Can Olive Oil Really Fix Scratched Leather Furniture?

No matter how careful you are with your leather furniture, it is very common for leather furniture to get scratched during normal use. Especially if you live indoors with pets or small children, it is difficult to avoid scratching your leather furniture over time. Even if your furniture looks damaged, there are several ways to restore it. Leather is a versatile material that can bond and make surface scratch repair relatively easy. Even the deepest scratches can be cut or hidden to give the furniture a new look.

Method 1. Detect skin type and scratches

Find out what leather your furniture is made of. You can do this by carefully inspecting the furniture. Since different types of leather are repaired in different ways, it is important to first determine the type of furniture leather. Three types of leather are used to make furniture: “dye” (or “finished”) leather, “aniline” leather and “bicast” leather.

  • Most leather furniture (about 85%) consists of finished leather. This leather has a scratch resistant solid surface and does not absorb liquids.
  • Aniline leather is made of high quality leather and therefore aniline furniture is rare. Aniline leather has no coating, so the texture of the leather is visible. The companies also produce semi-linen leather, which is still made of high quality leather but covered with a thin lining. [1]
  • Bicast leather is technically a by-product of leather, although bicast furniture is still considered leather furniture. Bicast leather is made from low quality leather which is split into a thin layer and then laminated to the top layer of polyurethane.

If you notice any scratches, call the leather furniture manufacturer. Many manufacturers have special options for repairing or improving their furniture. Sometimes they will send you a free or discounted repair. If this step fails, move on to the next step.

  • The repair method recommended by the manufacturer directly depends on the type of skin.

Assess the type of scratches. Leather furniture can be scratched to varying degrees. While minor repairs can be easily repaired, deeper rashes are more noticeable and require various procedures. A quick visual assessment will help you determine how bad your furniture is.

  • If the scratch is small, only the skin lining will be scraped and the underlying skin will be healthy.
  • Deeper scratches indicate that the leather itself has been cut. You can see the leather fibers around the cut edge.
  • When the leather is completely cut, you can even see the interior upholstery of the furniture. At this point, you will not be able to fully repair the scratch and will need to take the furniture to a professional.

Method 2.Minor scratch repairs depending on skin type and availability

Rub the bottom with olive oil, baby oil or saddle oil. Use a cotton swab (such as a cotton swab or cotton swab) for the procedure. If the oil is applied directly to the abrasive, it is applied to the surrounding skin in circular motions. Allow the oil to dry for an hour, then wet it with a clean cloth.

  • If the abrasion didn’t heal the first oil, try applying more oil and let it sit for a few hours.
  • As with all steps, try an invisible area first as the oil can pass through the skin and stain / color it.

Apply lanolin oil on the bottom. Take a clean cloth, such as a cotton cloth, and soak it in lanolin cream. Rub the scratched area on the skin with a rag. It softens and repairs scratches, although it can be reused over and over again before the scratch becomes invisible.

  • Try lanolin oil on an uncommon part of the skin as the oil can darken the material.

Use a warm spring and a damp cloth to remove the oil from the skin. Before proceeding with this step, it is important to pay attention to your skin type. This procedure only works with aniline leathers and straps. To warm the leather, hold the hairdryer very close to you with a cloth or press the hot iron against a damp cloth placed on the washer dryer. [2]

  • If you are using a hairdresser, massage the skin around the base with your hands. The heat is said to release the natural oil and dyes from the skin. If so, the abrasion can heal on its own.
  • If you are using an iron and a damp cloth, press and hold the iron for 10 seconds. Remove it and look down. If it appears to be gone, clean your skin and prepare for normal use. If there is still zero, repeat the iron step.
  • Avoid burning your skin. If it’s too hot, let the skin cool before reheating it.

Apply shoe polish to the scratched area. Find the right shoe color for your furniture. First, polish the scratches with a clean cloth or cotton swab. Then rub the shoe package into the leather and quickly rub the scratch with a clean cloth to polish it.

  • This process does not repair the scratches, it helps to hide them.
  • If the color needs to be darker, repeat with another layer. If the paint does not fit your furniture after applying it, immediately wash it off with a damp cloth.
  • This method is effective with more pigmented leathers (as well as honeysuckle leathers) as shoe polish is usually not suitable for furniture.

Method 3. Repair the depth squeegee

Clean the area with alcohol. Deep scratches on leather furniture can be worn and dirty, so make sure the area is clean before repairing it. Take a clean, damp cloth with denatured alcohol, then lightly rub the scraped area.

  • Garbage dries quickly. Leave the area for about 10 minutes and let it dry.
  • This method works most effectively on finished skin. If you have a deep layer of aniline skin, it may be irreversible.

Sand or Clipcut loose fibers around the cut edges. Unlike a small scratch, if the leather furniture is badly scratched, the leather around the edges of the scratches can be stained, scratched, or torn. Take a pair of scissors and cut some threads so that the area around the cut is smooth.

  • Or you can take a piece of fine sand (about 1,200 sands) and sand the area around the cut until it is smooth.
  • Apply a layer of heavy leather to the scratched area. This material has the texture of a putty knife, simply called a trowel, and fills holes or cracks in the scratched area of ​​your furniture. [5] Use your finger or a putty knife to cover the scraper with thick putty until the scratched surface makes contact with the rest of the furniture. After using the thick putty, let it dry for about 30 minutes.
  • After applying the putty, take another 1200 inch sheet of paper and remove the surface of the putty.

Thick leather pads should be available at your local home builder or leather shop. In addition, the furniture manufacturer can sell a deposit or putty or even send it to you for free.

Wear the right skin tone. Now that the scraper is closed and covered with solid putty, paint the material to match the rest of the furniture. [6] Add the paint to the sponge and apply it evenly to the surface covered with thick putty.

  • Apply as many coats as necessary to match the color of the furniture, but remember to let each coat dry before applying the other.
  • To purchase leather paint, you will likely need to visit a leather goods or furniture store that specializes in leather.

Apply a leather finish to the painted area. This compresses and protects the thick colored putty and should avoid scratching the same area again. Pour a small finish on a clean sponge or cloth, then lightly rub the scratched area on the furniture.

  • Apply up to 3 or 4 coats with a flat finish.
  • As for leather color, you will probably need to purchase leather upholstery from a leather goods or furniture store that specializes in leather. You can purchase heavy fillers, tilts, and finishes with leather repair kits.