coat of oil or cream and then lightly sand with fine sandpaper to smooth out any unevenness or imperfections.

Can a worn leather sofa be repaired?

There are several ways to repair a worn leather sofa. You can either buy a new one or try to repair it. If the damage is minor, you can probably just sand it and reseat the seams. how to fix a worn leather sofa:

Clean the sofa: first clean the damaged area with soap and water. Make sure all dirt and dust is removed from the surface. Then use a dry cloth to buff the area until it looks like new again.
Seam Repair: If there are any major tears in the fabric, you will need to repair them first before proceeding to the next steps. Use seaming tape or thread to join several pieces of fabric and then sew them together with straight stitches or zigzag stitches (depending on the extent of the gap). Be sure not to alter; you only need enough stitches to hold everything together while it dries.
Replace the daybed if the damage is too extensive: If repairing the seams does not solve your problem - or if there are too many tears to repair - you may need to replace the entire daybed.
Check online stores that sell leather sofas in different styles and sizes to you could find one that fits your needs perfectly.

How do I repair a damaged or worn leather sofa?

If your leather sofa shows signs of wear, there are a few things you can do to repair it. First, assess the damage. significant, a complete replacement of the sofa may be required.

To repair torn or worn leather furniture, start by cleaning and drying the area where the damage has occurred. Then, using a powerful sewing machine and a needle, sew up the damaged area with strong thread. Make sure you backstitch at least twice for extra safety. Finally , coat the entire surface with a suitable sealant (e.g. polyurethane) to protect against future wear.

How to repair a worn leather sofa?

There are several ways to repair a worn leather sofa. One option is to replace the entire sofa. Another option is to repaint the leather. The third option is to repair the leather.

Here are three tips for repairing a worn leather sofa:

Replace the sofa: if the sofa is in poor condition and it needs to be replaced, consider buying a new one instead of trying to fix it. New sofas are often more durable and look better than refurbished or refurbished sofas.
Treat the leather: If you want to try to repair or restore the leather, make sure you do it right. This may involve sanding down any tears or cracks, filling them with Bondo (a type of putty), and then covering them with a layer of polyurethane finish. Don't overdo it Too much polyurethane can make the surface too shiny and difficult to clean.
Repair It: If you just need minor repairs to your worn sofa, there are a few options. You can buy new parts like cushions or springs, or you can try furniture polish and elbow grease (or both). ).

Can we restore our faded and old leather sofa?

There are several things you can do to fix a worn or faded leather sofa.

You can try leather conditioner, leather polish, or even replace the sofa cushions.

If the damage is extensive, the entire sofa may need to be replaced. Be sure to consult a professional before making any repair or replacement decisions.

We have an old cracked and rotten leather sofa, what can be done to fix it?

There are several things you can do to fix a worn leather sofa. First, you will need to determine the cause of the wear. Was it caused by heavy use? Weather conditions? A pet? Once you know the cause, you can proceed to its elimination.

If the damage is extensive, replacing the sofa may be your best option. However, if only certain areas are worn, or if wear is limited to certain areas (such as around the arms or legs), other options are available.

Some simple solutions include using furniture polish and/or cream to restore shine and protect against further damage; applying a protective layer of wax; or with a set of sticky patches to reinforce weak spots.

If all else fails, consider replacing the entire sofa.

How do I fix scratches, tears and cracks in leather furniture?

If you are looking for a way to fix worn leather sofas, then this guide is for you. There are many different ways you can fix scratches, tears, and cracks in your leather furniture. This guide will teach you how to do it using various methods.

First, use a cream or oil-based product to soften the surface of the skin. Apply with a cloth or sponge. Rub the product into wrinkles and tears until they disappear. If necessary, repeat the procedure several times until the skin is completely restored.

Another option is to use vinyl adhesive to fill small holes and cracks in your leather furniture. Apply glue to the hole and press firmly until it sets. Use a credit card or other thin object to smooth out any bumps or ridges that may have form after the adhesive has hardened. Allow the adhesive to dry before using the furniture again.

Finally, if all else fails, you can completely replace all the covers on your sofa or chair! This is most effective if done while your furniture is still in good condition; otherwise, it may not look as good after the repair is completed.

Contact a professional restoration company if you need help choosing the option that is best for your situation.

I need help with my leather sofa that is starting to peel! Any suggestions?

If your sofa has begun to peel, there are several ways to fix it. First, make sure the leather is properly conditioned. This means applying a quality leather conditioner every six months or so to keep the leather supple and protected. Second, don't forget to clean your sofa regularly. Dust mites love old furniture and will quickly wear down the surface of the leather. Finally, use a protective cover on the edges of your sofa if it starts to look bad - this will help prevent further damage. If all else fails, consider replacing the sofa! There are many great options available on the market today that will last for years without peeling or fading.

