Why Does Leather Peel?
Well, it’s very rare for real leather to peel but if you don't take proper care of it and use it on a regular basis without cleaning and conditioning it, it will be damaged. It might not be the only reason why your leather jacket or furniture is peeling off. Overcleaning can have an adverse impact as well. Using the wrong products can also ruin perfectly well leather. So in order to keep your leather products as good as new and protect them from peeling, make sure to know all about maintaining the leather. The type that you’re dealing with, its characteristics, and cleaning products for it, etc. All leathers are not created equally, your jacket will be different from your leather shoes, couch, or car seat so they all need treatment accordingly.
How to Repair Peeling Leather
Depending on the type of leather product , there can be a number of ways to fix the peeling. To be honest, it would be much easier if it’s faux leather because as far as real leather is concerned, once it’s damaged, it’s nearly impossible to restore it.
Conditioner and Moisturizer
Probably one of the most convenient and common methods to prevent your leather from peeling is to clean it and apply conditioner followed by a good leather moisturizer. A common reason behind leather peeling is dryness so in order to prevent any further cracking and peeling, moisturizing is recommended.
Leather Paint
If by any chance, you failed to prevent your leather jacket or couch from peeling, Leather paint is a way to restore it. You can grab it from a store across the road at a reasonable rate which makes this method not only convenient but cost-effective as well. Before applying the paint, make sure to scrape all the peeling parts from the surface. Use a small paintbrush and horizontal strokes for a better finesse. Let it rest for at least 30 minutes to dry completely after which you can decide if the leather needs another coat or not. For some extra shine to match the rest of your leather product surface, you can apply a coat of high-gloss finish leather paint. This one is transparent and seals the paint to prevent further cracking. You can use up to 4 coats of high gloss paint and don't worry if the paint seems a bit opaque afterward. Give it a while and it will settle down to be subtle.
Leather Filler
The leather filler is a cream-like material that should be applied to the leather surface after scraping the peeled area using a razor blade. You can use a hard paper, credit card, butter knife, or a putty knife to apply the filler on the damaged area. However, make sure to avoid the healthy part of the garment or the couch. Let the filler dry completely, naturally. Professionals even use plastic wrapping paper to create a pattern or texture on the filler to match the rest of the leather. You can seal the deal by applying one last coat of leather paint once the filler is dried for a better finish.
Leather Patch
This method of fixing a peeling leather surface is a bit harder. Firstly, finding the matching patch for your jacket or furniture is a real task and just by luck, if you find it, it takes a real professional skill to sew it up to make it look as good as new. Another option is to get a faux leather patch and have it sew on the damaged surface. It is a cheaper and less effective way to fix a peeling leather product. One requires the right tools and the skill to execute this method productively.
Should You Fix The Peeling Leather?
The real question is whether you should go through all the trouble of fixing your leather accessory that is peeling off? Well, the answer may vary depending on the intensity of the damage, your sentimental value with the product, and the type of leather we’re dealing with. Real leather is quite expensive and durable but somehow if you’ve damaged it, try and fix it. However, faux leather is cheaper, and instead of spending time, effort, and money on fixing it, you should rather get a new one because there’s a possibility you might never make it look as good as new ever again.
