Scratched leather bags, leather steering wheels, sofas or shoes are of course not what you want for your leather.
The key scratched the bag, the cat found the shoes so interesting. Oh, and the children's toy scissors actually managed to leave marks on the sofa. We offer good advice for free and are happy to put it together for you.
We'll tell you how to repair scratched leather in this guide, but first let's play a little Sherlock Holmes and analyze how severe the scratches are.
Can you remove scratches from leather?
The good news is that you can remove scratches from leather. Of course, this also depends on the depth and size of the scratches.
Are the scratches very fine and on the surface, has only the pigment layer been damaged?
Then a repair is relatively easy to carry out. But even with lighter scratches you can achieve a convincing result using various techniques and household remedies.
Although it is possible to remove deep scratches from leather, it is not always that easy.
Get an overview and decide whether you want to repair it yourself or hand it over to a professional. This is of course especially useful if you want to remove scratches from leather shoes that are too expensive to do yourself.
How can I remove scratches from leather?
There are several ways you can use to remove scratches from leather.
To treat scratches, it is important to know what type of leather it is. It is also important to find out how deep or severe the scratches are.
What kind of leather is it?
As you know, you need to know which type of leather you want to treat before you start treatment.
Is it rough leather, i.e. nubuck, suede or suede? Is it smooth leather, pigmented or finished smooth leather, aniline leather or semi-aniline leather?
Expert knowledge : Suede leather should be treated differently than smooth leather or aniline leather. You will soon find out how this works and what the differences in treatment are.
How deep is the scratch?
Not all scratches are created equal! In suede, a scratch is not immediately noticeable unless it is very deep. But with smooth leather, things are a little different.
Let’s divide the scratches into 3 categories :
-
Fine, small scratches on the surface (of the pigmentation, the leather is still intact)
-
Stronger scratches that have also slightly damaged the leather itself (you may see the leather fibers
- Very strong scratches that are very deep
Repair light scratches
If the scratch is only on the surface, i.e. the pigmentation, and the leather itself has not been damaged, then you can use baby oil, olive oil, or even leather balm to remove the scratch. This works, for example, if you want to remove cat scratches from leather that your beloved four-legged friend has left on the sofa.
Important: Please only use these home remedies on smooth leather and not on suede, because oils and fats will stick to the surface.
As with any cleaning or care product, you should test it on a small, inconspicuous area.
Before treating the scratches, the leather should be cleaned of dust and dirt and the surface should be wiped with a damp cloth.
- Put a little of the oil of your choice on a clean cotton cloth or alternatively a cotton ball.
- Now gently dab the scratch and let it air dry completely.
- This should get rid of the scratch , if not, you can repeat step 2.
- After the treatment, you can apply a leather repair gel , which you can buy online or from a specialist retailer. Make sure you choose the right color.
Repair deep scratches
The deeper scratches are a little more difficult to repair. But with the right know-how and the necessary tools, it really isn't rocket science.
For repairs on smooth leather you need the following:
- Cleaning alcohol
- Scissors/alternatively sandpaper (fine)
- Leather Filler
- Leather repair gel in the color of your leather
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to remove the scratches:
- Before you start repairing, clean the leather thoroughly.
- Put a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab or cotton cloth and dab the scratch thoroughly.
- Allow the alcohol to dry, this should not take more than a few minutes.
- If you see leather fibers coming out of the scratch, you can cut them away with scissors. Alternatively, you can carefully sand them away with sandpaper.
- Now carefully apply the leather filler to the scratch, please follow the application instructions exactly.
- For the finish , you can then work with the leather repair gel and make the scratch almost invisible.
We ask you to always test a small area first using a cleaner, household product or any other recommendation.
If the scratches are too deep or you do not achieve the expected result, then take your leather to a specialist. They can repair and recondition the leather accordingly.
Remove scratches from leather: home remedies for every type of leather
You can repair fine scratches and scuffs at home with little effort.
Of course, the result will not be as flawless as new leather and the damaged areas will be more or less visible.
In any case, you will be able to achieve a visual improvement.
Remove scratches from artificial leather
Not only is artificial leather particularly easy to clean , scratches and scrapes can also be repaired relatively easily.
Liquid leather is particularly suitable for repairing small scratches.
-
Clean your artificial leather before repairing.
- Apply the liquid leather (in the color of your leather) as indicated in the application instructions.
- Allow the liquid leather to dry completely.
That's all it was?
Yes, that's all there is to it when it comes to artificial leather repair. It's really worth it and it's also good for the environment and your wallet.
Remove scratches from suede
Suede is a little more sensitive to dirt, water and dust, but if there are small scratches it is absolutely easy to care for.
To treat fine scratches and scrapes you only need a suede brush.
Use the suede brush to gently brush any scuffs and scratches out of the leather.
That's it, the scratch should be almost gone.
Please use
- Suede never leather oil,
- Leather grease,
- Leather balm
- or shoe polish,
because that would stick to the surface and damage it.
Remove scratches from smooth leather
Small and fine scratches can be made almost invisible with baby oil, olive oil or colorless shoe polish.
Before treating the leather, thoroughly clean it of dust and dirt and dab one of the household remedies mentioned above onto the scratch. Let it dry thoroughly and if you don't like the result, repeat the process.
Conclusion
Scratches in leather can be annoying, but with the right home remedies and techniques, many types of damage can be effectively repaired. You don't need any special expertise to repair small leather abrasions.
The exact treatment depends on the type of leather and the depth of the scratch. Superficial scratches in the leather steering wheel, for example, can be treated with baby oil, olive oil or leather balm. For Deeper scratches on smooth leather can be removed with cleaning alcohol and a leather filler can be used to make the result almost invisible.
Synthetic leather can also be easily repaired by applying liquid leather. Suede, on the other hand, only requires a suede brush to treat fine scratches. If the scratches are too deep or difficult to remove, it is recommended that the leather be repaired by a professional.
FAQ
Is it even possible to remove scratches from leather?
Yes, scratches in leather can be removed depending on their depth and size. Fine surface scratches can often be easily repaired. Deeper scratches and cracks are more difficult to repair, but not impossible.
The decision whether to try it yourself or call in a professional depends on the extent of the damage.
What methods are there for removing scratches from leather?
There are different methods to remove scratches from leather. First, it is important to carefully analyze the leather and the scratch.
For superficial scratches on smooth leather, you can use baby oil, olive oil or leather balm. Deeper scratches may require the use of rubbing alcohol and leather filler on smooth leather.
Liquid leather is suitable for artificial leather, while fine scratches on suede can be treated with a suede brush. If you are unsure or have deep scratches, it is advisable to consider professional help.
Please note that the effectiveness of the methods depends on the type of leather and the depth of the scratch. Always test on a small, inconspicuous area before using a method on a larger area.
Find out more by reading our other articles.