How to Fix Cracks in Faux Leather Sofas: 11 Steps that need repair and start by cleaning them with mild soap and water. Then use a leather conditioner to restore the shine of the surface.

If there are cracks or tears, you need to fill them in with glue or patching material. spray or furniture polish.

How to clean a leather sofa at home

Modern designs, thanks to their thoughtful design and construction, from leather upholstery as a finishing element, only add sophistication and elegance to themselves. Any furniture in the apartment is used daily by people. We open the cabinet doors and pull out the chest of drawers. We try to protect those surfaces that we have to touch more often with various kinds of covers. We put a blanket on the bed. We cover the surface of the table with a tablecloth. Only the sofas and armchairs, despite being the most frequently used, remain open. If you can still pick up a cape on fabric upholstery and at the same time everything will look organic, then this will not work with leather products. You didn’t buy such a set, definitely not cheap, to hide it under a cape.

It remains to either refrain from using it for its intended purpose, or prepare for the fact that you have furniture that requires special treatment and care.

We suggest you find out in advance how to clean a leather sofa from stains and dirt at home. Regularly transporting the product to a specialized dry cleaner or calling a team of specialists at home is troublesome and expensive. In some cases, professional equipment and specialized preparations are indispensable. But ordinary cleaning is quite within the power of everyone to do.

Daily care of upholstered furniture

The most important thing for the preservation of such products is a comfortable environment - constant temperature, moderate humidity and no direct sunlight. Simply following these requirements will prolong the appearance of the headset. More effective methods of maintaining cleanliness will be needed only with significant contamination. This article contains the most common ways to care for such things. The ingredients used for this are publicly available and are in every home. We will tell you in detail what and in what cases you can use.

Use a vacuum cleaner

At least once a week, along with the general cleaning of the apartment, vacuum your rest area.

On a smooth glossy surface, dust is visible just as well as on a polished one. But, before cleaning a leather sofa, take a closer look at the nozzles used. Whether they are metal or plastic, they can damage the skin. There should be no sharp edges or corners. A small scratch on the protective layer will lead to further damage and cracks. The degree of safety of the furniture depends on your attentiveness and accuracy.

If the coating is fluffy, it is not recommended to use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning. Dust and dirt should be swept away only with a soft bristle brush and all movements should be made strictly in its direction. The same applies to corrugated trim elements.

Wet cleaning

After removing large debris and dust, it is necessary to wipe the entire upholstery. Such a procedure will help remove contaminants that have not been pre-cleaned, but have not yet had time to penetrate into the pores of the material. We dilute a little soap in clean warm water, you can use liquid soap.

Even better if it has a moisturizing effect. We moisten a soft sponge in the solution, wring it out well and wipe all accessible surfaces, not pressing hard. This procedure will help you, without any cleaning products, at home, wash the dirt off the leather sofa before it penetrates the structure. We wait 15-20 minutes until the solution dries, and wipe it along with the lagging dirt.

A good effect is obtained by using ordinary Vaseline or baby oil instead of a cleaning solution. Apply the composition to the product and, after waiting a quarter of an hour, wipe everything with a dry cloth, making polishing movements. Under the influence of external conditions, the skin dries up from time to time, which leads to its cracking and loss of presentation. Treatment with such oils moisturizes and softens leather upholstery. It restores its softness and shine.

Beaten egg white can be used for this purpose. The natural component works more effectively.

But, if the coating is old and dotted with a network of cracks and damage, there is a risk that the organic matter will not be completely removed by wiping. Its remains can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

How to clean stains on a leather sofa and wipe off stubborn dirt

Before proceeding with direct removal, read the accompanying passport for your furniture from its manufacturer. The upholstery material, the type of dye used and a list of recommended care products are necessarily indicated there. If such a document is not available for any reason, check all formulations for interaction with the coating in places that are not conspicuous before use.

Try soapy water, petroleum jelly, or baby oil first. Most types of pollution are amenable to these means. You can use special ones designed for skin care:

spray;
wet wipes;
creams and pastes.

All of them have a composition that not only destroys dirt, but also protects the product, creating a barrier from environmental influences, and restoring the structure.

Thereby extending the service life. Before cleaning your leather sofa with an unfamiliar product at home, carefully read the instructions. Compositions not intended for skin treatment should not be used. Preparations intended for smooth material are not suitable for suede and nubuck. And vice versa.

Additional detergent components that can be used in the fight against pollution are also familiar to every housewife:

dish detergent;
mild stain remover;
baking soda;
lemon juice;
rock salt;
chalk;
talc;
starch.

With some care you can use:

rubbing alcohol;
table vinegar;
ammonium chloride or ammonia;
hydrogen peroxide;
acetone.

This set is enough to keep the furniture in good condition. Any dirt is easier to remove while it is fresh. The more neglected the situation, the more actively and aggressively the means will have to be used.

