Scuffs on leather shoes, handbags, or furniture can be repaired in a number of ways. For minor scuffs, use simple things like a hair dryer, white vinegar, or petroleum jelly. For more serious scuffs, try using leather glue and a color-matched marker. For deep scuffs and scratches, purchase a leather repair kit and apply glue, filler and sealant to the damaged area.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Simple Solutions
Step 1. Warm up the frayed area with a hairdryer and knead it
Set your hair dryer to warm air and use it to heat the worn surface. Gently knead the heated leather with your hands to smooth out any chafing.
Do not use the hair dryer in hot air mode. If you point the hair dryer at your hand and you feel uncomfortable, the air will be too hot for your skin
Step 2. Treat the scuff with white vinegar
Dip a cotton swab or cotton swab in distilled white vinegar. Treat abrasions with it to slightly swell the skin. Let the area dry and then rub it with a colorless shoe polish.
Try applying vinegar to your worn shoes or purse
Step 3. Use Vaseline
Apply Vaseline to the scuffs with a clean rag. Rub it in a circular motion, and after 10 minutes, wipe it off with another clean cloth.
To avoid ruining your skin, use colorless and odorless petroleum jelly
Step 4. Apply a balm to restore skin color
Buy a revitalizing balm online, at your local home improvement store, or at a fabric store. If there was no sponge included with the balm, apply it to a clean cloth and rub in in a circular motion. Follow the directions for use, then rub the area with another clean rag to remove excess balm.
Method 2 of 3: Fix minor scuffs with leather glue
Step 1. Wipe the area with a leather cleaner
Apply the product to the frayed surface according to the directions on the label. This will remove dirt and oils, preventing stains from forming on your skin and allowing the glue to harden properly. In addition, the cleanser will open up the pores of the skin and it will react better to dyes and skin repair products.
Step 2. Use an object with sharp edges to lift frayed skin fibers
Carefully run a spatula or the back of a knife across the grain of the scuff. Your goal is to gently lift the frayed fibers off the surface of the garment to apply the leather glue to the area below the fibers.
Step 3. Use a spatula or knife to apply some leather glue
Squeeze a few drops of glue onto the edge of a putty knife or the back of a knife. Run the tool against the direction of the grain to apply glue to the bottom of the scuff. Apply the adhesive carefully and gently using short, even strokes.
Step 4. Rub the treated surface to remove air bubbles and glue residues
After you apply the glue to the leather fibers, you need to rub them with something to smooth the surface and squeeze out air bubbles. This will bring the worn fibers back into place and align them flush with the leather surface. Knead the treated area with your finger to remove excess glue.
Step 5. Paint the damaged area with a marker to match your skin color
Match the marker to your skin color and apply in thin layers. Smooth out the outer edges of the stained area to blend in with the rest of the skin. If the scuffs are minor, they may not need to be painted over - proceed as you see fit.
Method 3 of 3: Remove deep scuffs and scratches
Step 1. Clean the area and trim the loose fibers
Before you start, use a leather cleaner to remove dirt and oil. Cut the long hanging fibers with small scissors. Leave short fibers and those that cannot be approached with scissors as they are, since they will not interfere with repairs.
Leather cleaner, glue, filler and sealant are sold individually or as a kit in a professional repair kit. You can find everything you need online or at your local home improvement store
Step 2. Apply 8-10 coats of glue with a sponge
Apply some glue to a clean, dry sponge and then spread it over the entire damaged area. Read the directions on the label for the drying time and allow the adhesive to dry completely before applying the next coat. For best results, apply 8 to 10 coats of adhesive to the scratched surface.
Step 3. Sand the surface with fine sandpaper
Sand the bonded area with a gentle circular motion using P1200 (M14) grit sandpaper. Do not stop until the entire area to be repaired is smooth and even.
Then, sweep away any dust or wipe the surface of the leather with a microfiber towel
Step 4. Squeeze the thick filler into deep scratches
With a spatula, apply a thin layer of filler to deep scratches or cracks. Wait 20-25 minutes for the filler to dry. Apply additional coats until the scratched or cracked areas are aligned with the rest of the surface.
Step 5. Sand and wipe the surface with an alcohol-based cleaner
When the filler is dry, sand the surface again with P1200 (M14) grit sandpaper. Wipe the repaired area with an alcohol-based leather cleaner, then let it dry.
With a cleaner, you will remove dust and prepare the leather for repainting
Step 6. Re-paint the repaired surface and apply sealant to it
If the kit did not include an applicator, apply a thin layer of skin dye with a clean, dry sponge. Let the paint dry as instructed before applying additional coats. After painting and repairing the damaged area, apply three to four thin coats of leather sealant for a durable and flexible finish.