Меню

How to repair a leather sofa and remove scratches with your own hands

Leather is used to upholster many modern pieces of furniture. The material is durable, environmentally friendly, presentable in appearance and aesthetics. During operation, the upholstery becomes dirty, loses its shine and gets scratched. To maintain the good look of the furniture, it is necessary to carry out repairs and restorations of leather sofas.

Materials and tools needed

When planning a sofa renovation, it is recommended to prepare tools and accessories in advance... In most situations, it is sufficient to use a set of standard tools.

screwdriver set

You will need a Phillips screwdriver and a flathead screwdriver to loosen and secure the fasteners. Some parts of the leather sofa are fixed with brackets, screws and screws.

Keys

If the cabinet parts are bolted, keys are required. It is better to take a set of several keys, since the fasteners can vary in size.

Screwdriver

If you need to use a screwdriver, you should also choose a drill set for it. The screwdrivers are available in one, two or three speeds.As a rule, they work with fasteners at the first gear, and turn on the rest when drilling holes.

pliers

The active part of the clamp is flat and has no grooves. With pliers you can comfortably grip and bend small metal parts. There are multifunction pliers with several gripping areas.

Staple remover tool

The purpose of the staple remover is to quickly remove staples of various sizes and shapes using a handle similar to pliers. The universal staple remover has a compact size, is equipped with a rust-resistant working part and a comfortable handle.

liquid skin

Liquid paint or leather

Repair of artificial and natural leather furniture is rarely complete without paint and liquid leather. The materials are suitable for repairing tears, cuts and other imperfections. The distinctive characteristics of liquid leather, compared to paint, are:

  1. Ease of application. Liquid Leather adheres well and comes off easily if misapplied or tinted incorrectly.
  2. Rapid solidification. The curing time is 2 to 8 hours and varies depending on the thickness of the material applied.
  3. Resistant to extreme temperatures. After hardening, the liquid skin does not lose its original characteristics at temperatures from -35 to 70 degrees.
  4. Plasticity and high strength. Whatever the action, after drying, the skin regains its original shape.

Rubber

Foam rubber is a common filler material for sofas. As a result of prolonged use of furniture, the load loses its original characteristics.To replace the material, you can buy foam rubber of the size corresponding to the sofa or cut out individual parts and place them in the problem areas under the upholstery.

needle with thread

To change the filling and perform other actions to restore the appearance of furniture, you will need to cut the upholstery at the joints. Then you will need to sew the pieces together with a needle and thread.sofa upholstery

Padding material

To replace the upholstery itself, you need to select the material in advance. When choosing, it is important to take into account the color of the upholstery, since it directly affects the visual perception and appearance of the sofa.

It is also necessary to ensure the good quality of the material, check the resistance to deformation and creasing.

The main methods of restoration with your own hands

The process of restoring a leather sofa depends on the condition of the upholstery, the presence of certain defects and the requirements of the final result. When planning the restoration and repair of furniture, you need to take into account the nuances and select the appropriate materials.

How to remove scratches

Scratches on leather upholstery are a common problem. Defects come from the claws of pets and the effects of various objects. You can use the tools at hand to remove the scratches.

Olive oil

If the surface of the sofa is scratched by a dog or cat, apply olive oil to a cotton ball and wipe the scratches away. A minor defect will disappear after the skin dries out as a result of the primary treatment. Otherwise, repeat the procedure 2-3 times.

Wax application

beeswax

Beeswax helps to effectively remove small superficial scratches on leather furniture. The bee product is heated until it is softened and the damaged areas are treated.When the wax hardens, gently remove it from the padding.

liquid skin

Using liquid leather can restore significant damage. The material is applied to the scratches and left for several hours until completely solidified. When the liquid skin hardens, the furniture can continue to be used freely.

Nail polish and marker

Of the available tools for removing scratches on the sofa, nail polish and a marker are suitable. A small amount of clear varnish is applied to the scratches and left to dry. After restoration, a slightly visible transparent crust will remain on the surface of the upholstery.

When using a marker, you only need to paint over the scratched areas. It is important to select a permanent marker that matches the color of the upholstery material.

Rubber based adhesive

The glue is rubbed into the scratches and left to dry. When the damaged areas are covered with a glue crust, you need to additionally treat them with a special paint, selected taking into account the color of the leather sofa.

shoe cream

leather cream

Rub the corresponding shoe polish into the scratched areas. The cream does not eliminate flaws, but only visually hides them.

Iron

You can handle leather sofa upholstery with a hot iron. A cotton cloth is applied to the surface of the furniture and ironed over the damaged areas. The duration of each contact between the iron and the furniture must not exceed 10 seconds.

Paint or varnish

Materials specially developed for the restoration of leather sofas are used to eliminate abrasions and restore the original color.Simply choose a paint or varnish to match the color and apply it to the upholstery. Once dry, you can use the furniture.

Padding

The constriction process consists of a complete change of the covering of the sofa. Due to constriction, it is possible to completely change the appearance of furniture. You can do the work yourself or contact a specialist workshop. For self-throttling, it is important to choose material of suitable color and in sufficient quantity.

Replacement of fittings

In leather sofas, parts are used to connect individual parts, legs, a transformation mechanism and other accessories.

If the parts cannot be repaired, new ones must be purchased and replaced.

Patches

Couch patches are pieces of leather that are attached to worn furniture. When restoring a sofa without outside help, it is recommended to use self-adhesive patches, on the back of which there is a special Velcro.

layering on the couch

Overlays

Sofa covers are most often made of wood and mounted on armrests. Using overlays allows you to visually hide holes and scratches. In this case, it is not necessary to repair each damaged area, since the patch covers a large area at once. Plus, the added benefit is creating a place where you can easily store various things.

To stick on

To seal imperfections in the leather upholstery of the sofa, you can use specialized products, including liquid leather and glue-based compounds. The selected product is applied to the areas requiring restoration or the upholstery is completely treated. The second option is preferable, as it avoids shadow drops.

Features of leatherette repair

A faux leather sofa can be restored in many ways. The material is more resistant to external influences than genuine leather. Special restoration and renovation options include:

  1. Using orange peel to restore the original shine. Friction renews the material and protects against scratches.
  2. Remove oily stains from leather surfaces with regular dishwashing detergent. The product is applied to a sponge and gently wiped the surface.
  3. Gasoline or turpentine treatment to remove stubborn stains from upholstery. The substances penetrate the material and mask surface defects. After applying the substance, you need to leave it for 15 minutes, then wash off with water.

Precautionary measures

Using the tools available for restoring leather furniture, you should first test their effect so as not to damage the upholstery.

When stretching sofas, it is important to choose the right amount of material so that it is enough for the entire area. If it is necessary to carry out complex repairs, it is better to entrust the work to specialists.

Rules of maintenance and operation

To keep your leather sofa in good condition, it is recommended to periodically wipe it with a damp cloth and not expose it to external influences. Most often, defects are formed on leather upholstery due to animals with sharp claws, so you need to make sure that they are not on the sofa.



We advise you to read:

TOP 20 tools only to clean an artificial stone sink in the kitchen