For application and processing, use only foam sponges, flannel cloths, microfiber and soft brushes with natural bristles. But don't put too much effort into caring for a leather sofa. Otherwise, the paintwork or protective layer may be damaged, or the upholstery may stretch or tear.

Classification of stains and how to deal with them

Most often, unexpected stains on furniture come from food and drink. If you have not made it a rule to ban eating in the rest corner, these further tips are for you.

Grease marks

When the stain is very fresh, do not rub it with a cloth. So you only increase the area of contamination and press particles of fat into the pores, which will become more difficult to remove from there.

Sprinkle any absorbent on the mark - chalk, talc, starch, salt, soda. Allow a few minutes for the grease particles to soak in and gently sweep everything off. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.

Then wash the entire area with soapy water or dishwashing detergent.

Old stains are removed by covering with soapy water or petroleum jelly. Allow to stand for 15-20 minutes and wipe with a dry cloth.

Spilled drinks

Freshly spilled tea, coffee, beer, wine and other liquids should first be blotted with a dry cloth. Then sprinkle with any available substance to absorb residual moisture. After a few minutes, remove the remaining dirt, wash the place with soapy water.

We try to clean a leather sofa from old stains in the same way as other dirt. First we try to soak with any warm detergent composition, and then we wipe it with a rag. If that doesn't help, try using Vaseline. If this does not work, as an extreme method, you can use a solution of ammonia, alcohol or lemon juice. But on painted products, we must first check the action in a hidden area. In order not to discolor the treated area. After processing, we rinse again, wipe everything thoroughly with clean water, dry it with a napkin and apply a layer of petroleum jelly or oil.

The unpleasant smell after spilled beer is removed by adding a little ammonia to the water.

Blood stains

Blood stains, whether fresh or dried, can only be treated with cold water or solutions. Heat accelerates clotting and makes cleaning difficult. If the pollution has not had time to dry, apply talc, starch, soda on it and let it soak. Then remove the resulting slurry and wash the area with cold water and any detergent.

Moisten old stains with soapy water and let stand in this form for about twenty minutes. Then you need to rinse the leather sofa with a damp sponge, let it dry and grease it with petroleum jelly or baby oil, protecting it from drying out.

Ink and marker marks

These marks can be easily removed with mild alcohol solutions or acetone. But check if this concentration will affect the coloring layer. Sometimes small spots can be erased with an ordinary eraser.

Microbial Infestation

A common skin problem is mold and mildew.

A contributing factor can be increased humidity in the room, spilled and not cleaned liquid, and even poorly wiped furniture after washing. It is especially necessary to carefully monitor products that have abundant folds and additional elements.

If a colony of spores is found, immediate disinfection is required. This is best done by wiping the area with a mild vinegar solution. But, without allowing the composition to be absorbed, rinse everything with detergent and wipe with clean water and napkins. Launched cases of mold damage to a leather sofa cannot be washed off on their own, like ordinary dirt. The fungus penetrates deep into the structure. To get it, you will need the effort of professionals and special operating means.

Care instructions for light colors

Keeping such furniture clean turns out to be an additional hassle for the owner. Any blots on such a surface stand out especially brightly. In part, this inconvenience is offset by the ability to use more radical cleaning products.

Many steps are the same as for painted products. Vacuum and wipe regularly. First with a damp sponge, then with Vaseline. We only note the distinctive features that can be used on such headsets:

Remove everyday dirt with detergents.
Fat residues, after being collected with absorbent ingredients, can be treated with higher strength alcohol solutions.
Drink marks are more visible on this surface. But alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice or ammonia can be used much more boldly than on dark ones.
Blood stains, if not removed in the standard way with cold water and detergent, are treated with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
Pen and marker ink blots and dashes can also be dissolved in alcohol, acetone or hydroperite.

If you are going to clean a white or light leather sofa at home, do not forget to test the product on an inconspicuous area before treating the base. And after washing with water, dry and lubricate the surfaces with nourishing baby oil.

Restoration of scuffs and scratches

You can easily repair leather goods yourself. After the standard cleaning procedure, allow the material to dry and carefully inspect it in good light from different angles. Over time, scratches and worn spots form on any surface. Under the influence of cleaning agents, the painted surface also brightens. To restore the appearance, you can use special tools. Whitish spots are returned to their juiciness with cream-paint for leather products. To hide cracks, treatment with a spray or napkins impregnated with a restorative composition based on wax or silicone helps.

Restoration of wooden elements

If your set has decorative inserts and armrests made of wood, they also need to be looked after. The already tested furniture polish and petroleum jelly will help you with this. They will help hide minor scratches on lacquered surfaces, and remove whitish stains left after hot cups.

A few more tips for caring for furniture

In this article we tried to tell you how to wash and how to clean leather sofas and armchairs.