If you have a piece of leather furniture that has endured some wear and tear, don’t think about throwing it out or trying to reupholster it just yet. Learn how to restore leather or connect with professionals who can get your leather items looking as good as new.

Some Tips On How To Restore Leather:

NOTE: Avoid using saddle soap or anything with neetsfoot oils. They tend to stain leather and leave streaks after use.

What You’ll Need:

– Petroleum jelly

– Olive oil

– Multiple clean cloths

– Sheepskin pad

What To Do:

1. First, use a clean rag to remove any dust or dirt from the leather.

2. Next, apply some petroleum jelly to a new, clean cloth and slowly work it into the cracked, old leather. Be gentle and slow; use circular motions. This adds a lot of moisture into the leather. Lack of moisture is typically what causes leather to crack and peel.

3. Use another clean cloth to wipe away all excess petroleum jelly, being careful not to disturb the cracks too much.

4. Now that you have removed the dirt and grime, added some moisture and removed the excess moisture, you can use a leather stain to get the color back. You want to be sure to use a sheepskin pad to apply the stain slowly and carefully, using circular motions to really work in the color. Start off with a little and add more if necessary, keeping a clean cloth nearby to remove excess stain just in case.

5. Finally, you want to apply a leather sealant. Use a very soft cloth to rub this in and do so very slowly and gently. Being too rough may cause slight loss of color. Once the sealant is applied, allow 24 hours for it to dry before touching or using the leather.

Furniture Upholstery Professionals Are A Click Away

Some leather furniture upholstery jobs require professional attention instead of a home remedy. Even if a home remedy works, you may have questions regarding products to use or the process. TalkLocal easily connects you with those professionals who can field your questions about how to restore leather. We take the work out of the search.

Buying a brand new couch when yours is torn up and stained can be expensive, time-consuming, and frustrating. The good news is that your couch can avoid being doomed to the dump with these simple couch reupholstery steps. Reupholstering a couch can also give a new look for your home, whether you’re looking for a dramatic change or a simple new style.

Couch Reupholstery Steps To Follow:

1. Take pictures. You want to do this before you tear off the upholstery. Take pictures of the couch at every angle, inside and out, before, during, and after the reupholstery. If the process takes longer than you expect, this will help you remember each step in detail.

2. Disassemble the couch. You want to do this carefully, like this:

– Lay the couch on its back or upside down

– Remove the duster (extra fabric) from the bottom

– Put the sofa in its upright position

– Remove the outside back

– Remove the outside arms

– Remove the inside back

– Remove the inside arms

– Remove the deck

– Keep the old cover around if it fits well to help you measure for the new cover.

3. Check all of the cushions to make sure you don’t need extra padding or stuffing. If you do, get high-quality foam. It’s pricier, but low-quality foam quickly deflates, which might mean you have to do this all over again sooner than you’d hoped.

4. Use a large, flat space to measure and cut the fabric for your new cover. If it is in good enough shape, use the old couch cover to help you with this. Also use your photos as a guide here.

5. Sew the cover. You will want to use an older, heavy duty sewing machine here, as well as heavy duty needle and thread.

6. Use a heavy duty staple gun to connect the rest of the fabric to the couch.

7. Attach the new material from the inside out. Consult the list in step 2 and go backwards.

You have a beautiful new couch that will last you many more years. Some couches are too far gone, though, and may need to be disposed of properly.

Get A Professional’s Help

If you need help with other around-the-house fixes, we can help you with that. At TalkLocal, we take the stress out of finding the right professional for any job by connecting you with the professionals in your area.