You know we have also been there. That's why we understand how disheartening it is. You invest your savings in a nice leather jacket. But, a mere nail scratch or your gritty pet's rough paws ruin it. When investing in something worth your savings money, you want it to stay in good condition for a long time. Those scratches are so noticeable! If you don't take care of them soon, they'll smash the entire look of this beautiful jacket.
No doubt, Leather is an extremely versatile and long-lasting material. Still, it needs extra care and attention when dealing with it. Repairing leather scratches from famous shops is expensive. It costs nearly as much as a new jacket. So don’t get worried, can leather scratches be repaired or not? Here, we have brought you a guide for restoring leather scratches easily at home. Let's dive into it and make your jacket look like new!
Determine The Leather Quality
Do you know that faux leather starts to peel or crack on its own after some, but that is not the case with real leather? So, the first thing you have to do is figure out the type of leather. You need to pick the best way to fix a scratch in your jacket's leather. But, to do this, you need to know that each type of leather needs a different repair.
If you are not aware of these leather varieties lets see a real quick intro;
Full-grain leather:
This is the best real leather. It is made with the top layers of animal hide. It can show natural imperfections over time. It is quite durable and resistant to wear.
Top-grain leather:
It is a bit more processed than full-grain. Top-grain leather has a smoother surface and is less vulnerable to damage.
Genuine leather:
Genuine Leather is made from the remaining layers of animal hide after full or top grain leather, that is why it is less durable and cheaper.
Nubuck and Suede:
Nubuck and Suede Leather are softer. They are also more vulnerable to liquids and scratches. Nubuck comes from Full or Top Grain Leather. Suede comes from the underside of the skin. Both the leathers have similar textures but vary due to quality and processing.
At The Street Jacket it’s easy to identify the quality leather, as it’s mentioned when you are purchasing any specific jacket.
Analyze Your Scratch
Now the next critical step is to analyze, how severe the scratch on your leather jacket is? These can be light surface marks or deep cuts from scratching something sharp. The depth and severity of the scratch will determine the repair approach.
Light scratches: These can be buffed out or treated with basic conditioning.
Deeper scratches: These may require fillers or specialized leather repair kits to completely disguise them.
What Are the Steps to Repair Leather Scratches?
Before we get into the steps to repair your jacket, if you are a leather lover then this leather kit is essential for you;
A microfibre cloth or leather preparation pad
Leather conditioner
Grit paper for sanding or buffing
Leather Filler or Color Fluid
Step 1: Clean the Leather
The first step in this professional leather restoration process at home is to verify that the area is clean and free of dirt.
To do this take a soft microfiber cloth or leather preparation pad and gently remove any dirt that could interfere with the repair process.
Use a specialized leather cleaner suitable for your leather type to avoid damaging the material.
Once cleaned, allow the area to air dry naturally for around 5-10 minutes.
Step 2: Buff and Polish
After the area around the scratch is dried, take a soft cloth grit paper and buff the area to bring out a shine.
This not only improves the appearance but the grit paper also blends the repaired area with the rest of the leather.
Step 3: Use Leather Filler For Deeper Scratches
If the scratch is deep, a leather filler might be helpful. It contains a compound that fills the scratch. It comes in two variants, transparent and coloured one.
Use a palette knife or spatula to fill the scratch with the compound. Make sure it's fully filled and level with the leather surface.
If it is coloured one and similar to your jacket’s colour then it’s perfect, mostly there are coloured fillers in the market but if the filler is transparent filler, then you have to dye it above the surface, as per the instructions mentioned on the packaging.
Step 4: Buff The Filler And Apply Leather Conditioner
Now buffing the filler level with the leather's surface comes next, after it has sufficiently dried.
Take the grit sandpaper to use in step 2, and buff the applied filler to ensure that it is at the same level with the surface of the leather.
Now apply a leather conditioner to the buffed area.
This will help the leather to hydrate and can also make light scratches disappear by darkening or smoothing out the leather fibers.
Suede And Nubuck Leather
Suede and nubuck leather are different from full-grain, top-grain, and genuine leather. They use different layers to make them and then process them. But, their texture is somewhat similar. So, regular cleaning and occasional conditioning can make these leather jackets last longer. It also helps to reduce their vulnerability to scratches. Use protective sprays to repel water and stains.