Simple Ways to Repair Scratches in Leather at Home

Leather goods are luxurious but they will get scratches over time. The different marks on your leather object can be caused by rough use, pets playing or any accidental scrapes. These scratches lower the value of your leather accessories. Many people get frustrated with this because they think the damage is permanent. 

Does your leather jacket have scratches and you think it cannot be repaired? Or you are worried about the cost and confused about how much it will cost to have someone fix it? But don't worry, the good news is that you can easily repair scratches in leather at home. You can get your leather item back to its form again without spending a lot of money if you use the right approach at home. 

In this blog you will know about the easy ways to repair scratches in leather. You will also learn different kinds of scratches and how to deal with them.

Kinds of Leather Scratches

There are different kinds of leather scratches. Some scratches are hard to repair or some are easy to fix. It depends on the kind of leather scratches. Leather scratches are of two kinds:

• Light scratches
• Deep scratches

Before going to explore the ways to repair scratches in leather, you must know about the kinds of leather scratches first. 

Light Scratches

Light or minor scratches are not difficult to repair. They are repaired with leather oil and conditioner. You just need to use oil in a circular motion that smooths the surface and after drying, you can apply conditioner to it. Leather conditioners help keep the oil level healthy.

Vaseline is another good substitute if you do not have leather oil and conditioner.  Just put it on the scratch and wipe it with a soft cloth. Always use a dry cloth to remove extra oil and conditioner after treatment.

Deep Scratches

These scratches are a bit harder to repair than light scratches. In the repair process, leather cleaner, oil, gel, and conditioner are required. Sometimes, it takes longer to repair scratches in leather. The process is simple but it requires skill to repair the scratches finely. If the above-mentioned product fails to bring results, you can add colourless shoe polish with olive oil which is also a good addition to this repairing process.

These kinds of scratches require an instant solution. If you ignore these scratches, the result can be worse and you may lose your favorite leather item permanently.

Material for Repair Scratches in Leather

It is important to collect all necessary items before the repair process. This will prevent interruptions during the process. Here is the list of things you need to repair scratches in leather.  

• A soft cloth
• Gloves
• Towel
• Leather cleaner, oil and conditioner
• Petroleum jelly
• Olive oil
• Vinegar
• A stick,applicator or cotton swab
• Hair Dryer
• Iron

How to Repair Scratches in Leather at Home

If your leather object gets scratched, don't go for outside sources they will charge you more. You can repair scratches in leather at home. There are different ways to repair leather at home. Leather mostly gets scratched in two ways, so we share two ways to fix it.

How to Repair Light Scratches on Leather

Here, we are sharing how to repair light scratches.

• You can take any oil such as saddle oil, olive oil or baby oil.
• Apply small amount of oil to the scratch and rub it.
• Use the applicator or cotton swab in a circular motion.
• A clean cloth should be used to wipe off the oil after an hour of the oil having dried.
• If the scratch is still on the leather, you can repeat the process.
• Always apply oil to the small part of the leather to check that the oil does not leave any stains.

Apply lanolin oil to the scratch

This is another way to deal with light scratches.  

• Take Lanolin oil and put it on the scratch.
• Take a clean cloth and dip it in lanolin cream.
• Cover the scratched area with the cloth. This will make the scratch smooth.
• Sometimes it required a few more coats. Apply the other coat if necessary.
• Always apply oil to the small part of the leather to check that the oil does not leave any stains.

 Use a Heat Source

In this procedure, we use heat to repair scratches on leather. But it is important to know what kind of leather you are dealing with. This procedure only works on aniline and bi-cast leather because the rest of the leather types don't deal with heat. Experts said in this method the heat take out the leather's natural oils and colours and the scratch might get better on its own. Here are the steps: 

• Take a wet cloth and cover the scratch leather.
• Take the heat of a hair dryer or you can also use a warm iron on it.
• Do not overheat the leather.
• Take it off after a few minutes and check out the scratch.
• You can do it again if scratching is not removed.
• It should cool down before more heat is applied. 

Apply shoe polish to the scratch

This is the 4th way to deal with light scratches. The scratches will not get better but you can hide them. Shoe polish is not made to be used on leather furniture grade but this method will work on highly coloured leather and bicast leather.

• Take a little amount of shoe polish and apply it to the leather scratch. (The colour should match your leather object.)
• Take a cotton swab to put the polish on the scratches.
• Rub the scratch with a clean cloth.
• You can repeat the process if you need.

How to Repair Deep Scratches on Leather

As we mentioned earlier deep scratches are hard to repair so they require hard material to go properly. In this section, we will share how to repair deep scratches on leather.

 Apply Rubbing Alcohol

• Take a few amounts of rubbing alcohol to clean the scratch area.
• Put a rubbing scratch on a clean cloth and buff the affected area lightly.
• It takes 10 minutes to dry.

This method works best with leather that has already been cleaned.

Sand and clip loose Method

This method is applied when your leather goods condition is so bad which means it has very deep scratches that tore it out. The method is: 

• You need a pair of scissors and cut the hanging threads.
• The cutting of hanging threads makes the scratches smooth.
• Now, use sand around the cut.

Apply heavy leather filler to the scratched area

In this method, a heavy leather filler is used to repair scratches in leather. The filler is like glue. It is used for more deep cuts in your leather product. Here are the steps: 

• Take out a few amount of filler on your finger or small spoon.
• Leave this filler for 30 mins to dry out.
• Take a piece of 1200-grit sandpaper and smooth the filler's surface.

Apply Leather Colorant

When you use filler for your deep leather cut. The next step is to color it. Here are the steps:

• Choose the right colour of leather dye.
• The scratch id filled with heavy filler.
• Put the colourant on a sponge and spread it over the heavy filler's top.
• You can use as many coats as you need but remember to let it dry first before adding the next.

Apply Leather Finish

When your affected leather area gets its color, the next step is to apply a leather finish to it. Here are the steps:

• Take a few amounts of leather finish on a clean brush or cloth.
• Rub the scratched area lightly.
• You can apply three or four coats if necessary.

Conclusion

Now you have learnt how to repair scratches in leather. You know, with the right tools and understanding, you can repair your favourite leather object. You do not need to go to any outsourcers to repair scratches. You can repair it at home easily, you just need a few materials. Follow this comprehensive guide and become an expert in leather repair.

FAQs

Can light scratches on leather be repaired at home?

Yes, you can repair small scratches by rubbing leather oil, conditioner or Vaseline over them in a circular motion.

What materials are needed for repairing deep scratches on leather?

You will need leather cleaner, oil, conditioner, rubbing alcohol, leather filler, and sandpaper for deep scratch repairs.

Is shoe polish safe to use on leather scratches?

Shoe polish can be used on certain types of leather like highly colored or bicast leather to cover scratches but it is not  recommended for furniture-grade leather.

Can I use heat to repair leather scratches?

Yes, heat can repair scratches on aniline or bi-cast leather. Use a hair dryer or iron but dont overheating.